A spooky ride: Our guide to 14 haunted bus routes across Britain

As the year turns, Britain cloaks itself in a unique and ancient magic. The air grows crisp, mist clings to the valleys, and the sun hangs low in the sky, casting long, dancing shadows. This is the season of stories, a time when the veil between worlds feels at its thinnest.

It is the perfect time for an adventure – not to sun-drenched beaches, but into the spectral heart of the nation’s past. This guide is your ticket to that other side, a journey not by car or train, but aboard the humble public bus, the unsung vessel of British exploration.

Forget the hassle of parking and the rush of the railway. These journeys invite you to sit back, watch the landscape unfold, and let the atmosphere build. Each route is a pilgrimage into the eerie—a passage through scenic countryside that culminates at a place steeped in legend, folklore, and bone-chilling history.

From the windswept moors of Yorkshire to the haunted smugglers’ dens of Cornwall, these journeys are tailor-made for a memorable day out during Halloween, the October half-term, or on a stark November weekend. They are sustainable, accessible, and deeply immersive. So, grab a ticket, take a seat, and prepare to explore haunted Britain, one spooky bus ride at a time.

Our spooky route guide at a glance

1. The Dracula Express: Follow in Dracula’s footsteps
   Explore Whitby Abbey & town on Coastliner 840
2. The Witches’ Trail: Tracing the tragic 1612 witch trials
   Explore Pendle Hill villages on routes 66/67
3. A Theatrical Terror: A comedy-horror show on wheels
   Explore York city centre on York CitySightseeing
4. The Radiant Boy: A visit to Britain’s “most haunted” castle
   Explore Chillingham Castle in Northumberland on route 470
5. The Plague Village: Ghosts from a village that chose quarantine
   Explore Eyam on routes 65 & 257
6. Echoes of Battle: Hearing phantom cries of fallen soldiers
   Capture the cries in Culloden Battlefield on route 2
7. A Royal Audience: The Monster of Glamis & the Grey Lady
   Glamis Castle on route 20
8. Ghouls on the Mile: Exploring closes haunted by dark deeds
   The Royal Mile on various Lothian Buses routes
9. Wales’ Most Haunted Pub: Spirits of executed criminals
   Adventure to Abergavenny on Stagecoach’s 23
10. The Transplanted Ghosts: Phantoms that moved with the buildings
    St Fagans Museum on Cardiff Bus route 23
11. The Tragic Ladies: Lured to your doom by a Blue Lady
    Berry Pomeroy Castle on Country Bus Route 149
12. England’s Most Haunted Village: A ghost-hunting tour with over a dozen spectres
    Pluckley Village by Routes 976, X3
13. A Date with the Damned: The restless spirit of Selina Wedge
    Bodmin Jail on Go Cornwall Bus Routes

The ride & haunting

Boarding the Arriva X93 or Coastliner 840 is the first act of a gothic drama, as the bus ascends onto the brooding North York Moors. This wild landscape sets a perfectly ominous tone for Whitby, a town inextricably linked with Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The skeletal ruins of Whitby Abbey are where Dracula first came ashore in the form of a black dog, and the weathered gravestones of St. Mary’s Churchyard bear the names of his victims. The town is saturated with spectral tales, from a phantom coach pulled by headless horses to the lingering spirit of St. Hilda in the Abbey’s windows.

The itinerary

Alight in the town centre and climb the iconic 199 Steps to explore St. Mary’s Churchyard and Whitby Abbey. Afterwards, lose yourself in the labyrinthine cobbled streets of the old town, such as the reputedly haunted Grape Lane. For a final thrill, visit The Dracula Experience before catching your bus home.

How to get to Whitby

• Buses: Arriva X93 connects Whitby with Middlesbrough and Scarborough. The Coastliner 840 provides a scenic route from Leeds and York.
• Tip: Stay until dusk. As the day-trippers depart, the floodlit Abbey looms over the harbour, and the narrow streets feel genuinely spooky.

The ride & haunting

Local bus services, such as routes 66 & 67 from Nelson or Clitheroe, meander through the small, stone-built villages that huddle in the shadow of Pendle Hill. This journey immerses you in the claustrophobic world of 1612, when accusations of witchcraft rooted in poverty and rivalry led to one of England’s most notorious witch trials.

The story centres on two rival families, the Demdikes and the Chattoxes, and culminates in a meeting at Malkin Tower, which was interpreted as a witches’ sabbat, sealing the fate of ten people who were ultimately hanged.

The itinerary

This is a “do-it-yourself” historical tour. Begin at the Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford to get the historical background. From there, use the bus to hop to the village of Newchurch in Pendle to visit St Mary’s Church and the so-called “Witches’ Grave.” The day is about walking the lanes where these people lived and absorbing the heavy weight of their story.

How to get to Pendle Hill

• Buses: Routes 66, 67, and 66S connect Clitheroe and Nelson with the villages surrounding Pendle Hill.
• Tip: This is an excursion for walkers and historians. Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for the changeable Lancashire weather.

The ride & haunting

The bus is the main attraction on the York Ghost Bus Tour. A classic 1960s Routemaster, painted black and decorated like a Victorian funeral parlour, provides a “comedy-horror theatre on wheels”. A creepy conductor guides you through Europe’s most haunted city, revealing the gruesome secrets of landmarks like York Minster, Clifford’s Tower, and the grave of Dick Turpin with a blend of live acting and spooky effects.

The itinerary

The 75-minute tour departs from Bus Stop RE outside York railway station. It is advisable to book in advance. To make a full day of it, first create your own preliminary ghost tour by visiting one of York’s famously haunted pubs, such as The Golden Fleece or The Black Swan Inn, both of which have their own resident spectres.

Guide to travelling on the ghost tour

• Bus: The Ghost Bus Tours. Pre-booking online is highly recommended.
• Tip: The tour’s humour makes it great for those seeking spooky fun rather than a serious paranormal investigation. A highlight is an off-the-bus moment when the bus “breaks down” in an eerie spot.

The ride & haunting

The Glen Valley Tours route 473 from Alnwick & Wooler cuts through the wild heart of Northumberland, building a sense of profound isolation before you even see the formidable fortress.

Chillingham Castle proudly markets itself as Britain’s most haunted castle. Its most famous resident is the “Blue Boy,” whose cries were heard for centuries. During renovations, the skeletons of a man and a young boy were found bricked up inside a wall, surrounded by fragments of blue cloth. Other ghosts include the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who wanders the castle after being abandoned by her husband.

The itinerary

Alight at the dedicated Chillingham bus stop. The day is best spent immersed in the castle’s grim atmosphere, especially the dungeons and torture chamber. The castle’s own ghost tours are an essential part of the experience, bringing the chilling tales to life.

Getting to Chillingham Castle:

• Bus: Glen Valley Tours route 473 from Alnwick & Wooler. It is crucial to check timetables in advance, as services in this rural area can be infrequent.
• Tip: The 473 bus also serves Alnwick Castle (a Harry Potter filming location), so you can combine a magical morning with a terribly horrific afternoon.

The ride & haunting

Taking route 65 from Sheffield or route 257 from Bakewell, the bus winds through the stunning Peak District National Park. This beautiful journey provides a poignant counterpoint to Eyam’s dark history.

In 1665, the village heroically chose to quarantine itself to prevent the spread of the bubonic plague, a decision that cost at least 260 lives. The village’s hauntings are the sad echoes of this tragedy, with spirits reported in the Plague Cottages, Eyam Hall, and the Miner’s Arms pub.

The itinerary

The bus stops in the centre of the village. Spend the day on a walking tour of remembrance. Visit the Plague Cottages, the churchyard, and the Eyam Museum to understand the full, heartbreaking story. Conclude with a reflective pint at the haunted Miner’s Arms.

Getting to Eyam:

• Buses: Route 65 connects Eyam with Sheffield and Buxton. Route 257 connects with Sheffield and Bakewell.

The ride & haunting

A short city bus ride on a service like Stagecoach Bluebird 2 from Inverness transports you to the bleak, windswept moor where the Jacobite Rising was brutally crushed on April 16, 1746.

The battlefield is not haunted by a single ghost, but by the overwhelming psychic residue of the slaughter. Visitors frequently report hearing the faint clash of swords and the terrifying cries of battle carried on the wind, or seeing the apparition of a lone, tartan-clad Highlander.

The itinerary

The bus stops at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre. Spend time in the excellent museum first to understand the context of the battle.

Afterwards, walk the battlefield itself, following the marked pathways past the clan grave markers and the memorial cairn. The experience is more sombre and atmospheric than overtly frightening.

Explore Culloden Moor:

• Bus: Regular Inverness city bus services, such as Route 2, run to the battlefield.
• Tip: An autumn visit offers a suitably melancholic atmosphere with fewer crowds and a starker landscape.

The ride & haunting

The Stagecoach East Scotland Route 20C from Dundee travels through the pleasant countryside of Angus to one of Scotland’s most iconic and deeply haunted castles.

Glamis is a place of dark legends, including the Grey Lady (the spirit of Janet Douglas, burned at the stake for witchcraft) and Earl Beardie, who is doomed to play cards with the Devil for all eternity in a secret room. Most chilling is the tale of the “Monster of Glamis,” a terribly deformed heir supposedly locked away for his entire life.

The itinerary

The bus stops directly at the castle entrance. The only way to see the interior is via the official guided tour, where knowledgeable guides expertly weave the castle’s royal history with its macabre legends. Afterwards, allow time to explore the magnificent gardens.

Getting to Glamis Castle

• Bus: Stagecoach East Scotland Route 20C from Dundee.
• Tip: The unique blend of royal heritage and gothic horror makes Glamis a fascinatingly varied destination.

The ride & haunting

This is an exploration using Edinburgh’s excellent Lothian Buses network, with numerous routes running along or near the city’s historic spine.

A day ticket allows you to hop on and off, exploring the narrow, shadowy side alleys, known as closes, that are a concentration of Edinburgh’s dark and bloody history. The most famous haunted site is Mary King’s Close, a genuine 17th-century street that was sealed off and built upon, leaving a subterranean warren frozen in time.

The itinerary

Start at Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Mile and begin a slow descent on foot. Duck into the atmospheric closes and take a pre-booked tour of The Real Mary King’s Close for an immersive experience. As evening falls, join one of the many excellent walking ghost tours that depart from the area to hear the darkest tales of the Old Town.

Getting around Edinburgh with Lothian

• Buses: Numerous Lothian Buses services. A day ticket is the most economical option.
• Tip: The true spooky character of the Royal Mile only emerges after dark when the crowds thin and the closes become genuinely intimidating.

The ride & haunting

The Stagecoach South Wales route 23 takes a short ride from Abergavenny into the quiet countryside, stopping at one of Britain’s oldest and most haunted pubs.

The Skirrid Mountain Inn’s terrifying history includes its time as a courthouse where over 180 people were sentenced to death by hanging from a heavy oak beam over the staircase – a beam that is still visible today, complete with rope marks. Paranormal activity is rampant, with glasses flying across the bar and menacing shadows darting through rooms.

The itinerary

The bus stops directly opposite the inn. The plan is simple: go inside. Order a drink at the ancient bar, soak in the incredibly dense atmosphere of history, and listen to the staff’s own spooky experiences.

Getting to the Inn:

• Bus: Stagecoach South Wales route 23 from Abergavenny bus station.
• Tip: This is a genuinely intimidating location. Be sure to check the last bus back to Abergavenny before you settle in.

The ride & haunting

A short journey from Cardiff city centre on a service like Cardiff Bus route 32 takes you to St Fagans National Museum of History.

This unique open-air museum comprises over 40 authentic historical buildings moved from all over Wales. The paranormal theory is a captivating one: that the spirits attached to these buildings were “transplanted” along with the bricks and mortar. Adding to the mix, the grounds were the site of a bloody Civil War battle in 1648, believed to have left ghostly scars.

The itinerary

The bus stops at the main museum entrance. Spend the day wandering through this time capsule of Welsh life, paying attention to the atmosphere in each re-erected building. For a more focused experience, the museum offers exclusive nighttime ghost tours.

Getting to the museum:

• Bus: The most direct service is Cardiff Bus route 32 from the city centre.
• Tip: This destination offers a more thought-provoking paranormal experience, encouraging contemplation on whether ghosts are tied to land or to the structures they inhabited.

The ride & haunting

A rural service like the Country Bus 149 from Totnes winds its way through the narrow, high-hedged lanes of South Devon to a hidden, romantic ruin. Despite its picturesque appearance, Berry Pomeroy is reputed to be one of Britain’s most haunted sites.

It is known for two female ghosts: the White Lady, the tragic spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who was starved to death in the dungeons by her jealous sister, and the more sinister Blue Lady, who is said to lure passers-by to their doom.

The itinerary

Alight in Berry Pomeroy village and take the one-mile walk down into the wooded valley where the castle is hidden. The approach builds the atmosphere perfectly. Once at the site, the audio guide is highly recommended, as it recounts the chilling ghost stories in the locations where they are set.

How to get to the castle:

• Bus: Country Bus Route 149 from Totnes. For rural services, it is vital to check the timetable for frequency and operating days.
• Tip: The castle’s secluded setting is key to its powerful atmosphere, making it an ideal location for a spooky picnic on a crisp autumn day.

The ride & haunting

A train ride from Ashford takes you through the idyllic “Garden of England” to a village that holds the Guinness World Record for being the most haunted in Britain.

Pluckley is said to be home to at least twelve resident ghosts, spread throughout the village. Among the spectral population are the Screaming Man, a brickworker who fell to his death; the spectre of a highwayman pinned to a tree at ‘Fright Corner’; and the Red and White Ladies who haunt the churchyard.

The itinerary

Alight in the centre of the village and embark on a paranormal scavenger hunt on foot. Key sites include St Nicholas’s Church, Fright Corner, and Dicky Buss’s Lane. Stop for lunch at The Black Horse Inn, which has its own tales of poltergeist activity.

Getting to Pluckley

• Buses: Catch the train to Pluckley and walk into the village.
• Tip: The sheer density of hauntings makes Pluckley a unique destination, creating a cumulative spooky feeling across an entire community.

The ride & haunting

Bodmin is a central hub for the Transport for Cornwall network. The town is dominated by the grim granite walls of Bodmin Jail, a stark reminder of its past as the centre of justice and punishment for the region.

Built in 1779, the jail has a dark history of public hangings. Its most poignant ghost is that of Selina Wedge, executed in 1878 for murdering her son. Her restless, sorrowful spirit is now said to glide through the corridors and is most frequently seen by visiting children, to whom she reportedly reaches out.

The itinerary

The jail is a short walk from Bodmin’s main bus stops. It now features a state-of-the-art immersive exhibition telling the stories of former inmates. Spend time exploring the original cells and the deeply unsettling Victorian hanging pit. The attraction also offers after-dark paranormal tours.

Getting to Bodmin

• Buses: Multiple Go Cornwall Bus routes serve Bodmin.

The Journey’s End?

From the gothic shores of North Yorkshire to the windswept moors of the Scottish Highlands and the smugglers’ coves of Cornwall, these journeys offer more than just a day out.

They are an invitation to travel through time and connect with the strange, sad, and supernatural stories woven into the very fabric of the British landscape. They prove that adventure does not require a long-haul flight or a hefty budget; sometimes, the most memorable trips begin at a local bus stop.

These routes demonstrate that Britain’s history is written not only in its grand castles and cathedrals, but also in its quiet country lanes, its ancient pubs, and its unassuming villages. The public bus is the key that unlocks them all.

However, as you plan your spectral adventure, remember one crucial piece of practical advice: bus services, especially in the rural areas where so many of these legends reside, are subject to change. Always check the very latest timetables with the operator or through a national journey planner like Traveline before you set off.

After all, you would not want to find yourself stranded after the last bus has departed, with only the spirits for company. Or would you?