Haunted Roads: These Are Britain’s Spookiest Places To Drive
Travel and stories go hand in hand. Driving is no exception. So it’s not surprising that Britain’s roads have developed their own mythology and folklore, some of which concerns spooks and spectres. These are Britain’s most haunted roads…
The M6 Motorway
When thinking of haunted roads you might find yourself imagining dark and quiet country lanes. But the nation’s most haunted road is actually a busy motorway. The M6 is approximately 230 miles long, stretching from Rugby to Gretna, Scotland. It sits upon a series of historic roads that date back to as early as 55 BC and the Roman occupation. Motorists have reported seeing marching Legionaries and apparitions of an hysterical woman. A number of drivers have also reported seeing ‘eyes’ staring at the from the roadside. If you want an encounter with the supernatural, the M6 is (statistically) your best bet.
Blue Bell Hill, A229, Kent
By Chris Whippet, CC BY-SA 2.0
Some roads are defined by everyday occurrences, like congestion or the presence of potholes. Others, however, are defined by the tragedies that transpire upon them. This is the case with Bluebell Hill in Kent. There have been countless reports of ghost sightings over the years. The most common concerns sightings of Judith Langham, a bride-to-be who tragically died in 1965 on the day of her wedding. She was just 22. Since her passing, drivers have reported colliding with a woman in a wedding dress, only to find that she’s disappeared once they attempt to help her. Locals have also spoken of encounters with phantom hitchhikers near the Lower Bell pub who simply vanish mid-journey. Many of these encounters have even been reported to police services; a testament to the frequency and the effect they have on witnesses.
Stockbridge Bypass, Sheffield
By Wendy North, CC BY-SA 2.0
In 1988, a new road was built across parts of the Peak District to improve access to the M1 Motorway. As soon as its construction began, reports of paranormal activity began to emerge. Security staff who monitored the road at night reported encounters with a ghostly monk. Others stumbled upon children, singing and dancing in the dark; suggesting that they simply disappeared once they attempted to investigate. Since then the road has been the unfortunate sight of a number of deadly car accidents. Motorists travelling across the road have even reported hearing banging on their car roofs and even their vehicles being ‘shaked’.
Electric Brae, Aryshire, Scotland
By Stephen Corry – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
This is a weird one. Electric Brae isn’t the sight of ghostly encounters. Instead, locals report a curious phenomenon. Whilst driving downhill, they’ve suggested that they’ve found themselves coming to a halt and going uphill instead. Early explanations varied from malignant forces and even a witch’s curse. More likely, however, is the hypothesis that the road is actually a ‘gravity hill’. These present people with an optical illusion in which a slight downhill appears as an uphill slope. As a result, a stationary car will appear to move upwards on its own; this is the same phenomenon you might find at a ‘crooked’ house or pub. The road’s name gets its ‘electric’ from an early explanation that electric or magnetic forces may be at play.
The Devil’s Highway, A666, Bolton
By Parrot of Doom – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Any road with ‘666’ in its name is bound to develop a reputation sooner or later. The numbers, of course, are often said to be Biblically-related to the Devil or Satan; and therefore have sinister and evil connotations. A number of motorists have spoken of encounters with “dark shadows” that lurk in the area at night. They’ve been said to cause cars to swerve and to crash into oncoming vehicles. Locals, allegedly, avoid the road which has also been the site of a disproportionate amount of car accidents. Maybe it’s time for a name change?
The A75, Scotland
By Ann Cook, CC BY-SA 2.0
Some of Britain’s haunted roads have an on-going reputation. That is to say they continue to produce reports and accounts of the supernatural. Others, however, are defined by more singular and isolated occurrences. This is the case with the A75 in Scotland, which links the towns of Stranraer and Gretna. In 1962 Derek and Norman Ferguson (yes, we finally have some names) had a truly surreal experience traversing the road late one night.
They claim a large hen flew towards their windscreen, only to disappear at the point of impact. They were than charged by a succession of spectres, including an old woman with outstretched arms, a screaming man with long hair and succession of animals. These included ‘great cats, wild dogs, goats, more hens and other fowl, and stranger creatures’. It gets weirder. After the encounters the temperature dropped and the vehicle began to shake violently. This stopped once the occupants went outside to investigate. Then, finally, they reported seeing a furniture van (yes, you read that correctly) that drove towards them and then disappeared. Since then, HGV drivers have reported feeling uncomfortable driving along the road at night, with some (allegedly) quitting their jobs as a result. But nothing has topped the experience of Derek and Norman Ferguson.
Haunted Roads: Fact Or Fiction?
Whether our ‘haunted’ roads are home to supernatural forces and goings-on or not is for each motorist to decide for themselves. Some stories are undoubtedly hearsay, the products of tall-tales and the usual folkloric mix. Others, however, seem to have had quite the impact on those who report to have experienced unusual encounters. Either way, our roads are a part of our history. It’s often the case that even the latest highways sit upon ancient roads and pathways and share their history. So, next time to you find yourself driving down an empty stretch of road at night, think on these stories and the impact they’ve had. Who knows, perhaps you’ll end up with your own story to tell?
The Top Five Most Dangerous Roads In The World – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/top-five-dangerous-roads-world/
Afraid Of The Dark: 100,000 New Drivers Have Never Driven At Night – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/afraid-of-the-dark-100000-new-drivers-have-never-driven-at-night/
