In Paranormal Cumbria, Steve Watson blends ghostly tales with personal memories to explore one of the UK’s most haunted regions, writes DAVID SAUNDERSON
Steve Watson has been a busy boy lately, with two new titles landing just in time for Halloween.
Hot on the heels of Paranormal Middlesbrough and Teesside, Watson heads west across the North for Paranormal Cumbria, offering a chilling tour of one of England’s most scenic counties.
As ever, the North East-based ghost hunter and co-founder of GHOSTnortheast brings a mix of solid research, local history and uncanny tales. But in this book, there’s also a personal note.
Watson recalls visiting the Lake District as a child and still returns regularly with his own family. That long-standing connection adds warmth to the ghostly subject matter and gives the book a more grounded feel.
From Carlisle, Brampton and Penrith in the north, through the Lake District, down to Grange-over-Sands and Barrow-in-Furness in the south, Watson explores Cumbria’s eerie folklore and haunted history.
He takes readers from creepy corners of Kendal to strange sightings in Penrith, combining eyewitness accounts with local legend.
Each chapter focuses on a different area, making the book easy to navigate and ideal for armchair explorers or those planning a haunted road trip.
As with his previous titles, Watson doesn’t attempt to prove or disprove anything. He simply presents the stories and lets you decide.
There’s also a rich selection of photographs throughout, helping to bring each location — and its resident spirits — to life.
The UK and Ireland are full of beautiful places, but if you’re going to go ghost hunting, Cumbria has to be one of the prettiest settings to do it in.
With its combination of atmospheric landscapes, folklore and first-hand stories, Paranormal Cumbria is another strong addition to Amberley’s ever-popular Paranormal series.
Paranormal Cumbria by Steve Watson is available from Amberley Publishing.
Have you encountered anything strange in Cumbria’s hills, towns or lakes? Tell us in the comments!
