8 Haunted Places to Visit in Devon

Halloween is my most favourite time of the year. And what better way to spend your time then visit a haunted house? Or castle? Or hotel? Or pub? If that sounds like a spooky good time to you then here are 8 haunted places I would recommend to visit in Devon.

Okehampton Castle, Okehampton

Okehampton Castle is over 1000 years old and claims one of the more macabre ghosts. 

Lady Howard once lived there and managed to kill four consecutive husbands. According to legend, as a punishment for her crimes Lady Howard is forced to travel between Okehampton and Dartmoor every night to pick a single blade of grass. Only when the land is bare will she be free.

Locals who have spotted her during these journeys have noted that she is seen in a carriage made of the bones of her husbands and driven by a headless chauffeur.

Powderham Castle, Exeter

Built around 1379, it is the ancestral home of the Earl and Countess of Devon and one of the oldest family homes in England. 

The Grey Lady is a very common site at Powderham. She has been seen strolling between the castle and the church and often seen in the library where she leaves a cold chill in her wake. It is thought that the Grey Lady is Lady Frances who died at the age of 40 in the 1700s and spotting her is a bad omen. 

The ghosts of an unknown mother and child are also seen around the castle. During renovations around 200 years ago, workers found a hollow wall in the guard tower. When the wall was removed they discovered a secret room containing the remains of a woman and child that were most likely bricked into the room and left to die. The remains were given a proper and dignified burial at Powderham church.

Powderham is now a popular wedding venue and holds multiple events during the year including food festivals and a Christmas at the Castle light display.

Berry Pomeroy Castle, Totnes

Berry Pomeroy in South Devon, is said to be one of the most haunted spots in the UK and the most haunted castle.

Some of the most popular and often sighted “residents” include the Blue Lady and the White Lady. 

The White Lady is reported to be Margaret Pomeroy who haunts the dungeons of St Margaret’s Tower and waves at visitors. Her sister Eleanor (after being overcome by jealousy) locked her in the dungeons where she starved to death. 

The Blue Lady is supposably the daughter of a Norman castle lord. She wanders the dungeons grieving for her baby (sired and killed by her own father) and tries to lure visitors to the tower by asking for help.

The Church House Inn, Torbryan 

Built in the 13th century, with older parts of the building dating back to 700CE, this is reportedly the most haunted pub in the South West.

One of the most common sightings is that of a menacing monk who lurks around the bar. Guests have also reported seeing the ghost of an unknown man and a disembodied hand haunting the bedrooms. 

My most favourite story from the inn is that of the wood panelling behind the bar. The wood was stripped from the Spanish Armada and patrons have reported seeing screaming faces in the wood. 

Buckland Abbey, Plymouth

In 1582 the Abbey was sold to famed explorer Sir Francis Drake and is now owned by the National Trust. Local legend says that in order for Drake to complete renovations within three days he made a pact with the Devil. 

As a punishment for this deal Drake is doomed to spend eternity driving a black hearse, drawn by four headless horses across Dartmoor followed by a pack of hellhounds looking for the souls of unbaptised children. 

Inside the Abbey is Drake’s drum. From his death bed he gave strict instructions that this drum be returned to his home. Drake’s spirit is said to live on in this drum and will beat whenever England is in danger. People have reported hearing it beating during the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Falklands War in 1982 and when London was hit by a terrorist attack in 2005.

Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor

It is believed that Wistman’s Wood is the only thing left of an ancient forest dating back 7000 years and is known to be one of the most haunted places in the country. 

The woods were thought to be a sacred ground for Druids and they would hold Pagan rituals here. A huge boulder in the woods has become known as The Druids Stone. 

It is also thought that this is where the kennels are for the wisht hounds. Giant black dogs with fiery eyes that run with the devil over the moors. 

It is no surprise that locals will avoid the area as soon as the sun goes down.

Burgh Island, Kingsbridge

Burgh Island is located just off the coast of South Devon and opposite Bigbury on Sea. The Burgh Island Hotel is probably most famous for featuring in Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None”. 

Back in the 14th century Pirate Tom Cocker made the island his hideout until he was caught and hung in 1395. 

Apparently he walks around the island every year on the anniversary of his death and according to locals there is an overwhelming feeling of sadness at the spot. 

Saltram House, Plymouth

Overlooking the Plym estuary and surrounded by 500 acres of parkland, Saltram is another beautiful National Trust owned property.

According to the trust, the legend goes that a kitchen maid was murdered within the house and her ghost still roams the property, melting through doors and never reappearing on the other side. Her murderer and his motive were never discovered. 

Another ghost that has been spotted is that of a child who was seen sitting on the edge of a resident’s bed before eventually dissolving into thin air. 

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So there are just some of the many many haunted places in Devon. Have you visited any of these properties and experienced anything ghoulish?