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With its long and interesting history, there’s no surprise that Cornwall has more than its fair share of ghosts. That’s without getting into things like piskies, fairy folk, headless hell hounds and of course, the Beast of Bodmin Moor!
But if you are planning a visit or simply love a good spooky story, here are some of the most haunted places in Cornwall to inspire you.
Haunted Pubs
Haunted pubs are one of the easiest places to check out for yourself. After all, who doesn’t love to stop off for a pint or a glass of wine while travelling? And with these locations, the spirits aren’t just on the shelves.
The Punch Bowl Inn, Looe
The Punch Bowl claims to be one of the oldest pubs in the UK but it definitely is old and notable for its unusual ghost. Sadly, the pub is now closed but the building still exists. The ghost of a cockerel was said to haunt it but the spirit was actually that of a vicar who was either murdered or died accidentally and returned as a ghostly bird. Why the resident ghost chose this form, no-one knows!
The Albion, Liskeard
The pub is outside Liskeard in the village of Crantock and has a fireplace that is said to connect to a smuggler’s tunnel under the village and out to the beach. The ghost inside is said to be that of a smuggler along with another of a man in a brown suit. Another possibility is that the ghost is someone who died on HMS Coventry – timbers from the ship were used in the 1850s during a renovation.
Smugglers Den Inn, Newquay
According to the book Paranormal Cornwall, the Smuggler’s Den started out as a farm called Trebellan Farm which was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The ghost is said to be that of one of the smugglers that gave the place its more recent name with the team behind the book having first-hand experience seeing the spook – well, almost!
First and Last Inn, Sennen
Cornwall has some pubs with interesting names! This one in Sennan was investigated by ITV West Country due to the stories of hauntings there. One of the ghosts is a lady seen on the landing, possible the corner landlord Annie George who, with her husband, blackmailed the inn owner into letting them live and run it for free.
Cats in the pub have a hard time and are often found shut in drawers and cupboards where they would struggle to get themselves. Cold spots, sensations of being touched and the feeling of having a fishing net thrown over you while sleeping has been reported.
The Bucket of Blood, Phillack
If you name a pub The Bucket of Blood, you just have to have a ghost or two to go with it! This pub in Phillack is an 18th-century property that gained its name due to the pub’s well constantly being filled with blood. The reason tuned out to be the mutilated body of an excise officer thrown into the well.
No surprise then that one of the ghosts of the pub is the spirit of the poor fella who is seen around the well and other parts of the pub. There’s also a phantom monk and someone likes to rearrange the furniture, give staff a little slap on the backside – and even pull a pint or two!
The Dolphin, Penzance
The Dolphin is an old pub – at least 500 years worth of revelry are behind it. It was said to be where Sir John Hawkins recruited the Cornish fleet that fought the Spanish Armada in the 16th century. Later, Judge Jeffries used it for his savage court to hunt down those who supported the Duke of Monmouth.
The most commonly seen ghost in the pub is a captain wearing a tri-cornered hat and lace ruffles with an impressive jacket complete with brass buttons. Locals knew him as George. Another ghost is from Victorian times and is seen passing quickly through the main bar. A third ghost is a fair-haired man who appears at the bottom of the bed of female guests and scaring them.
Haunted Hotels
Haunted hotels are one of those things you are either fascinated by or avoid studiously! If you love the idea of staying somewhere with long-term ghostly residents, these locations may be interesting. Or if you want to keep away from unexpected nighttime guests, then maybe another location is best…
Jamaica Inn, Bolventor
The Jamaica Inn sits in the centre of Bodmin Moor and is often mentioned on lists of the spookiest spots across the whole of the UK. It was originally built as a coaching inn back in the mid-1750s and is now a pub and restaurant. It was made famous by Daphne du Maurier and her book on smugglers named for it.
Among the hauntings, there is a highwayman in a three-cornered hat who can walk through locked doors. A young mother with a baby is seen sobbing and crying in Room 5 in the mirror while a young smuggler who was murdered is often seen in the courtyard. Other stories include hearing a carriage running over cobbles – despite the courtyard having been changed to gravel many years ago.
Headland Hotel, Newquay
The Headland Hotel is a spot that looks like it should be haunted! This impressive and grand hotel sits overlooking Fistral Beach and was once a military hospital for RAF servicemen.
No surprise then that there’s a ghost of a nurse seen in the building who often strokes the cheek of guests in the middle of the night to check on them. Another ghost is a maid seen in the ladies toilet who walks through a wall where there was once a door.
Wellington Hotel, Boscastle
Originally known as the Bos Castle Hotel, this coaching house dates to the 17th century and has had some famous guests over the years, including King Edward VII and Thomas Hardy.
One ghost is a very realistic man with a ponytail who vanished through a wall in the reception area. Another is a young girl who wandered throughout but most often in the tower top landing. According to Paranormal Cornwall, Room 10 is a hotspot, possibly because bodies were stored here before being taken along Coffin Way. there are also ghostly figures in the corridor around Room 9, witnessed in one case by a police officer.
Haunted Castles
There’s no real surprise that many castles have at least a ghost or two. Their long and often violent history makes them the perfect places for different types of ghosts and Cornwall’s castles and their surrounding buildings are no different.
Camelot Castle and Tintagel
Tintagel is one of the most famous castles in Cornwall and is closely associated with the legends of King Arthur. Some even say the ghost of Merlin haunts it although as a wizard of such power, it seems a bit unlikely!
Nearby Camelot Castle is a hotel built for visitors to the castle and this has become as haunted as the main castle. Ghosts have been reported throwing paintings from walls and waking up the guests as well as checking the rubbish to see what’s been thrown away.
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth
Pendennis Castle was built in the 17th century by Henry VIII to protect Carrick Roads when the Spanish and French were invading. Instead, the castle was used to capture royalists and trap them for six months where they eventually surrendered near starvation.
The castle has a number of ghostly inhabitants including a kitchen maid who fell down the staircase and died. Childish laughter has been heard along with phantom footsteps while the ghosts of both a former cook and lieutenant governor are both said to haunt Pendennis Castle.
Haunted Manors
Haunted manors and stately homes are an interesting mix of historic houses that are often associated with particular families or something even the aristocracy. Like castles, they can have a long and varied history that makes it no surprise they pick up reports of paranormal activity.
Pengersick Castle, Praa Sands
Pengersick Castle is actually a manor house and includes a tower house from medieval times and other parts dating from the 16th century.
As well as being old, the site is famous for one of the families who inhabited it. John Millaton fled to the area to escape a murder charge and made the tower as a fortified hideout. He was said to have never left the property but his sons included a sheriff of Cornwall.
John Millaton’s ghost is one of the spectral inhabitants of the building. Others include a black monk although no evidence of monks living there can be found.
Lanhydrock House, Bodmin
Another haunted spot around Bodmin is Lanhydrock House. Built in the 1630s by the Robarts family, it was mostly destroyed by fire in the 1880s. The lady of the house also died in the fire and may be the ghost of an old lady wearing grey often seen in the Drawing Room and Long gallery. She also appears in other parts of the house and is so realistic people don’t realise she is a ghost.
Godolphin House, Helston
Near to Tintagel Castle, this manor house is now a National Trust property but was the seat of the Duke of Leeds and Earl of Godolphin, dating from the 1500s. It is famous for it’s White Lady, who walks to the chapel from the house. The same route also has a ghostly funeral procession. She is said to be the wife of the 1st Earl, Margaret, who died in childbirth.
Other haunted spots
There are plenty of haunted buildings in Cornwall that fall outside these groups and here are a few of the most notable with their spooky stories.
Bodmin Jail, Bodmin
Bodmin Jail was one of the first ‘modern’ jails of its kind when it was built in 1778. Before that, the idea of larger jails holding multiple people wasn’t something that was done. Complete with its outdoor space for public hangings, it was the 1700’s answer to revolutionising the justice system!
No surprise with the conditions in the jail that it is now a very haunted spot. It certainly looks the part and there are gloomy passages and old cells that have the haunted feel. Notable ghosts include that of Selina Wadge who was executed for the murder of her infant son.
Kennal Vale, Redruth
Unlike many of the most haunted locations around Cornwall, Kennall Vale was added to the list of ghost stories and paranormal happenings in more recent times, in the last couple of decades. The site was home to a gunpowder mill and there were a series of accidents, leading to deaths. One of the worst was in 1838 when five mills and many workers were killed.
In modern times, people have reported problems taking photos in the vale while a strange silhouette was caught crossing the modern footbridge while it was closed for repairs. Shadow people have also been documented in the area. The ghost of one of the dead mill workers, William Dunstan, is also said to haunt the area.
Wheal Coates, St Agnes
Wheal Coates is a mine that is said to go down to the sea and by standing at the top, you can hear the crashing waves. It is also the location of the Towanroath engine house, one of the most notable industrial buildings in Cornwall, now a ruin.
Legends say that the miners who died working the mine are now ghosts in the mine shaft. The mine shaft is still accessible at low tide via a cave at the end of Chapel Porth beach – but with care!
Weird World verdict
As someone who lived in Devon for a few years and regularly went to many Cornish spots, there’s something about the county that makes every spooky story very believable! These are just a few of the most haunted locations in Cornwall and I’d love to hear your stories of others – or experiences in any of these!
Further reading
