British History and Mystery

Discover haunted Britain and explore a medieval world with the Great British Heritage Pass. From haunted houses to mysterious standing stones, your quest to uncover British history and mystery will be quite the adventure.

Your journey begins in Cornwall at Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur. With its spectacular location on one of England's most dramatic coastlines, Tintagel is an awe-inspiring and romantic spot, a place of legends.  The romantic doomed love story of Tristan and Isolde is part of Tintagel’s history, and visitors can learn about the castle through the ages in an audio visual tour entitled ‘Searching for King Arthur.’

Next head off to Buckland Abbey, a 13th century Cistercian monastery.  It was home to Sir Francis Drake and is reputedly haunted by him and his accompanying ‘hell hounds.’

Heading into Devon, discover Berry Pomeroy Castle, a romantic late medieval castle which looks over a deep ravine and stream.  Ghost stories abound about the castle and visitors can find out more in the audio tour. 

Stonehenge awaits in the Salisbury Plain.  This mysterious stone circle appeared over 5,000 years ago, and was built around the time as the Great Pyramid of Egypt.  It is now a World Heritage Site, and millions come to visit Stonehenge each year.  Discover its mystery for yourself!

England’s North Country welcomes you to the Treasurer’s House, where you can take a guided tour of the ‘Ghost Cellar.’  The ghosts of a Roman legion reputedly haunt it.  There is also a model ship made out of bones. 

Muncaster Castle and Owl Centre is a haunted 13th century castle, one of the most haunted buildings anywhere in the UK.  Visitors can stay in the Tapestry Room during a ‘Ghost Sit,’ and see if they experience the ghosts themselves.  The castle also has Europe’s oldest leading collection of rhododendrons, and it is also home of the World Owl Trust and undercover Meadow Vole Maze. 

Journey into Scotland and discover its haunted locations.  Begin at Hermitage Castle, which is set in a lonely spot, an eerie ruin.  It has a history of intrigue, murders, trysts, torture, and treason.  It was also here that in 1566 Mary, Queen of Scots visited her wounded lover Bothwell. 

Then it’s off to Brodick Castle, Garden, & Country Park on a short ferry ride to the Isle of Arran.  It dates back to the 13th century, and you may hear mysterious sounds during your visit, ghosts from the past who have made the location their home during the castle’s 800 year history. 

Crathes Castle in Aberdeen has a trip step, to disconcert any attackers who were climbing the staircase.  Crathes Castle also has its own ghost known as the Green Lady, who is said to have first appeared in the mid 18th century. 

At Fyvie Castle ghosts, legends, and folklore abound.  There are 5 towers, each associated with one of the castle’s 5 successive families.  It also has one of the largest private collections of Raeburns in the world, and a great stone wheel staircase, the finest of its kind in Scotland.

If you’ve got time to spare, be sure to visit the Calanais Standing Stones, a cross shaped setting of standing stones dating back to around 3000 BC.