British Sites Of Special Paranormal Interest
July 04, 2018 6:00 AM ‐ Paranormal
This article is more than six years old.
You'll have heard about grade I and II listed buildings plenty of times. Listed buildings are those which have been chosen and honoured as sites of special historic interest.
So, we thought it was time to credit Britain's most important supernatural sites, these are the locations that we think are the most significant in the mythology or magic of British history, the paranormal and the occult.
Chanctonbury Ring
Photo: © Simon Carey
The Chanctonbury Ring is an Iron Aged hill fort on the South Downs, which is now topped with a circle of beech trees that were planted in the 18th century. Occultist, Aleister Crowley described the location as "a place of power."
As well as its ancient history, it also has a reputation for paranormal activity. It said that if you run backwards around the ring seven times, the Devil himself will appear, he will offer you food in the form of soup, porridge or milk in exchange for your soul.
The site is also popular with sky watchers who say the ring is a UFO hotspot, there have been several unexplained sightings there over the years, as well as plenty of reports of ghost sightings, some of which have been described as violent attacks.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Photo: pixabay.com
This ancient stone circle high in the Lake District near Helvellyn is one of the oldest in the UK. It has been the site of rituals and celebrations for more than 5,000 years. It was erected in around 3200 BC and is thought to have been a holy site.
Advertisement ‐ Content Continues Below.
Rendlesham Forest
Photo: © Draco2008
Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk is the location of the UK's most famous UFO incident, which took place in 1980. The case involved three military personnel who reported seeing unexplained flashing lights and a triangular shaped object near RAF Woodbridge in Rendlesham Forest. They claimed the object was silent and had markings like hieroglyphics on the side.
The next night Lieutenant Colonel Charles Halt went to investigate the disturbance. According to Halt, three UFOs were seen in the sky, the brightest of these hovered for two to three hours and seemed to beam down a stream of light from time to time.
Hambledon Hill
Photo: © Marilyn Peddle
Hambledon Hill in Dorset is an ancient ritual burial site, now a National Nature Reserve, it has a history dating back 2,000 years. It's said to be one of the most important settlements in the west of England, and is one of the best examples of a hill fort in Europe. The hill is said to be haunted by the spirit of a phantom Roman Centurion who is reputed to walk the area.
Lud's Church
Photo: pixabay.com
A mossy chasm in the Peak District, also known as Ludchurch, it has been considered holy by pagans and Christians alike for centuries. It's said that the Bonnie Prince Charlie, Robin Hood and Friar Tuck hid from the authorities within the chasm. The chasm itself is a damp, hidden pathway surrounded by mossy rocks, penetrating the Millstone Grit bedrock. It was created by a massive landslip on the hillside.
Wistman's Wood
Photo: pixabay.com
With tales involving druids, ghosts, and even the Devil himself, this ancient woodland in Devon has to be one of the most mysterious and magical places in Britain. The wood is a small remaining part of what was once a much larger forest that covered most of the moor around 9,000 years ago.
Avebury Stone Circle
Photo: pixabay.com
One of the best known stone circles in the UK and the largest megalithic stone circle in the world. It's made up of three circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire. Its original purpose is unknown, although it's believe that it was most likely used for rituals or ceremonies.
Avebury has become a sacred site to contemporary Pagans as well as practitioners of Druidry, Wicca and Heathenry. The village appeared in the 1970s children's television show 'Children of the Stones' as the fictional village of Milbury. The show claimed that the stones are the tip of a huge, underground, parabolic reflector, which channels energy from the earth into space.
The Red Lion, a 17th century coaching inn stands alongside the ancient stone circle and is home to a spirit named Florrie. She's said to be a former landlady who was murdered and pushed down the village well during the civil war. There's also the tale of the violent murder of a local man in the cellar, who is also said to haunt the pub.
Merlin's Cave
Photo: © Nilfanion
Merlin's Cave in the Cornish coastal town of Tintagel, has a story rooted in Arthurian legend. The natural cave is accessible at low tide on the local beach, and some believe that the atmospheric cave is haunted by the ghost of the legendary wizard it takes its name from.
Silbury Hill
Photo: © Gareth Bellamy
The strange looking hill, near Avebury, is the biggest manmade mound in Europe at about the size of a small Egyptian pyramid. The purpose of the hill is unknown, as there is no signs of it being used as a burial site.
It was built in around 2400 BC on a carefully laid gravel base. Archeologists believe it would have taken around four million man hours to construct, making it not only one of the greatest prehistoric mysteries, but also one of the most extraordinary feats for such an early civilisation.
Related Content
Joe Biden Says 'Nothing Nefarious' About Mysterious Drones Reported Over United States
December 19, 2024
Interview: James Fox's New Documentary 'The Program' Explores The "Unprecedented" Push For Disclosure
December 18, 2024
Daily Horoscopes
You May Also Like