Explore some of the National Trust’s most haunted castles – places where ghosthunters would be drawn to eerie tales, chilling sightings, and lingering spirits from the past
Haunted National Trust Castles
The National Trust looks after some of the spookiest castles in England – old, eerie places where strange sounds and ghostly figures still scare visitors today.
These castles aren’t just full of history, they’re packed with ghost stories. People have seen figures in the dark, heard whispers in empty rooms, and felt sudden chills in stone corridors.
If you’re into haunted places, you’ll want to explore these chilling sites.
Corfe Castle, Dorset
Address: The Square, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5EZ
Corfe Castle is a ruin full of stories. One of the most famous ghosts is a headless woman dressed in white. She’s been seen drifting along the walls before disappearing.
Visitors have also reported hearing a child crying late at night. Some link these strange happenings to the murder of King Edward the Martyr in 978. He was stabbed at the castle gates.
Ghost-hunters using EMF detectors have picked up unusual readings around the ruins. Cold spots and sudden drops in temperature have also been recorded, especially near the keep and gatehouse.
Bodiam Castle, Dorset
Address: Bodiam, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5UA
Bodiam Castle is surrounded by water and has a peaceful look, but many believe it is haunted. People say they’ve heard medieval music and shouting from inside, even when no one is there.
A woman in a red dress has been spotted staring out of a window in one of the towers. She vanishes if approached. Another common story is about a Victorian boy seen running across the drawbridge—he disappears halfway, as if falling into the moat.
Local guides and staff have backed up these stories, and ghost-hunting teams have recorded strange voices and temperature drops near the main entrance and towers.
Dunster Castle, Somerset
Address: Dunster, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6SL
Dunster Castle has long been thought to be haunted. One well-known ghost is the Man in Green. He’s often seen walking through the stable block, sometimes glowing faintly.
People have heard strange footsteps and whispering voices when no one is around. One volunteer saw a single ghostly foot move across the kitchen corridor.
Years ago, chained skeletons were found in the dungeon. Some believe the ghost of a seven-foot prisoner still walks the castle crypt. In recent years, paranormal investigators have captured sounds like heavy breathing and strange thuds on recordings.
Read about Dunster Castle on Spooky Isles
Orford Castle, Suffolk
Address: Castle Hill, Orford, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2ND
Orford Castle is known for the strange tale of the Wild Man. In the 1100s, fishermen caught a hairy man who couldn’t speak. He was locked up in the castle’s cellar, but escaped by swimming back into the sea.
People still talk of a hairy figure appearing in the mist near the coast. Some say this creature is half-man, half-beast. Church carvings in the area show similar “wild men,” keeping the legend alive.
There are no known ghost recordings here, but the tale remains one of Britain’s most mysterious stories of a supernatural prisoner.
Framlingham Castle, Suffolk
Address: Church St, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 9BP
Framlingham Castle is full of strange reports. One legend speaks of a hidden tunnel under the curtain wall. Visitors have found tiny handprints on the blocked entrance.
People have heard children singing late at night, even though no one is there. These reports are often linked to a nearby workhouse that once housed orphans.
In 2023, CCTV caught images of pale faces looking out from the towers. When checked, the towers were empty. The castle is often named one of the creepiest in England.
Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Address: Castle Hill, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1XY
Carisbrooke Castle has several ghost stories. One of the best-known is of Elizabeth Ruffin, a young girl who drowned in the castle well. Visitors have seen her pale face in the water and heard quiet crying.
There’s also the Grey Lady, a silent figure seen walking around the moat, followed by four ghostly dogs. Inside the castle, a man in old work clothes—called the Brown-Jerkin Man—has been seen near the outer walls.
Strange things often happen in the donkey wheel room. EMF meters have spiked during demonstrations, and lights have flickered for no reason.
Read about Carisbrooke Castle on Spooky Isles
Scotney Castle, Kent
Address: Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN
Scotney Castle is said to be haunted by Walter de Scoteni. He was executed for poisoning and now appears as a pacing shadow near the ruins.
A dripping, hooded man has been seen climbing out of the moat. People believe he’s the ghost of Father Richard Blount, a Jesuit priest who escaped by swimming across the water in the 1500s.
Another story tells of Arthur Darrell, a smuggler who faked his death and was buried in a coffin filled with rocks. Loud banging has been heard at night on the old tower door, as if someone wants to get out.
Brougham Castle, Cumbria
Address: Brougham, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2AA
Brougham Castle is haunted by the ghost of Lady Anne Clifford. Locals say her carriage, pulled by six horses, appears every 22 March – the date of her death. It rides up to the gate, then fades away.
Nearby Brougham Hall has a skull built into the wall. Every time someone tried to move it, screams and strange noises would fill the air. It was only quiet when the skull was returned.
Some believe the area was once home to giants and sorcerers. The sounds of marching soldiers have been recorded on nearby battlements by TV ghost-hunters.
Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Somerset
Address: Farleigh Hungerford, Bath, Somerset, BA2 7RS
Farleigh Hungerford Castle has a dark past. Lady Agnes Hungerford murdered her husband and burned his body in the castle ovens. Her ghost is said to walk quietly through the chapel at dusk.
Another ghost is Lady Elizabeth Hungerford. She was locked in the tower by her husband. People have heard crying and clanking chains near the stairs.
In 2023, a podcast team recorded a woman’s voice saying “help me” in the crypt. They were alone at the time, and no one else was nearby.
Tips for Would-Be Ghost-Hunters
- Check access times. National Trust properties often close their properties at dusk; after-hours ghost hunts must be pre-booked.
- Pack layers and torches. Many corridors are unlit, and temperature drops are part of the experience.
- Log your evidence. Staff love hearing credible accounts. Use the visitor books or dedicated “haunted history” email addresses where provided.
Have you experienced anything uncanny at these sites? I’d love to hear your story!
Have you seen a ghost in any of these National Trust castles? Tell us about your paranormal experiences in the comments section below!
