The North(ish) Lass

Explore the North.

Author: Bryony Seager

  • Places to go: RSPB Leighton Moss

    Places to go: RSPB Leighton Moss

    In need of a little bit of peace and quiet, or nature therapy? RSPB Leighton Moss, near Silverdale, is the perfect place to find it. There’s areas of the reserve that are accessible without an RSPB membership, such as visiting the Eric Morecambe Hide (found just off the Warton road (not accessible during very high tides)), and the Causeway and Lower Hides, found just along from the main reserve. The walk to the lower hide is about 3km each way, and a decent pair of welly boots is definitely recommended! Then again, it’s also the best place to see otters on the reserve (and apparently there are two cubs at the moment!), so I think it’s absolutely worth it!

    The reserve itself is a varied habitat, but is most famous for its reedbeds – the largest in north-west England. This precious habitat is home to all sorts of species, including Bearded Tits, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Otters, Greenshank, Redshank, and many many others! It also provides an essential breeding ground for migratory birds that arrive here in the late winter or spring, finding cooler or warmer climes (depending on which direction they’ve come from!) in order to lay their eggs and raise their chicks.

    There are seven hides across the reserve, with four being accessible to wheelchair users (you can download the trail map here). There’s also the skytower, which will take you up into the trees for a literal birds-eye view of the reserve, and view that stretches for miles in various directions. The tower is a great place to watch the incredible Starling murmurations that happen at dusk on lots of evenings – sometimes these formations have been estimated to contain over twenty-thousand birds as they undulate through the sky!

    Bearded Tit (courtesy of the RSPB)

    If you go during the week, or early in the morning, the reserve is generally quieter than at the weekends, which might afford a better opportunity to see some of the shyer birds and wildlife. One species that definitely isn’t shy, however, are the local robins, who are so used to humans and the birdseed they offer, they’re quite willing to fly onto your outstretched fingertips to take the seed, as long as you stand still for a bit. It’s amazing when they do it, and it was so cool seeing a robin up that close. Now, to just tame my resident garden robin to do the same…

    Aside from the wildlife, there’s a cosy café in which to warm up after a walk at this time of year, and a wildlife shop where the proceeds, of course, go towards the RSPB’s mission of saving nature. If you know anything about me, you’ll know how passionate I am about the natural world. Nature is under threat and it needs our help and intervention so, if by my going for a nice walk and buying a cup of coffee, I can help do a tiny bit – count me in!

    Marsh Harrier (courtesy of the RSPB)

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  • Things to do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years

    Things to do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years

    It’s often said that we don’t explore what is on our doorstep; that we go on trips and days out, often travelling miles, but we don’t really go out and see the things we could actually walk to.

    So, that being said, here are some things you can do in Lancaster if you’ve lived here for years, that I bet most of you haven’t done yet!

    Go To Lancaster Museum

    Go on, be honest, have you ever actually been inside Lancaster Museum (next to the Library/near TK Maxx)? If the answer to that question is no, you absolutely should. The history of our city is much bigger than its somewhat diminutive size would suggest. From a Roman settlement, to being wrapped up in witch trials, to the less-than-storied participation in the Atlantic Slave Trade (did you know Lancaster was the third biggest port in the eighteenth century after Liverpool and Bristol? It was only because the Lune silted up that the trade drifted elsewhere). Lancaster Museum is spread out over two floors and is full of interesting information about the history of our city, very worth a visit!

    Tour Lancaster Castle

    If you’ve never been on a guided tour of Lancaster Castle, then it is well worth it. It only took me about eight years of living in the city before I actually got around to it!

    Tours are usually done in groups of ten or less, so you get an excellent experience of being able to hear the guide/ask questions as the group moves around the open areas of the castle. The castle has over eight hundred years of history, from the high medieval gate house, Elizabethan additions (built for defensive reasons during the scare of the Spanish Armada), the history of the witch trials, the Georgian jail cells (try going in one – it’s scary and dark!), the Lancaster regiments participation in the wars of the twentieth century, before the castle was given over for use as HM Prison.

    There’s also the courtroom to have a look around, as long as it isn’t in session. It’s the oldest working courtroom in Europe, and as someone who has been on a jury in there – it’s quite an interesting place to be! Not the most comfortable ever, but still…

    The tour itself takes a couple of hours, and is well worth it to learn a little bit more about one of the most incredible buildings in our city.

    Visit the Butterfly House

    This is definitely one for the late spring/summer when the butterflies have had a chance to emerge from their chrysalises and put on a colourful display. The butterfly house can be found in Williamson Park, which is a wonderful place to have a wander around – whatever the weather/season!

    Head to a Festival

    Lancaster has any number of street/city festivals throughout the year – from Dino Fest, to Chinese New Year, Light Up Lancaster, Christmas in Lancaster, Italian Festival, the Jazz Festival, and (when it happens – hopefully in 2026!) Lancaster Music Festival. There’s a lot going on throughout the year in Lancaster, and often there’s something to check out in the city on the weekends. Often these events have lots of free aspects to them, whether it’s watching a live band, or a light show, so if you’re looking for activities that are kinder on your wallet, check when the festivals are scheduled and head along!

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  • Introducing: Lovingly Artisan Bakery

    Introducing: Lovingly Artisan Bakery

    After many months of talking about doing it, I finally headed up to Plumgarths Lakeland Food Park on Thursday last week, to take a look at the bakery and shop for Lovingly Artisan bakery. Nestled on a road just outside Kendal, there are several foodie business on this small and welcoming business park.

    Lovingly Artisan bakery evolved from a bakery first started in the 1980s in Kendal when, after being introduced to slow-fermentation process, the founder Aidan and his partner Catherine, started Lovingly Artisan from their own home. The site at Plumgarths Lakeland Food Park was opened in 2010 as an expansion site and has been thriving ever since.

    The entire ethos of Lovingly Artisan is based on ditching ultra-processed bread, using British grain (including rarer grains that you don’t see very often such as Emmer and Einkhorn), and keeping things organic wherever possible.

    What struck me when I spoke to Catherine was the “soil to grain” commitment – looking for organic and regenerative farming practices which looks after the soil to ensure good quality crop, before the crop is milled by a local miller using a stone grinding process (which apparently retains better flavour than industrial milling processes), the leftover bran is then made into pellets which fires the ovens! I thought this was really great because I’m so passionate about sustainable practices and circular production methods. It is exactly what we need to be doing more of, and to find and support more small businesses making efforts to do this is uppermost in my mind.

    The shop itself was delightful, and the smell of fresh baking was to die for… I honestly could have spent hours in there, even though it’s a relatively small shop. There were so many goodies, little bits to taste, and lots of accoutrements such as dipping oils, rock salt, and kitchen implements. I bought several items, including kalamata olive bread, focaccia, Danish rye bread, and a pain-aux-raisin. I’ve already eaten the pain-aux-raisin, and can’t wait to tuck into the rest.

    I’ll be heading back up to Lakeland Food Park next week as they’re doing a Christmas Fair and Tasting event from the 4th – 6th December 2025! It’s definitely worth going if you’re a foodie in the region of the South/Central Lakes/North Lancs because I think it’s going to be delicious, and I’m excited to try all of the yummy goods!

  • First Saplings from Sycamore Gap Planted

    First Saplings from Sycamore Gap Planted

    I don’t know about you, but I remember where I was when I heard that the tree at Sycamore Gap had been felled. It was a few weeks after my thirtieth birthday (September) and I was at Chester Zoo. It seems odd, because it wasn’t a cataclysmic event, nobody died, and yet it was something that shook the nation, created news stories internationally (I had friends overseas messaging me, asking me why this particular tree was so significant, and why they were seeing it on their news), and had people talking here for months afterwards. I’d only walked that section of the wall a few months before, when I’d been staying at Hideaway Huts in the June of that year, and had fondly taken pictures of the tree before wandering off, confidently thinking “I’ll be back soon.” Turns out it’ll be a decade or two before I’ll be able to see such a thing in that location again, and I wasn’t the only one deeply upset by that fact.

    Because the Sycamore at Sycamore Gap was more than a tree. It was a symbol of Northumberland, and one of the iconic images of the UK. Standing between two steep hills with the spine of Hadrian’s Wall winding it’s way down the middle, the Sycamore (and the tiny offshoot next to it) stood as lone guardians of the Gap. People visited here from across the UK and around the world because of its extremely beautiful situation and because of its iconic status, and the tree became a place where people got engaged, where families bonded, where ashes were spread, and where memories were made. It was also famously featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. Despite the tree being conspicuously nowhere near Nottinghamshire, that film introduced Sycamore Gap to the world.

    Marc McGill on Unsplash

    After it was felled people were shocked. It felt like a friend had been taken from us. Why would anyone do such a thing to a gentle giant? Apparently, because they could and they thought it would be funny. I’m not going to waste many pixels or brain space on the idiots who did it, suffice to say that they were caught and charged, and ended up in prison. Good.

    But there is hope.

    Since the tree was felled, offcuts from the felled monarch were taken by the National Trust and by Northumberland National Park, and propagated to create hundreds of Sycamore saplings, all related to that mother tree. Naturally occurring saplings are also shooting where the tree once stood. Communities pulled together and it was decided by local public decision that the main pieces of the felled tree would become art installations, the largest piece ending up at The Sill in an exhibition entitled Sycamore Gap: Coming Home. Many people contributed memories to the exhibition, writing about what the Gap had meant to them. Local schools were also involved in making art to be situated alongside the professional photographs and art that were commissioned to commemorate the tree.

    Clement Proust on Unsplash

    Beyond the art exhibitions, there is even more good news. The first of the propagated saplings have now been planted outside of their careful nursery environment. Two saplings have gone to Coventry and Staffordshire, whilst others are soon to be planted in Cambridge, Hexham, Leeds, Berkshire, Sunderland, and County Tyrone. Eventually, there will be forty-nine locations for saplings, chosen from over five hundred applications that were made.

    “There are always good things worth fighting for, even after something so senseless” – Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust.

    These saplings will become notable features at various charity and community centres around the country. These include the Rob Burrow Centre for MND in Leeds, the charity Veterans in Crisis in Sunderland, and in each of the UK’s National Parks (15 in total), which will be planted in early 2026.

    It might be extremely literal, but I think this is a brilliant example of how hope, community effort, art, creativity, and determined spirit can be pulled from the wreckage of something senseless and shocking. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing these sturdy trees flourish and for Sycamore Gap to be once again back to its former glory.

  • Lancaster Grand Theatre: A Brief History

    Lancaster Grand Theatre: A Brief History

    As Christmas comes ever close and the Theatre becomes a hive of activity once again with not one, not two, but THREE pantomimes (Footlights, Schools’, and Adult), I thought I’d take a look at the historic venue that they will be taking place in. Having “trod the boards” in this historic theatre, I can say that it is a wonderful place to perform, and I can’t wait to get the chance to do so again.

    Lancaster Grand Theatre is a Grade II listed building built in 1782, and has been a mainstay of Lancaster’s cultural scene since then. Originally just called “The Theatre” and part of the Northern Circuit of theatres, where touring groups and players would make the rounds with their shows. The Grand is now the only surviving venue in it’s original state. The Grand Theatre is the third oldest working theatre in Britain, and it has been in near continuous use since it was built, apart from the odd year here and there when it has been dark. Pretty good going for a theatre approaching it’s venerable 250th birthday!

    In the first summer it opened, the theatre put on Hamlet, with Lady Macbeth being played by Sarah Siddons, a relation of one of the men who opened the theatre. Other performers included Ira Aldridge, who was the first Black British actor to appear on a UK stage.

    There is a pervasive theatre myth that the ghost of Sarah Siddons haunts the venue. I mean, what would a theatre be without a good ghost story and a residential spirit? As someone who has spent quite a bit of time there, I have yet to meet her, although if I do, I do hope she’s friendly. After all, this was a place she loved to be! Hopefully she would appreciate everything the volunteers and players do to keep The Grand going and vibrant.

    Ira Aldridge (1807?-1867) in the character of Othello

    Theatre performances at the theatre declined through the 1830s and 1840s, but it was reopened in 1849 as a music hall with a focus on classical music, as well as having a space for a museum for the Natural History Society, and was increasingly used for lectures. Charles Dickens appeared twice in 1860s, reading from A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers.

    In 1897 the theatre was modified, including a new stage, by architect Frank Matcham, but the work of this architect was lost in 1908 when the building was badly damaged by fire. It reopened the same year, after significant restoration, as The Grand Theatre. In it’s currently form it seats 457 over two levels and is owned by Lancaster Footlights, an amateur dramatic group, who have been performing since the 1920s, but bought the theatre in 1951 for £7,000 to save it from demolition in the remodelling of the Canal Quarter in the city. This “remodelling” involved mass demolition of streets of old housing, in order to rebuild for “healthier,” more spaced out, housing.

    Tours of the theatre that explore it’s history, both older and more recent, are available throughout the year, hosted by extremely knowledgeable volunteer tour guides. Check out Lancaster Grand’s website for more information of when you can visit and take a tour.

    There is also very exciting things planned for the theatre’s future, and a major fundraising operation is ongoing to raise money for an extension to make a new foyer, and to make the building more accessible for all.

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  • It’s Panto Season (Nearly!)

    It’s Panto Season (Nearly!)

    Lancaster Footlights Presents: Snow White, The Fairest Panto in all the land kicks off at the end of November!

    “Rehearsals are going really well with our cast of 39(!). There’s lots of music, dancing, fun, and laughter! [The trailer] will be out very soon for everyone to see… and our talented crew is hard at work making final touches to the amazing set pieces. Not long to go now! I hope to see you all there! – C, Snow White’s Director.

    Opening night is on Friday 28th November, with a relaxed performance on the morning of Saturday 29th November. The relaxed performance will be a little bit quieter than the regular performances, and there will be no use of strobe lighting/flash-bangs etc., along with other accommodations, so guests who are more visually/auditory sensitive, want to have a dance in the aisles during the show, or shout out and join in, can come along and enjoy the panto to the fullest extent! (Note from the director: for tickets for the relaxed performance, please contact the box office ahead of the show date).

    A character familiarisation guide will be available before the show so visitors who would like to can get to know the characters before they come to see the show.

    “Join us as we bring to the stage the enchanting story of Snow White, the kind-hearted princess whose beauty is only rivalled by her gentle spirit. But all is not well in the kingdom! The wicked Queen, jealous of Snow White’s beauty, consults her magic mirror and hatches a dastardly plan to rid the kingdom of Snow White. Can Snow White escape the Queen’s clutches, find refuge in the enchanted forest, and discover her own happily ever after?”

    Annie Hughes as Snow White

    Having been in the panto last year, I’m very excited to be in the audience this year and appreciate all the hard work and wonder that goes into it from this side of the production. There are so many people involved and working hard on stage and behind the scenes to make the show including, but not limited to; main cast, chorus, director, lighting crew, sound crew, props + scenery team (both backstage during the show, and those who make/paint/construct the sets and props), chaperones for the younger cast, riggers (who fly the scenery in and out), front of house, photographers/videographers, box office, ushers, stage managers, and I’m sure I’ve still forgotten somebody!

    You can find a full list of show times and dates here, but don’t dilly-dally, as tickets are selling fast and the dates in the weeks before Christmas will sell out. I’ve got mine for the Friday before Christmas and I can’t wait to see it!

  • Five Amazing Authors From Lancashire

    Five Amazing Authors From Lancashire

    Seeing as Autumn is the perfect time for curling up with a good book by the fire, as the longer nights have drawn in, I decided to take a look at some of the homegrown literary talent from the North. So, if you want to read some Lancastrian voices, check out the authors I’ve highlighted below – some are modern, others very much not, and there’s quite the range of genres represented, so whatever floats your literary boat, there should be something for you to enjoy!

    (Some of these authors were born in areas that are now outside of Lancashire due to new county creations in the 1970s, but they were Lancashire when they were born, so I’m counting it!).

    Note – if you choose to purchase anything by these authors, could I please request that you try and support either local and independent bookshops, or high street retailers, rather than that online behemoth that shall not be named. Let’s try and keep the British bookshop alive!

    Joe Abercrombie

    Joe Abercrombie is a bestselling author of fantasy books and was born in Lancaster. His first trilogy The First Law is an introduction to an epic fantasy world on the brink of an Industrial Revolution, but also a world at war. The world created by Abercrombie is full of magic, lore, demons, and incredible adventure. There are nine novels set in The First Law universe (split into two trilogies and one omnibus of three standalone novels), with more purported to be on the way. Definitely one I’m going to be adding to my reading list!

    The Blade Itself, the first novel in The First Law trilogy

    Josephine Cox

    Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, and published novels under her full name, Jo Cox, and also the name of her mother Jane Brindle. She is often listed in the top three “most borrowed” books by the UK Public Lending Rights figures (i.e. when people go to libraries, they’re often picking Jo Cox, which is pretty cool!).

    Often set in the Northern towns and areas in which she grew up, Jo’s books are full of Northern warmth and humour, as well as reflecting some of the struggles that these industrial towns have experienced throughout the twentieth/twenty-first century. Her books have human stories at the heart, with romance, family dynamics, and friendship woven throughout. A few of her most popular titles are Don’t Cry Alone, A Daughter’s Return, and More Than Riches. Jo published over 50 books in her lifetime, before passing away at the age of 82 in 2020.

    Willy Russell

    Yes, that Willy Russell. Famous playwright and author, Willy Russell was born in Whiston, Lancashire. I’ve actually acted in a Russell play before, Our Day Out, and thought he was a fantastic playwright with a wonderful grip on language and the theatre space.

    His works, including Educating Rita and Blood Brothers, are firmly lodged in the canon of “need-to-know” plays. Educating Rita was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980 and starred Julie Walters and Mark Kingston. It went on to be made into a beloved film in 1983 with Julie Walters and Michael Caine in the lead roles.

    Willy Russell (who also writes music!)

    Jeanette Winterson

    Jeanette Winterson was born in Manchester in 1959. Probably most well known for her semi-autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit of growing up as Lesbian in a Pentecostal community, and rebelling against the conventions that she had been told to live by. By 16 Winterson had left home, and applied to work at Pandora Press, a feminist imprint that published Oranges Are…, which went on to win the Whitbread Prize for debut novel.

    Alongside many other works, she has also written a short story The Daylight Gate, published in 2012, about the Pendle Witch Trials which took place in Lancaster. The novella was published to coincide with the four hundredth anniversary of the trials.

    Elizabeth Gaskell

    Okay, this one is a bit of a curve ball – Elizabeth Gaskell wasn’t born in Lancashire, shock horror! – the reason she is included in this list is that she wrote several of her extremely well known novels whilst residing in the village of Silverdale, Lancashire. She stayed in a tower folly that I have actually stayed in for a short break (you used to be able to find the tower for holiday rent, as it has since changed owners, I don’t know if this possible anymore). If you would like to see where she wrote North and South and parts of Cranford, just take a wander down towards Jack Scout in Silverdale, past the Wolf House Gallery, and you will see what looks like a medieval tower in a private garden. It’s not medieval, and was built in the early Victorian period, but was utilised by Gaskell when she wrote. It’s in a beautiful situation, and you can climb to the top and onto the terrace, for panoramic views across Morecambe Bay and towards the Lake District. You can see why Gaskell chose it as a bolthole to write!

    The novels themselves are an intimate look at “ordinary” life during the Victorian period, with a lot of focus on family dynamics, the struggles/lives of women in a world dominated by men, as well as stark looks at poverty and the lives of those who lived it during the nineteenth century.

    Several of her novels including Wives and Daughters, Cranford, and North and South, have been adapted for television by the BBC.

    I’ll be checking out authors from the other Northern counties I like to explore in posts yet to come!

  • Happy Halloween!

    Happy Halloween!

    It’s the spookiest time of the year if you celebrate Halloween, or one of the most important festivals – Samhain – if you’ve an interest in pagan or Celtic lore/history. Samhain traditionally marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter, where darkness overpowers day (in the Northern hemisphere at least) and communities look towards colder nights of enjoying the fruits that summer bore. It’s a time for the warmth of the fire, being indoors, and feasting. Sounds good to me!

    If you’re into the spookier stuff, plenty of Halloween events continue on into November, including plenty of ghost tours, ghost hunts, and haunted sleepovers, as I mentioned in my piece about Spooky Places To Visit.

    If that’s not your jam, then check out my foodie focused piece about how to cook up an amazing Autumn Feast using ingredients and produce from Northern suppliers.

    To be honest, I lean more towards the latter part than the former. Whilst I do love the lighter summer foods, and the brightness of the days, I do find myself loving the “winter” food that we can now enjoy on a colder evening; casserole and dumplings; roast chicken dinner with yorkshire puddings; more pie than can ever be considered a good idea, and plenty more calorific things like that!

    The fading of the year needn’t be a time for sadness, thinking that there nothing to look forward until the spring rolls around. Instead, I say we should lean in, and find the beauty in the dark and in the cold. Look out for wildlife that we don’t get to see at other times of the year; take brisk walks through countryside or along the beach, and enjoy the cosy fire (fake or otherwise) when you get home in the evening. Also, statistically, the better telly is on in the winter as well… so there’s always that!

    However you’re welcoming in the fading of the year, I urge it to be just that; a welcome. Embrace the chill, and look for the wonder!

  • Nature In Autumn: What To Look Out For

    Nature In Autumn: What To Look Out For

    As the coldness creeps in and the nights get darker (remember clocks fall back for an hour this Sunday (26th October!)), it can be tempting to think that nature has gone to bed, that the flowers have died back, and she will only reawaken when the spring comes around in a few (and a bit) month’s time. But of course that’s not the case; there is a lot still to see, and unique things that nature shows us throughout the winter months, many of which can’t be seen at any other time of the year.

    Throughout the winter, many birds call the British Isles home, with many coming south or west to escape the harsher climes of Scandinavia, Russia, and others coming in from Greenland and Canada. Some of these migrants come in for months on end; arriving in late summer – September-time – and potentially not leaving until April/May, whilst others fly in between October and November, before leaving us in February and March.

    There are several species you can look out for in this part of the world as they fly in for the winter; Pink-Footed Geese arrive from Iceland and Norway, Barnacle Geese from the Arctic, you might see Teal ducks at RSPB Leighton Moss (they like wetlands and marshes), and perhaps Wigeons as well. Another prized sighting for a birder is some of our smallest migrant birds; Redwings, heard across the UK from October and Waxwings, which you might only see if there is a poor berry harvest in Scandinavia, and they choose to spend winter in the UK instead as a result.

    Aside from our feathered friends, other treasured things to see come Autumn are the brilliant red leaves of Virginia Creeper or Ivy, climbing and crawling its way up the front of a building it scarlet glory; or beautiful beech trees glowing cooper in the bright early November sunlight. Mushrooms are abundant on the forest floor and growing through tree roots and bark. I would urge you to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing if you plan to forage fungi, and seek out an expert guide or handbook for precise information.

    Of course there’s plenty of other life to find out and about in the woods and in the fields; throughout October and November you’ll be able to hear the bellows of stags in rut echoing out across the countryside, looking to secure breeding rights for the coming season. If you’re lucky, you might even see two stags go horn-to-horn and battle it out. Please be aware that stags can be more aggressive during this season, even those who are well used to humans (such as park dwelling deer). Keep your distance, and keep dogs on a lead/under control when around deer.

    Photo by Charlie Newman

    Other furry friends to look out for are wood mice, grey squirrels (busy burying acorns!), and hedgehogs preparing for the winter hibernation (okay, so hedgehogs aren’t fluffy per se, but they are still cute to look at!). This year’s fox kits will be being kicked out of the den by their mothers, so they’ll be lots of slightly-teenage looking foxes around for those who are patient enough to spot them, and badgers will be preparing their burrows for winter. Whilst these black and white denizens of the countryside do not hibernate, they will potential slow down as the months get colder, and spend more time underground, huddled together with the rest of the family!

    So there you have it! A short and sweet version of things to look out for this Autumn, with so much beautiful nature still be amazed by. I don’t know about you, but I always get a little sense of wonderment whenever I see a little wood mouse, or a hedgehog, scurrying across the garden wall; a bird (be it a visitor or a resident) chirruping away on a branch that’s losing its leaves… I love this time of year, and love being out and about in the cool crispness, enjoying the freshness of a glorious Autumn.

  • Spooky Places To Visit This Halloween

    Spooky Places To Visit This Halloween

    It’s spooky season! So, without further ado, I thought I’d do a round up of four haunted places that you can visit and experience the paranormal this Halloween!

    Muncaster Castle, Cumbria

    Do you want to spend a night in a haunted castle? At Muncaster they offer overnight ghost sits, where a small group can spend the night in the Tapestry Room, listening for the sounds of ghosts. The Tapestry Room is where visitors report disturbed nights, hearing footsteps in the corridor outside, and hearing a child crying from an adjoining room before being comforted by a lady singing. The story linked to this is that of Margaret Pennington, who died in the castle during her childhood from a bout of illness.

    Golden Fleece Pub, York

    The Golden Fleece Pub stands just over the road from York’s most iconic and historic street – The Shambles. Built before 1503 (this is when it first appears in the city records), and initially owned by the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, functioning as a coaching house. From 1656 it began operating as an inn, but it was not officially licenses until 1668.

    The beer garden is named after the most famous ghost of the Fleece; the Lady Alice Peckett, wife of the Lord Mayor of York at the beginning of the eighteenth century; she has been seen walking the hallways and stairways of the pub at night by many guests. Another ghost is reportedly that of a North American airman from World War II, who was staying at the Inn whilst on leave. He leaned out of one of the top floor windows and fell to his death, and there have since been sightings of a ghost wearing Canadian 1940s uniform.

    Many of the ghost tours of York feature the Fleece.

    Chillingham Castle, Northumberland

    The aptly named Chillingham Castle occupied a very strategic position during the bloody border wars between England and Scotland throughout the High and Late Middle Ages, meaning the castle often came under attack, or was raided by invading forces. During his campaign agains the Scots, Edward I stayed at Chillingham in 1298 before continuing on to the battle of Falkirk where the Scottish Leader William Wallace was captured.

    Other royals, namely Charles I and Edward VIII, have also stayed at Chillingham.

    ‘All houses in which men have lived and died are haunted houses. Through the open doors the harmless phantoms on their errands glide, with feet that make no sounds upon the floors.’ – Longfellow, poet, describing Chillingham Castle.

    Chillingham offers an array of Ghost Tours and Ghosts Hunts around the castle in the evenings and even overnight. You can see the offers here (although many are already sold out for 2025 – at least you’ll know where to look for next Halloween if it’s your thing!). Will you be (un)fortunate enough to see the pantry ghosts, or hear the spooky voices in the chapel?

    The spookiest/grimmest part of Chillingham has got to be the Torture Chamber. A display of medieval implements of punishment and persuasion are on display here, providing brave visitors with information about their grisly purpose and opportunity to thank their lucky stars that such practices are not in use today!

    Samlesbury Hall, Lancashire

    Samlesbury Hall, located just outside of Blackburn, was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth, and was the primary residence of the Southworth family until the early 17th century. Due to it’s seven hundred year history it’s had plenty of time to collect a few ghosts and spooky stories along the way!

    Samlesbury claims that they have thirteen unique ghosts haunting the hall and the grounds. There have been hundreds of spooky reportings from guests, former residents, and staff, across the centuries. The first published account of ghosts at Samlesbury Hall was a book published in 1873, giving the site a long legacy of the paranormal and reporting on it.

    The Ghost Room at Samlesbury Hall is located in the attic of the house and was opened in Autumn 2023. This was the first time the room has been open to the public and in use in nearly seven hundred years. Here you can read testimonies, audio stories, and visual media relating to the ghosts that haunt the Hall.

    The most famous ghost to haunt the Hall is Lady Dorothea Southworth, often referred to as the ‘Lady In White.’ She has been seen/reported numerous times since Elizabethan times.

    Have you ever experienced spooky happenings? Where was it? What was it like? Let me know in the comments below!