There's something terribly exciting about Halloween for anyone who loves a bit of ghoulish fun. Indeed, some of Cornwall's best visitor attractions are allegedly haunted!
LANDS END
According to legend, a lost kingdom is submerged beneath the waters between Lands End and the Isles of Scilly. Before it flooded and disappeared, the kingdom was idyllic, with 140 chapels and wonderful orchards, but waves from the sea started encroaching on the land. Then one day, a great flood swept across the kingdom, drowning everyone in its path and burying the kingdom below the waves. One person survived - Trevelyan, who leapt onto his horse and galloped to a safe cliff cave at Lands End. The spirits of those who drowned are still heard wailing in the waters.
Local fishermen have dredged up masonry and ancient panes of glass, thought to come from the forgotten kingdom, and some say, on stormy nights the church bells can be heard clanging beneath the waves.
COTEHELE
Cotehele dates to the 15th century and was the home of the wealthy Edgcumbe family for centuries. The house is full of treasures and like many such grand houses, it has a few ghosts! Visitors say they smell herbs, hear distant mournful music, and occasionally hazy figures are spotted in the house. In centuries past, servants have seen the apparition of a girl in a white dress. Visitors have seen her too. When they ask about the girl with 'long hair' in a 'white, flimsy dress' the staff say ‘it's probably the ghost!’
Cotehele has Halloween activities every year, with a pumpkin trail in the gardens, and a harvest festival at the mill with craft activities for the children. nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele
LANHYDROCK
Lanhydrock was home to the Robartes Family for 300 years, but in 1881 a devastating fire broke out, leaving only the north wing, entrance porch and gatehouse standing. Lady Robartes was rescued from an upstairs window, but the shock of losing her home was too much and she died days later. Lord Robartes, having lost the love of his life, died of a broken heart. Their son rebuilt and restored the building.
When the National Trust took over in 1953, they discovered the place was haunted. The phantom spirit of an elderly lady dressed in grey has been seen in the long gallery and the drawing room. She appears and then vanishes into thin air! The nursery, servants' quarters, and prayer room have also been visited by ghosts.
In 2004 the Cornwall based Paranormal Research Organisation held an overnight vigil at Lanhydrock. They all experienced paranormal phenomena, with some hearing a girl giggling in the nursery and others seeing a male spirit haunting the gardens. nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock
PENDENNIS CASTLE
Pendennis Castle is known for going bump in the night! The spirits here are generally heard, not seen. Phantom footsteps on the spiral staircases, screams of an ethereal kitchen maid who fell from a tower, and children's laughter have all been reported by staff and visitors alike. Rattling sounds of a head cook at work, and a lieutenant governor allegedly haunt this fantastic fortress. If you're tuned into spirits, or just enjoy immersion in history, you'll love this place, with its amazing views of the sea.
There's a Halloween half term event at the castle from October 12 to 19. Kids are invited to, ‘follow the trail to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories.’ english-heritage.org.uk
TRERICE
Trerice is an Elizabethan manor house with gardens near Newquay. It was the home of the Arundell family, and the building dates to the 1570s. According to folklore one of the gentlemen who lived at the house seduced a servant girl, got her pregnant and then rejected her, leaving her shamed by society. She killed herself and has haunted the property ever since.
Her presence is felt when the temperature drops suddenly, and a lilac fragrance lingers in the air. Some people claim to have heard the rustle of her skirts as she passes by unseen, and there are strange bumps and noises, day, and night. She likes to spend time in the library, which has put some visitors off entering the room! There have also been sightings of a Grey Lady, drifting through the gallery, and the house is haunted by a stable boy who was trampled to death by bolting horses.
Trerice will have a series of Halloween events on the theme of Apples and Pumpkins! nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice
TINTAGEL
Tintagel Castle is reportedly haunted by Merlin's ghost, which wanders the ruins, especially on stormy nights. Merlin's Cave is found on the beach, and people who've witnessed his ethereal presence say he speaks in a strange language that no one can understand.
Camelot Hotel in Tintagel is also haunted by mischievous spooks who allegedly knock paintings off the walls and tip bins over. One report said guests have experienced many strange happenings, including an unseen figure attempting to give them a bed bath in the middle of the night! english-heritage.org.uk
BODMIN MOOR
You've probably heard of the mythical Beast of Bodmin Moor. There have been 60 sightings of this evasive cat since the 1980s, but no verifiable evidence that the beast even exists. Could it be a ghost? The spirit of Charlotte Dymond also allegedly roams Bodmin moor. She was murdered by her jealous boyfriend on April 14, 1844, and it's said that her spirit is always dressed in her best Sunday attire. cornwalls.co.uk/bodmin/bodmin_moor.htm
POLDARK MINE
Poldark Mine has traditionally offered Ghost Tours at Halloween. This year the mine is closed, but paranormal investigators previously photographed a white hazy figure, thought to be a spirit. Visitors have reported vanishing figures, disembodied footsteps, and the raging voice of a long dead miner. The paranormal group, Most Ghosts, recorded a gruff voice subjecting them to a 'foul mouthed barrage of spectral abuse'.
With strange noises and swirling mists Poldark Mine is certainly not a place for the faint hearted! poldarkmine.org.uk
