Halloween 2021: Take a drive down the UK's spookiest roads
Platt Lane, Westhoughton – The Pretoria Pit Mining Disaster
On 21st December 1910, the 3rd worst mining disaster on record rocked Britain. Over 900 men and boys went mining that day and only 556 returned.
Platt Lane passes uncomfortably close to the pit in question and is a constant reminder of the 344 people who lost their lives that day.
It’s said that when you drive along Platt Lane and look out of the window, you’ll see 100s of pairs of miner’s eyes peering from the bushes. With the road attracting an eerie coating of mist throughout the year, drivers are often required to drive slowly, with many reportedly catching a glimpse of miners shuffling along the edge of the road, pickaxe in hand.
The A75, Scotland – Ghoulish Peasants
Often said to be the most haunted road in Scotland, motorists in Dumfriesshire have reported hundreds of sightings of ghostly figures over the past 50 years.
The reports vary from scraggly-looking peasants pulling carts, right through to ghoulish horse-drawn carriages. However, the most bizarre reports include drivers running over walkers by mistake, only for there to be no sign of them afterwards...
Reports date back to 1957, but the most terrifying event comes from 1962, when two brothers were returning from a week touring Scotland in their father’s car. One of the brothers, Derek, attempted to control the car against a strange force attempting to take over the steering wheel, when he saw a furniture van in the road ahead.
His relief was short-lived as the van was a ‘ghost van’ which the boys crashed into. Luckily, both escaped unscathed.
Oldnall Road, West Midlands – Accident Blackspot?
A section of B-road that runs between Stourbrdge and Halesowen, Oldnall Road is considered an accident blackspot. Although this is generally quite common, the strange thing is that the road runs in a straight line and has no weird quirks to speak of.
The main difference between this road and other blackspots, is that hundreds of drivers report their accidents to be the result of swerving to avoid ghosts approaching their car, most commonly small kids in Victorian costume…
The M6 – Ghoulish Hitch Hikers and Roman Soldiers
As the longest road in Britain, you would expect some trials tribulations on the M6, but would you consider it to be one of the most haunted?
Many of the sightings along the 230-mile stretch fall under three themes, a deranged female hitchhiker, marching roman soldiers and, arguably the most disturbing, an old-style lorry steaming down the wrong way of the motorway at high speed.
The road has recorded more alleged sightings and hair-raising moments than any other route in the country, so next time you head down the M6, you may want to consider that toll road…