Halloween haunts: Scary places to holiday in the UK
How brave are you feeling this Halloween? Small group travel tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) have selected some of their spookiest holiday destinations to test the mettle of their guests. Rabbie’s tours explore locations that are dripping with gruesome history, twisted legends and good old fashioned ghost stories. Like on all Rabbie’s Travel Tours, guests are in the capable hands of specialist driver-guides, whose deep knowledge of creepy folklore might just keep you up at night!
Rabbie’s is an award-winning small-group tour operator and for a limited time only, they’re offering an Early Bird Savings discount allowing travellers to save up to 10 per cent on all 2022 departures when booked before 7 November 2021.
Spooky holiday staycations include…
Whitby, the most haunted town in Britain:
Today Whitby is a bustling fishing port, but by spending just a little time exploring, you’ll soon learn how the town earned its spooky reputation. The ghost of St. Hilda, who founded Whitby Abbey, is rumoured to roam the Abbey ruins, where she peeks from the highest windows. The Barguest Hound, a monstrous black dog with large teeth and claws is said to patrol the streets, and rumour has it that Tudor mansion Bagdale Hall is still haunted by Browne Bushell, a pirate executed for his crimes. It’s no wonder Whitby served as inspiration for Bram Stoker who wrote his famous novel Dracula while staying in the town. It’s no less surprising that the town hosts a Goth Weekend to celebrate all that is spooky and subversive about this quiet seaside community. Visit Whitby during Rabbie’s five-day tour of York, the Dales, Lake District & Hadrian's Wall, with prices starting from £299 per person departing from Edinburgh.
The haunting graveyard that inspired Robert Burns:
Rabbie’s one-day Culzean Castle, Burns Country & the Ayrshire Coast tour promises to be a treat for those looking to immerse themselves in creepier stories from Scotland’s most famous bard. In the village of Alloway you’ll find Auld Kirk, an eerie 16th century chapel long since left abandoned. Burns grew up only a few miles away and it’s likely that he will have played amongst these ruins as a boy. Modern visitors who are brave enough to wander through the graveyard may spot the resting place of William Burns, Robert’s father. Memories of the spooky abandoned church and graveyard must have influenced the poet when he wrote "Tam o' Shanter”, as his protagonist, Tam, is chased away from Auld Kirk by witches and warlocks. Today, two iron mortsafes are displayed inside the chapel. These large iron contraptions were once locked in place over gravestones to stop graverobbers digging through the bones of the dead. Who knows the sort of characters a young Robert Burns might have met while playing amongst the headstones, but one thing is sure, Auld Kirk remains one of Scotland’s creepier destinations. It’s only right that Rabbie’s take guests on a tour to discover more of the company’s name-sake’s history – this one-day tour from Edinburgh starts from £39 per person.
Irish legends at Torc Waterfall:
Explore the beauty and spirituality of Ireland’s West coast, taking a moment to visit Tor Waterfall – a wonderful rock formation with cascading streams falling down its face. While the area may be beautiful, its name Torc, Irish for Boar, hints at the twisted legends that lie beneath the service. Stories tell of a man who was cursed by the devil to spend each night transformed into a wild boar. The man created the waterfalls as a place to hide his shame and wandered the area in despair. That was, until a cold-hearted local famer revealed the man’s secret. The man is said to have burst into flames and disappeared into the nearby Devils Punchbowl Valley. Explore this beautiful yet haunting landscape on Rabbie’s three-day Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way tour, departing from Dublin for as little as €309 per person.
Rabbie’s operates sustainability-focused, eco domestic travel options, ensuring that the places we love are there for future generations to enjoy and advocates ‘taking only photos and leaving only footprints’. Rabbie’s tours provide worry-free journeys so guests can enjoy a sustainable staycation without concerns.
For more information and to book, visit www.rabbies.com.
