Not every haunted hotspot delivers chills, but some defy the odds and leave you breathless, writes EMMA SAUNDERS of Ghostly Gatherings
Not every famous haunted location lives up to its name.
Some look amazing in photos and have loads of stories attached, yet when you actually get there, nothing. I’ve had a few of those over the years.
Bran Castle in Romania was one of them. It had been on my bucket list for years – I grew up on the old Christopher Lee Dracula films – so when I finally had the chance to go in 2023, I went.
From the bottom, looking up, it’s stunning. But inside it’s bare. Most of the furniture looked like modern props and there was no real atmosphere.
On top of that, it was packed. We were squeezing past people in the corridors. If there was anything there, it was lost in the noise and bustle.
Maybe if I’d had the place to myself at night it would have been different. But that day, nothing.
Clophill Church ruins in Bedfordshire are another one with a big reputation, but when we went in 2022, it was completely flat.
We tried everything – spirit box, EMF meters, rem bears, cat balls – and not a single response. I didn’t feel anything either.
I think the stories there come more from its witchcraft history than from genuine hauntings. Witchcraft and the paranormal are two very different things.
I don’t believe graveyards hold spirits anyway. I think your energy stays where you died or where you spent most of your time. Clophill, for me, is just an empty churchyard with a reputation.
Then there are places I haven’t been to – like 30 East Drive – and don’t plan to.
It’s not that I don’t think anything’s there. I just think constant investigations can wear a place down.
If you’ve got people going in week after week, cleansing it and asking the same questions over and over, the spirits must get tired of it. Like stone wearing smooth – over time, it just fades.
But it’s not always like that.
The Skirrid Inn in Wales is one of the busiest places for investigations, with people in there every week, and it’s still brilliant.
We’ve had great nights there. The atmosphere is strong and the activity’s still there.
Maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the weight of what’s happened over the years, but it proves that even with constant visitors, some places hold on to their energy.
Some places will disappoint you and some won’t.
Sometimes you can tell before you go, sometimes you can’t.
And every so often, you’ll find somewhere that surprises you – either because nothing happens when you were sure it would, or because it turns out to be better than you ever expected.
Have you been to the site of a famous haunting and been disappointed? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below!
