Essex’s haunted woods and commons hold some of the region’s darkest secrets – places where the dead don’t rest and the living aren’t always welcome
When most people think of haunted Essex, they picture crumbling mansions, shadowy pubs or ancient churches with creaking pews. But some of the county’s most unsettling ghost stories come not from buildings, but from the woods, commons, and lonely rural paths that surround them.
Here are some of Essex’s spookiest haunted woods and commons you can visit.
Epping Forest
Loughton/Epping border, IG10 / CM16
Epping Forest is one of the most haunted natural landscapes in the UK, stretching more than 2,400 hectares along the Essex and London border.
With its deep historical roots and notorious criminal past, it’s no surprise it’s linked to so many ghost stories.
The most famous spirit is Dick Turpin, the 18th-century highwayman, said to gallop through the trees near High Beach, his cloak billowing and horse hooves echoing unnaturally on soft ground.
A headless horseman is also seen near Wake Arms, and shadowy figures often flit between trees along the Loughton Loop.
The forest’s eerie atmosphere is often linked to violent deaths and suicides, and some ghost hunters believe it is a “thin place”, where the boundary between the living and dead is especially fragile.
Paranormal investigators have reported disembodied whispers, sudden temperature drops, and figures caught on night-vision equipment.
There have even been sightings of a drowned girl near Connaught Water.
Read about Epping Forest’s Haunted Suicide Pool
Belhus Woods Country Park
Aveley, RM15 4XU
Belhus Woods Country Park in Aveley is a tranquil woodland and lake area by day, but once the sun sets, strange energies are said to stir.
Once the estate of the aristocratic Barrett-Lennard family, the woods are now home to local legends involving a phantom horse and rider seen galloping silently across moonlit paths before vanishing into trees.
Another recurring report is the sound of children laughing and calling, especially near the lake, with no one visible nearby.
Ghost hunters have explored Belhus and recorded EMF spikes, cold spots, and unexplained light anomalies.
Visitors have described a distinct feeling of being watched, especially around the darker inner trails near the old estate boundary.
Some believe the spirits may be linked to the estate’s history, where staff and children once lived in isolation during hard winters and wartime rationing.
Galleywood Common
Galleywood, near Chelmsford, CM2 8TS
Galleywood Common, on the outskirts of Chelmsford, appears to be an open, welcoming space—but its past is steeped in military history and lingering ghost stories.
Once used as a Napoleonic defence site and horse racing venue, the common is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Napoleonic officer in full uniform, who walks the edge of the trees before vanishing into thin air.
Visitors also report hearing distant gunfire, heavy marching, and sometimes catching the smell of smoke with no visible fire.
The presence of artillery trenches and a former military redoubt may explain the energy that some believe still haunts the site.
Ghost sightings tend to cluster near the wooded section between Galleywood Church and the old racecourse area, especially on misty days.
The common has been featured in paranormal forums and investigated by local ghost groups, some of whom claim to have captured strange light anomalies in the trees.
Danbury Common
Danbury, near Chelmsford, CM3 4JJ
Danbury Common, owned by the National Trust, is a wide stretch of heathland, gorse, and dense woodland with a reputation for strange goings-on.
Visitors frequently report hearing low chanting, often described as rhythmic and unsettling, emanating from the deeper sections of the forest.
There are also claims of green mists drifting across the path, accompanied by sharp temperature drops and the sensation of static energy in the air.
Some attribute the activity to old witchcraft practices, as the Danbury area has a long history of pagan and nonconformist religious worship.
The area also saw Civil War skirmishes, adding to the belief that residual energies may still linger.
Dog walkers have reported pets barking at unseen forces or freezing in fear. A few even claim to have heard unexplained animal growls coming from the underbrush when no wildlife is visible.
Writtle Forest
Near Chelmsford, CM1
A remnant of what was once part of a vast Saxon royal hunting ground, Writtle Forest today is a tangled network of public trails and bridleways known for its spooky atmosphere.
Locals speak of seeing floating orbs of light dancing through the trees, often appearing just after dusk.
There are also frequent reports of a shadowy figure walking the same narrow path each night, vanishing before it reaches the clearing.
Whispers and muffled voices have been recorded by ghost hunters in the area, and some visitors have described sudden feelings of nausea or disorientation while walking certain stretches of the forest.
One theory is that the residual energy of ancient hunts, or even Saxon sacrificial practices, could be responsible.
Dogs are known to bark or pull violently away from specific areas for no clear reason, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
Black Chapel Woods
Langdon Hills, SS16
Hidden behind the tree lines of Langdon Hills Country Park lies Black Chapel Woods, a mysterious and largely forgotten area tied to the ruins of a long-vanished religious building.
Known for its intense silence and strange acoustics, the woods have earned a reputation for paranormal activity.
Visitors report hearing distant drumming, a woman sobbing, and feeling as if they’re being watched, especially near the presumed site of the chapel.
Legends suggest that the chapel may have been used for clandestine religious gatherings or even pagan rituals, though no structural remains are visible today.
Several ghost hunting groups have claimed sightings of a hooded figure, described as tall, static, and semi-transparent, standing motionless among the trees.
The path from the Langdon visitor centre into this area is especially unnerving on overcast days, when the light seems to dim unnaturally.
Blue House Farm Fields and Marshes
North Fambridge, CM3 6GU
Blue House Farm, a vast 600-acre nature reserve near the River Crouch, is mainly known for its wildlife and marshland views. But when night falls, it takes on a much more sinister character.
Visitors have reported seeing unexplained lights hovering over the marsh, sometimes mistaken for lanterns or torches, which then rise into the sky or vanish.
There have also been reports of a ghostly figure standing motionless near the water’s edge, particularly during low tide.
A persistent humming sound, described as metallic and mechanical, has been noted in areas where no machinery operates.
Theories abound: some believe it could be residual energy from wartime activity, as the region once hosted defence structures and decoy sites.
Others link the lights to shipwrecked sailors or smugglers who perished in the estuary.
Though officially part of the Essex Wildlife Trust, parts of the marsh feel completely isolated, and some walkers refuse to return after dark.
Have you visited any of these haunted woods and countryside in Essex? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
