Head out on an autumn walk with a creepy twist
Pendle Hill is the perfect spooky walk to do this Halloween (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
Halloween is fast approaching and there’s no better time to visit locations steeped in history and ghost stories.
From windswept moors and dense woodlands to abandoned mines and historic hills tied to infamous witch trials, there are lots of places near Greater Manchester where you can embrace all things spooky.
What gives these haunting sites their power is the way history and the paranormal merge together. Legends have rooted themselves deep into the ground and are passed down through the generations.
Whether you believe in the supernatural or not it can be fun to lean into the magic of a good ghost story and embrace the eerie atmosphere.
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Who knows, you may even experience a sudden chill, hear strange voices or feel a sense of unease during your visit.
Read on for some of the best spooky walks to do near Greater Manchester.
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill(Image: Philip Platt / geograph.org.uk)
Pendle Hill, an hour’s drive from Manchester, is well-known for its 1612 witch trials, in which ten people were hung. Many visitors have mentioned paranormal sightings and haunting experiences, securing its place as a top haunted spot.
The hill is open year-round with no admission fee; best visiting hours are late afternoon into twilight for maximum eerie effect. Visitors often report seeing shadowy figures and hearing whispers carried on the cold wind, as if the witches’ spirits still roam the hills.
Astley Green Colliery Museum, Wigan
This preserved coal mine, which is 40 minutes from Manchester, combines stories of creepy noises and mysterious folklore with industrial history. Admission costs £6 for adults, £3.50 for children, and guided tours are available. It’s open from 10am to 4pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
Evening visits require advance booking but offer an atmospheric experience that’s perfect for Halloween. Even the most brave adventurers have reported unexplained cold spots and flickering lights deep within the mine’s tunnels. A lot of those sounds and spirits are said to be the lost souls of miners who lost their lives in past industrial accidents.
Rivington Pike, Lancashire
Rivington Pike Tower(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Rivington Pike, which is around 45 minutes from Manchester, offers scenic views with unsettling ghost stories near old ruins and farmhouses. There is no entry fee, and the area is accessible year-round. Hikes in the early evening, especially on misty days, enhance the spooky mood while exploring historic countryside folklores.
According to local legend, a demonic spectral horseman haunts the moors of Rivington Pike. Some hikers speak of sudden gusts and eerie silence broken only by mournful cries echoing across the abandoned ruins.
Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan
Haigh Woodland Park is a 350-acre old forest and parkland set approximately 30 minutes from Manchester. There have been reports of strange noises and spooky appearances in the park and you can let your imagination run wild as you wander through the trees.
One of the most feared spirits said to haunt the woodland is Lady Mabel, a faceless “White Lady” who wanders the forest at dusk, her empty face said to drive onlookers mad.
Parking is £1.50 for 30 to 90 minutes and £3.50 for more than 90 minutes, but admission is free. Daily hours for the park are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Winter Hill, Bolton
Winter Hill(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
Winter Hill, with its historic moorlands and spooky fogs, is less than an hour’s drive from Manchester. Access to the moor is free throughout the year, and parking is close by. Walking its remote pathways, many describe feeling uneasy and hearing strange noises.
There are stories of spooky noises and restless ghosts roaming the misty moorlands, as well as ghostly apparitions and inexplicable lights usually connected to walkers and travellers who’ve lost their way.
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