The UK's Most Haunted Roads

Most drivers know the feeling. You’re travelling along a dark road when something at the edge of your headlights makes you look twice. Perhaps you catch movement in trees, spot a shape by the roadside, or glance in the mirror because you could have sworn something was behind you.

Usually, there’s a perfectly ordinary explanation. Across the UK, though, a handful of roads have inspired much stranger stories.

From phantom children in South Yorkshire to a mysterious hitchhiker in Kent, there are plenty of eerie tales to explore. With Halloween approaching, we’re taking a trip along some of the UK’s most famously haunted roads, and finding out how they earned their spooky reputations. 

Stocksbridge Bypass (A616), South Yorkshire

There’s no official way to measure how haunted a road is, but Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire is frequently described as the most haunted road in the UK - and often named as the most haunted road in England, too.

The road runs north of Sheffield, but its supernatural reputation began before motorists were even using it.

During its construction in 1987, security guards working on the unfinished bypass reportedly saw children in old-fashioned clothing playing near an electricity pylon around Pearoyd Lane Bridge. According to the best-known version of the story, the children had disappeared by the time the guards went to investigate, leaving no footprints in the mud.

Things took a stranger turn the following night, when the guards claimed to have seen a tall, robed figure resembling a monk on the unfinished bridge. When their headlights reached the figure, it vanished. Stocksbridge Bypass even featured in an episode of ITV’s Strange But True? show in 1994, helping cement its place in British paranormal folklore.

The A75 Kinmount Straight, Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland has a strong contender of its own. The A75 between Gretna and Dumfries has attracted so many tales of unexplained encounters that it is also regularly named among the UK’s most haunted roads. 

One of the strangest accounts dates to 1962, when the Ferguson brothers claimed they encountered a succession of ghostly animals while travelling along the road. The story began with what appeared to be a hen striking the vehicle and disappearing, followed by other animals that seemed to vanish just as suddenly.

Elsewhere along the route, motorists have described figures appearing beside or in front of vehicles before disappearing. Reports collected over the years include a Victorian-looking woman, a man dressed in red, and pedestrians seemingly appearing from nowhere.

Blue Bell Hill (A229), Kent

Blue Bell Hill’s story is tied to real tragedy.

In November 1965, three young women were involved in a serious collision on the A229. Among them was 22-year-old Susan Browne, who was due to be married shortly afterwards. All three women died following the crash.

Over time, stories began to circulate about a mysterious woman appearing beside or in the road. She has variously been described as a phantom hitchhiker, a woman dressed in white, and the ghostly bride of Blue Bell Hill.

The B3212, Dartmoor and the ‘Hairy Hands’

Some ghost stories need very little help to sound unsettling. The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor is one of them.

The story is associated with the B3212 around Postbridge, where reports of strange accidents began to emerge in the early 20th century.

According to the legend, motorists and cyclists travelling through the area felt a pair of disembodied hands seize their steering wheel or handlebars, and try to force them away from the road. In some versions, the hands could actually be seen.

There is a much more earthly explanation for at least part of the road’s troubled history. Some accounts of the legend have linked accidents on the route to its road surface and camber, which was later altered. 

That explanation may be less exciting than invisible hands grabbing the steering wheel, but it does underline why extra care is important on unfamiliar rural roads, particularly after dark.

What is the most haunted road in the world?

The UK isn’t the only place with tales of haunted roads. There’s no definitive answer to what the most haunted road in the world is, but Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey, is frequently named as one of the strongest contenders.

Perhaps the most famous tale concerns a bridge over Clinton Brook. Local folklore says that a boy drowned in the water below and that if you throw a coin into the water, his ghost may throw it back.

And that’s not the only strange story associated with this road. There are also tales of phantom headlights and a ghostly Camaro that is said to appear before disappearing again. 

Whether it deserves the title is impossible to prove, but Clinton Road has certainly earned its spooky reputation.

Stay safe on the road after dark

Ghost stories aside, darker autumn and winter evenings can make driving more demanding, particularly on unfamiliar country roads. Before setting off, make sure your lights are working properly, your windscreen is clear, and your tyres are in good condition. For more tips, take a look at our guide to driving in the dark.

And if strange noises on your journey seem to be coming from the car rather than the roadside, visit your local Kwik Fit centre. Our Kwik Fit technicians can check that your vehicle is ready for the darker months ahead.