Ghost Haunting Breaks in York, England

By Jonathan J.

York is an absolute treasure trove for anyone interested in all things spectral. York was named the most haunted city in Europe by the Ghost Research Foundation International (GRFI) and it seems that every room, building or street seems to be haunted in this beautiful city. York is haunted by no less than 140 different ghosts haunting York, with an amazing 500+ recorded hauntings (this figure is still growing you ghost lovers will be pleased to know). Taking advantage of York's large number of spooks, there is a significant ghost walk/haunt industry here. If you are looking for accommodation in York and intend to take on one of the ghost hunts then try the York Pavilion hotel. They have scheduled events that include 3 course dinner followed by a ghost hunt. Expert guides, psychics, and ghost hunting equipment provide an authentic setting for a spooky touch to your visit.

At the start of any ghost seeking visit you may want to visit the York Dungeon to get you in the mood, where live actors reenact scenes of torture, plague and execution in the most grisly detail - it may be best to do this after lunch, but maybe not straight after! Follow on with a visit to the Micklegate Bar Museum, which stands at the main gateway of the city, and is where the heads of executed traitors were once displayed.

There is an abundance of ghost walks to choose from, some being serious and historically informative, and some being down right silly but lots of fun with actors in grisly costume ambushing the group at particular points on the tour.

The Original Ghost Walk of York started in 1973 and takes place very night at 8pm starting at The Kings Arms, by Ouse Bridge. This is good ghost story telling at its best, and their guides are BTA Blue Badge or Equity award holders.

The Ghost Hunt of York - every night at 7.30pm from the Shambles. This is one of the theatrical walks, and is great for children as the guides are dressed up in period costume. This one is popular so expect large groups.

The Ghost Detective - every night from July to Halloween at 7.30pm from the Jorvik Viking Centre, Coppergate. Another good tour if you have kids with you but best to warn the kids that the guide may involve them when he's telling some of their stories. The guide is an Equity member with an award for stand-up comedy.

The Ghost Trail of York - begins every night at 7.30pm from the West Doors of York Minster, is led by Equity Qualified guides and is great for families. Expect large groups on this tour as it seems very popular.

One of the more famous ghosts to haunt York is the 'lost' Roman Legion that is said to haunt the old Treasurer's House. The first sighting was made in 1953 by an apprentice plumber name Harry Martindale. He was installing a heating system in the cellars of the old Treasurer's House and reported seeing the 2000-year old ghosts all carrying swords and spears walking through a corridor seemingly on the knees. This is interesting since the old Roman road is located roughly fifteen inches below the cellar and it is believed that Martindale wasn't aware of this fact when questioned. So the ghosts would have been walking on their own familiar road, on their way to the Minster. There have been several other sightings since Martindales' but sadly, the old cellars are now closed to visitors.

You can read more ghostly tales and get news on York Ghost Walks at the York England Hotels Guide where Jonathan writes

Your Guide to a Haunted Holiday in Britain

By Kimberlie Hutson

Do you fancy a change from the conventional week by the sea for your holiday this year, are you bored of spending your holiday in the same country cottage? How about a haunted holiday? Britain boasts a very rich and intricate history and the tradition of the ghost story keeps that history alive, we've all heard the stories of the tower of London which is reportedly still home to a whole host of its unfortunate victims, our most popular literature is also full of the supernatural, from Shakespeare through to Harry Potter, as a nation we do seem rather obsessed with supernatural spirits - so why not spend a short break in one of the UK's most haunted hotels, or even just a day trip?

Chillingham Castle in the north east of England is argued to be one of the most haunted castles in the UK and has featured on several television and radio programmes over the years. The castle offers self catering apartments for holidays and its picturesque setting makes it the perfect venue for weddings, romantic weekends away or simply a day trip to see the stunning grounds and castle. With its long and detailed history it's not surprising it's rumoured to be home to several ghosts, including the blue boy, who was trapped behind a brick wall after stumbling across some important documents, when his body was uncovered in the 1920's, his fingers were worn away where he'd tried to scratch his way out. Although the pink room, where his body was found, is closed to the public, screams were still heard coming from behind the wall which witnessed his death. Chillingham Castle is also resident to Lady Mary Berkeley who is rumoured to still be wondering the halls in broken hearted after her husband ran away with her sister.

The stunning Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and set in the most tranquil of Scottish country side, it was also the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth and to this day still conjures images of witches and the supernatural. With tickets available for day trips to view the castle and gardens this beautiful castle is the perfect family day out or an exquisite setting for a wedding. Like most castles, particularly of this age (dating back to the 14th century), it is plagued with supernatural stories ranging from secret rooms to conceal deformed children, to soul sucking devil card players to entertain drunk noblemen to traditional old fashion hauntings, all of which promise an interesting story to fascinate even the most firm of sceptics.

It's not just magnificent castles which host the most spectacular ghost stories; the Station Hotel in Dudley may appear to be simply a conventional hotel, with its inviting atmosphere and convenient location in the heart of the country. It's not until you explore its theatrical history and see the impressive list of former guests ranging from Laurel and Hardy to Bob Hope that it starts to become so intriguing. Although many of the ghost stories surrounding this intriguing haunted hotel seem to have found their fame on a popular paranormal television show, the most commonly reported ghost is that of a young woman who was murdered after threatening to inform her killer's wife of his infidelity. She never got the chance as it's reported that after he killed her, he disposed of her body sending it through a chute that ended in the cellar (which along with room 214) is reported to be one of the most haunted places in the building.

So if you're looking for an interesting day trip or a last minute short break away somewhere and you don't want to have to rely on Britain's unpredictable weather, why not visit one of these stunning places?

Author name: Kimberlie Hutson
HotelshopUK are the experts when it comes to last minute breaks, so whether you're looking for a long weekend away, a short break or a day trip for the family, we're bound to have something for you.

Ghosts of Chillingham Castle

By Jackie Reynolds

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, UK is said to be the most haunted castle in the UK and not surprisingly since the castle houses dark dungeons and macabre torture chambers. This ancient fortress dates back to 1246, when the Earl Grey lords built this remarkable building and where the Earl Grey ancestors have resided for centuries.

The castle is presently the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt., his wife The Hon. Lady Wakefield and their family. The family claim it is the most haunted castle because of the many ghosts which frequently haunt their home.

The most notable ghostly apparition is the 'blue boy' (or 'radiant boy') who is said to haunt the castle's Pink Room. Many guests, whilst occupying the room, have heard terrifying wailing sounds soon to be followed by a halo of blue light appearing above their bed.

Although that particular haunting ended when a gruesome discovery during renovation work revealed the bones of a young boy and a man who had been bricked inside a wall. It was intended that no one should ever hear their piteous cries for help, as the wall was built 10 feet thick.

This was not the end to the hauntings in Chillingham Castle. The owners have also witnessed a much more sinister energy which wanders the halls...the terryfying spectre of the once evil torturer - John Sage.

JOHN SAGE - A GHOST OF EVIL PAST

When nightime falls around Chillingham Castle, one of the most feared sounds to be heard on occasions is that of 'something' slowly dragging its foot as it wanders the corridors. It is believed to be the spirit of former Lieutenant, John Sage who earned the nickname 'dragfoot', when in life, his leg was injured by a spear during his final battle in the ongoing wars with his Scottish neighbours.

After his injury he was desperate for a position of work and was proud to be given the title of Chillingham Castle torturer by the castle owner Edward Longshanks (1200 AD). Sage was a monster of a man and his gruesome work would give him immense satisfaction for the next 3 years, where he would go on to torture at least 50 of his Scottish enemies per week.

Sage would revel as the Scots were captured and tossed into the castle's dungeons. These poor souls would wish they had perished on the battlefield, as Sage was renowned for carrying out the most hideous tortures in history. One torture device came to be known as one of the most feared...'the cage'. This apparatus would trap its victim and then be placed over a blazing fire - roasting the captive for hours, whilst Sage sat studying his enemy - writhing and screaming for their death.

Sage's insatiable thirst for torture would eventually lead to his downfall, when one day his lover Elizabeth Charlton paid him a visit. During their sexual liaison, Sage decided to place Elizabeth on one of his other torture devices - 'the rack'. Sage then began strangling her during the height of her sexual pleasure, but he went too far and accidentally killed her.

Elizabeth's father (a Border Reiver, clan leader and outlaw), upon hearing of his daughter's death, warned the now almost penniless Longshanks, if he did not have Sage killed he would join in an allied attack with the Scots against the Castle.

Longshanks' dwindling resources due to the war and the fact that the Border Reiver's were a powerful force gave him little choice but to put Sage to death. He was hanged on the grounds of the castle on 'Devil's Mile' (aka, Devil's Walk) before a crowd of jeering onlookers.

As Sage's body still twitched with life, the crowd set about him - slicing pieces from his body, including his nose, toes, and testicles. A rather 'cutting' fate, some may say, for one who's greatest rapture was the sight of an ungodly end.

http://www.worldmysteriesandtrueghosttales.com

Ghostly Breaks and Haunted Holidays

Bored with the usual activities on offer during a weekend break? A Haunted House Party is a great way to spend a unique weekend. Ghostly breaks and haunting holidays have become more popular in response to the growing interest in the paranormal created by TV programmes such as Living TV’s "Most Haunted". Fortunately, Britain is blessed with a number of haunted hotels where ghosts tell their own stories and doors lock and unlock on their own. The piano in the bar plays on its own. Doors slam themselves shut and shadows have been seen in the corridors. Some people have been so frightened they have run out of their rooms. If you have a nervous disposition it pays to request that your room is not in the area where the ghostly sightings regularly occur.

Ghosts are the souls or spirits of a deceased people, taken to be capable of appearing in visible forms. It is thought that ghosts usually manifest when their death was unjust of particularly gruesome. Britain has a long and bloody history, which is probably why Britain has so many haunted venues to visit.

Of course a haunted evening can’t be guaranteed, however you can search online for Hotels and accommodation that has been awarded a haunted seal of approval by the Poltergeist Society, to increase the chances of a ghostly sighting during your visit.

What can you expect from a Haunted Weekend Break?
Haunted weekends are packed with activities ranging from supernatural history tours, ghost hunts, tarot readings and of course dinner, bed and breakfast in the location itself. You can of course subscribe to as many or as few of the activities as you wish. Breakfast is always a good time to chat to other visitors of the hotel to find out if they head anything during the night.

If you want to increase your chances of a ghostly sighting during your haunted weekend getaway, it’s always best to do your homework. Find out as much information about the hotel as possible beforehand. Get a brief idea of the history of the location and building and research what ghosts have already been recorded there, and in which rooms they have been most frequently seen. That way you can strive to be in the right place at the right time to witness and ghostly apparitions yourself.

If you are looking for something more than just the opportunity to spend the night in a haunted hotel, and want to actually join a paranormal investigation team and track down ghosts with specialised equipment, there are weekend breaks for that too. Ghost Hunt events regularly take place at hotels up and down the UK. Ghost hunts include Dinner, Bed and Breakfast plus full paranormal investigation led by a professional investigative team with Mediums; Group Vigils and Séances. Ghost hunts are not for the faint hearted.

If you have ever fancied ghost hunting or if you have an interest in the paranormal or are searching for a weekend break with a difference then a ghostly break in a haunted venue could be the idea mini holiday for you.