This Gothic Yorkshire Spot Has Been Named One Of The Spookiest Walks In The UK

Yorkshire is set to be taken over by ghosts and ghouls as the spooky season is upon us. Pumpkin patches, bonfires and more are set to transform God’s Own Country. And as Halloween creeps ever closer, you can check out the UK’s spookiest walks from haunted woods to rotten ruins. These walks are only for the brave.

We love this time of year, not just for the spooky side, but also for the autumn walks where the leaves are changing and we get to adorn ourselves in woolly jumpers and find those cosy spots for a marshmallow-topped hot chocolate.

GO Outdoors has used Tripadvisor reviews that highlight spooky and ghosts alongside reports of paranormal activity to identify the scariest walking spots in the UK. And, of course, with Yorkshire being steeped in history, it’s not surprising it’s made the top 10.

With spooky stories from its past, Yorkshire has had all sorts of goings-on, and one particular spot made the top 10 spookiest trails: Whitby. And in particular is Whitby Abbey and its clifftops, which was voted seventh spookiest walk in the UK, pulling in the second most reviews mentioning spooky keywords, at 599.

Known for inspiring Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s easy to see how the ruins of Whitby Abbey, which loom over the town, inspired the Gothic classic. Once a great Benedictine monastery, it has been battered by storms but still displays a majestic Gothic beauty.

Beating Whitby to the top spots were Wistman’s Wood in Devon, which came in first place, Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire in second and Culloden Battlefield in Inverness, which came in third place.

Author and Hiking Enthusiast at GO Outdoors, Natalie Wolfenden, reminds us, though: “Finally, while walking through a spooky setting can be exciting, remember that many of these locations are steeped in history. Whether it’s ancient woodlands or historic battlefields, make sure to be respectful and leave no trace”.