This is a guest contribution from Jacob Dillon.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying that certain places have a spooky feel about them, and it’s no surprise that people have reported all sorts of unusual visions and experiences at the locations on this list. Perhaps if you go along and pay some of these places a visit, you’ll have a paranormal experience of your own. But if you do experience an apparition, don’t say that we didn’t warn you…
1. Ancient Ram Inn, United Kingdom
Located in the delightfully picturesque sounding Wotton-under-Edge, the Ancient Ram Inn was built nearly a thousand years ago back in 1145. It hasn’t always been an inn though, housing everyone from priests and masons to slaves before becoming an inn/public house. Ghosts that are said to haunt the inn include the spirits of children and a high priestess, as well as an incubus, which is the male version of a succubus.
2. Borgvattnet Haunted Vicarage, Sweden
The clue is in the name here. I first came across Borgvattnet Haunted Vicarage when I was working on essay papers for the best dissertation writing service I’ve come across. Built in 1876, the vicarage gained a reputation for spooky goings on during the middle of the 20th century. Now a B&B, its guests have repeatedly heard everything from footsteps and music to the sound of women crying. If you manage to stay there for the night then you’ll be given a certificate to prove that you survived the experience.
3. York, England
York is said to be the most haunted city in Europe and has earned the nickname of “the city of 1,000 ghosts”. Part of that could be down to the fact that it was originally built by the Romans in 71 AD and later occupied by the Vikings. One of the best ways to experience the ghosts of York Minster, The Shambles and the York Dungeon is to go on one of the many ghost walks that are hosted throughout the city.
Like with a Private Ghost Tour of York or a York Ghost Tour by Vintage Bus.
4. Port Arthur, Tasmania
Originally a penal colony, the island of Port Arthur was abandoned in 1877 and has been a tourist destination ever since. During your visit, you can take a ghost tour of the ruins or head over to the Isle of the Dead, where prisoners were buried in unmarked graves.
5. Myrtles Plantation, United States
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Myrtles Plantation has a reputation for the occult because it’s said to have been built on top of an Indian burial ground. Ghostly apparitions include the ghost of a former slave as well as a haunted mirror and the ghost of William Winter, who was fatally shot on the front porch. It’s believed that as many as ten murders have occurred inside the house.
6. Mary Kings Close, United Kingdom
Located in Edinburgh’s Old Town, Mary Kings Close used to be a trading hub during the 1600s. Then the Black Death swept across Europe and the close-knit streets of Mary Kings Close were badly hit. It was first abandoned and then sealed off from the public in the 1700s. Now reopened to guided tours, there have been reports of people suddenly feeling unwell, being grabbed by ghostly hands or even having coins thrown at them from seemingly out of nowhere.
7. Aokigahara Forest, Japan
You might have heard of Aokigahara Forest because of its nickname, the Suicide Forest. It’s said to have been the site of 500 suicides since the 1950s, and so perhaps it’s no surprise that it’s said that dozens of wandering spirits call the forest their home. When I was searching for grademiners reviews, I found a stunning piece of custom writing that looked into whether there could be large deposits of iron beneath the forest floor. The iron could interfere with compasses and explain why so many people get lost there. Or perhaps it’s just the forest demons.
8. Devil’s Pool, Australia
This naturally occurring pool in Queensland is said to have been cursed by an aboriginal woman who drowned herself in the waters. It’s estimated that nearly 20 people have died in the Devil’s Pool since the late 1950s, and so perhaps the curse is true. Dare you swim in it?
9. Pluckley Village, United Kingdom
Based in Kent, this little village was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the most haunted village in England. According to local legend, over a dozen ghosts roam its streets, including The Red Lady, who haunts the churchyard, and the ghost of a highwayman who was run through with a sword and pinned to a tree.
10. RMS Queen Mary, United States
Owned by the city of Long Beach in California, the RMS Queen Mary is a floating hotel with a bloody history. During its active service during the Second World War and as a luxury liner in the early 20th century, the Queen Mary witnessed a murder, the accidental death of a sailor and children drowning in its pool. The engine room in particular is said to be home to its fair share of ghosts and paranormal phenomena.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or not, there’s no denying that each of the places on this list are worth a visit if only for their beauty. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll start out as a non-believer and find that by the time you’ve visited a few of these locations, you’ve changed your mind. Stranger things have happened, as these haunted locations show. Happy travels.
About the Contributor
Jacob Dillon is a freelance writer and amateur ghost hunter. When he’s not out in the field investigating haunted buildings, he can usually be found writing a custom essay, providing help with essays on EssayMama or chatting to other paranormal investigators on forums and social networking sites.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
There is no way I’d swim in Devii’s Pool. Even if it wasn’t haunted, I’d wonder why it was named Devil’s Pool!
HA!!!! Great point. I like the way you think!