Dartmoor’s most haunted pubs and hotels revealed ahead of Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, new research has named Devon one of the most haunted regions in the UK, and several of its most mysterious locations are right here on Dartmoor.

According to a study by Where The Trade Buys, which analysed over 1,300 ghost sightings recorded on The Paranormal Database, Devon ranks sixth in the country for reported hauntings in pubs, hotels and restaurants.

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The findings include 43 sites across the county, with many of them taking place in centuries-old inns where ghost stories are part of local tradition.

ABOVE: The Ring O'Bells, Chagford (Image: Google Maps)

Ghosts on the Moor

Dartmoor’s history, folklore and rugged landscapes have long inspired tales of the supernatural.

The study highlights several venues on Dartmoor where unexplained sounds and sightings have been reported.

In Chagford, staff at the Ring O’Bells pub have spoken of strange banging noises from the cellar, and decorations said to fall from the walls without reason.

Just up the road, the Three Crowns Hotel is linked to one of Devon’s best-known ghost stories, that of Sidney Godolphin, a Royalist officer killed outside the hotel during the Civil War.

His ghost has reportedly been seen standing in full uniform near the dining room doorway.

Further south, in Ashburton, visitors to the Bay Horse pub have described the sound of crying children upstairs, along with running footsteps when no one is there.

ABOVE: The Bay Horse, Ashburton (Image: Facebook)

At Ashprington, the riverside Waterman’s Arms is said to be home to two spirits, a young girl named Emily, who died after being hit by a cart, and a grey-haired former landlady who still “watches over the bar.”

On the high moor, the Prince of Wales pub at Princetown is linked to stories of a quiet, ghostly priest who drifts through the rooms while soft music plays.

In Postbridge, outside the East Dart Hotel, locals tell of a “drunken dog” that drank leftover beer and now howls at the moon, a lighter tale that still carries a touch of Dartmoor strangeness.

In Belstone, guests at the Tors Hotel have reported doors slamming and other unexplained noises, thought to be the work of a playful poltergeist.

And in Tavistock, the Bedford Hotel is said to be haunted by Betsy Grimbal, a figure also linked to another part of the town.

Staff have described seeing a woman in a dark dress and bonnet, and hearing the rustle of clothing when no one is there.

ABOVE: The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock (Image: Facebook)

Devon’s Haunted Heritage

The research places Devon just behind Somerset in the UK’s top ten most haunted regions, with Greater London taking the top spot.

Across the country, pubs were found to be the most common setting for ghost sightings, with over 870 reports, far more than hotels or restaurants.

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Many of these establishments are centuries old, often built on former coaching routes, battle sites or town centres that have seen hundreds of years of history.

Emma Thompson, marketing director at Where The Trade Buys, said the study “shines a light on the incredible history and individuality within the UK’s hospitality scene,” adding that every old pub or inn has its own story, sometimes with a “spine-tingling twist.”

ABOVE: The Prince of Wales, Princetown (Image: Google Maps)

Folklore Still Alive

Whether or not the ghosts of Dartmoor’s inns truly linger, their stories remain a popular part of local folklore.

They reflect the region’s deep connection with its past, from Civil War battles to mining communities and coaching inns that once welcomed travellers crossing the moor.

As Halloween draws near, the tales of crying children, phantom soldiers and mysterious music serve as a reminder that Dartmoor’s history is never far from the surface, and sometimes, according to legend, neither are its former residents.