Exclusive Use Cottages and Castles Chapter

1.Belleek Castle

Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Boutique Castle Hotel. Standard hotel booking and museum

Still a family home this historic 19th-century Neo-Gothic manor is welcoming – built on the ruins of a 12th-century abbey. It’s famed for its unusual atmosphere, housing the extraordinary and slightly bizarre collections of its eccentric owner, the late George Stacpoole, including a medieval armoury and the legendary “Grace O’Malley’s Bed”. The main ghost is the “White Lady” (believed to be a drowned former owner), and strange noises are often heard in the dungeon bar and library

Essential Booking : Standard boutique hotel booking. Due to its location on the wild Atlantic coast, it provides a dramatic, isolated backdrop. Be sure to check its unique opening hours and tour schedule, as the collections themselves are a major feature of the atmosphere. Having guided tours and its own museum is pretty wild too!

This Jacobean manor house is a masterclass in atmospheric architecture. It is said to be haunted by several spirits, including a “Grey Lady” seen in the upper rooms and a male presence that stalks the hallways. Guests often report disembodied voices and the sound of phantom footsteps. The manor has such a reputation that it frequently hosts professional paranormal investigations

Essential Booking: Book direct or standard booking. You can book individual rooms for a high-end B&B experience or opt for exclusive hire for a large group. They even offer an “Overnight Ghost Hunt” package where you can investigate until 2:00 AM and then try to sleep in one of their luxury rooms

3.Blackhead Lightkeeper’s Houses

Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Historic, Exclusive Hire/Self-Catering

This old Lighthouse is Isolated, with a maritime and historic tale. Perched on the edge of the Belfast Lough, these restored houses offer a rugged, windswept stay. Local lore tells of a ghostly lightkeeper who still performs his rounds. The proximity to the Titanic’s path out of Belfast adds a somber, historical weight to the air at night

Booking: Managed by the Irish Landmark Trust (Self-catering) Sleeps up to 5

4.Castle Leslie Estate (The Village Cottages)

Glaslough, County Monaghan, Ireland. Eclectic, Historical, Luxury

While the main house is a hotel, the estate offers self-catering “Village Cottages.” The castle itself is famously haunted by Norman Leslie, who died in WWI; he is said to “hush” guests who are too loud in the Red Room. The estate grounds are steeped in Irish mythology and centuries of family secrets

Essential Booking: Book direct or standard booking. Book the “Old Stable Mews” or “Village Cottages” for a self-catering experience with access to the haunted grounds. Accommodation from 2 bedroom Mews to large groups

5.Brandy House Farm (The Self-Catering Cottages)

Felindre, Knighton, Powys, Wales/Shropshire borders. Rural, Historic Farmstead, Atmospheric – dog friendly, bring your own horse – long distance trail riding

This traditional Welsh farmstead sits in a remote valley steeped in border history. While the farm today is peaceful, the surrounding hills are the site of ancient battles and the “Marcher Lord” skirmishes. Local legend speaks of the “Cwn Annwn” (the Hounds of Annwn)—ghostly white dogs with red ears from Welsh mythology—that are said to hunt across these moors on misty nights.

Essential Booking: Offering self-catering cottages, including the “Brandy House,” which can be combined or booked for larger groups of up to 8-10 people. It is a perfect base for those who want to explore the eerie, silent beauty of the Radnorshire hills.
The farm itself has sections dating back centuries, and guests often report the distinct feeling of being watched from the old stone doorways

6.The Old Rectory (Rhossili Bay)

Gower Peninsula, Wales. Extreme Isolation, Coastal, Gothic

Visit Woormwood Head, Wormwood bridge as above, check tide, as island is tidal and you don’t want to get stuck as the famous poet Dylan Thomas did once!

Often cited as the most isolated house in Wales, this white-washed building sits alone on a wild cliff overlooking the sea. It was built in the 1850s, but the site has much older roots. Local legends speak of a “ghastly” figure on a horse that gallops across the beach and disappears into the surf. Guests have reported the feeling of a presence in the upper rooms, particularly when the sea mist rolls in and cuts the house off from the world

Essential Booking: Managed by the National Trust. It is self-catering and incredibly popular, so you’ll need to book months (if not a year) in advance

7. Ballaghmore Castle (The Large Group Pick)

Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois, Ireland. Rustic, Exclusive Hire, Deeply Old

Built in 1480, this castle features a “Sheela-na-Gig” (a pagan fertility carving) built into its walls to ward off evil. It has a long, bloody history involving –

The MacGiollapadraig Clan. The castle is let out on an exclusive-hire basis, allowing your group to roam the stone spiral staircases and high-raftered halls alone

Essential Booking: Ideal for large groups, banquets, or “hen/stag” parties with a dark twist. Sleeps groups of up to 20 across the castle and guest houses

8. Closeburn Castle

Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Ancient, Raw, Historic Tower

This 13th-century tower house is one of the oldest continuously inhabited castles in Scotland. It is incredibly secluded, surrounded by woods and ancestral lands. The castle is haunted by a “Lady in Black” and carries a famous family curse: it is said that a swan appears on the castle loch whenever a member of the Kirkpatrick family is about to die. Staying here feels like being truly “locked away” in another century

Essential Booking: Available for exclusive hire and private tours, book with castle. All night investigations available on certain dates bookable through dedicated websites, so not much sleeping being done!

9. Shieldaig Lodge 

Gairloch, Scotland.

The Scottish highlands are renowned for their beauty. While here walk the Fairy lochs with a guide and hear the story of the lost American bombers during WW2

A traditional Victorian hunting lodge set deep in the isolated Scottish Highlands, offering spectacular views over Loch Gairloch. Its secluded location, grand, wood-panelled interiors, and specific history as a wealthy retreat create a classic atmosphere for subtle, “gentleman’s club” style hauntings—often reported as footsteps and murmuring voices.Standard luxury hotel

Essential Booking: Booking through their own site or travel platforms. The focus here is on high-end service, isolation, and classic highland atmosphere rather than intense ghost hunting

10. Llancaiach Fawr Manor 

Nelson, Caerphilly, Wales. Exposed,

A rare, fully restored 17th-century manor house from the Tudor times that functions as a “living history” museum. Known as one of the most active sites in Wales, it is haunted by a crying maid who fell and an overwhelming presence in the Great Hall. It offers a truly raw, historic haunting atmosphere Not a hotel. Overnight stays are exclusively booked via paranormal investigation companies as structured ghost hunts/sleepovers

Essential Booking. Not a hotel. Overnight stays are exclusively booked via paranormal investigation companies as structured ghost hunts/sleepovers

11. Chawton House

Chawton, Hampshire, England

Once home to Jane Austen’s brother, this Elizabethan manor is now a library and museum, but offering a few high-end, self-catering cottages on the west wing of her brother’s house in the village is Chawton house.The mansion itself is haunted by a Grey Lady believed to be a former servant or owner, and its atmosphere is intensely quiet and academic, perfect for solitary mystery writers

Essential Booking: Booking is managed via their self-catering cottage rental program. Enquire directly via the Chawton House website, as availability is limited and dedicated to supporting the charity

12. Tynewydd Farm Cottage

Tynewydd, Rhondda Valley. Why not visit the 500 acre site of Dare Country Park as shown. Mountains, lakes and cycle routes along side what once was railway lines and Minor’s pits

These recently renovated cottages are not for the faint hearted. The property dates back to 1652, making it the oldest farmhouse in the Rhondda Valley. With over 370 years of history, it’s no wonder a few souls have stuck around. With spirits such as The “Grey Lady” (Margaret Edwards)and spirit children to contend with while you’re here, a good book to take your mind off things might be an idea!

Essential Booking: Booking is a standard booking platform but also check dates on cottage website. Pro Tip: If you’re booking specifically for the ghosts, the owners suggest being respectful—they view themselves as “custodians” of the spirits’ home!

13. 30 East Drive in Yorkshire

Several paranormal investigation companies offer public ghost hunts at the property, typically including structured vigils and the use of specialised equipment. Investigation Experience: Events usually run from late evening (around 9:00 PM) until the early hours of the morning (typically 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM). Optional Sleepover: Many organizers allow guests to stay until morning for an extra fee or as part of a premium package. You must bring your own sleeping bag and pillow, as the house provides very limited bedding

Widely regarded as one of the most haunted locations in the United Kingdom, famously known as the home of the “Pontefract Poltergeist.” The haunting gained international notoriety in the late 1960s when the Pritchard family experienced intense and often violent paranormal activity, which eventually inspired the film When the Lights Went Out!

The house is a modest former council property that is said to be inhabited by an entity known as “Fred” or the “Black Monk.” Witnesses frequently report physical phenomena that range from mischievous to malevolent. Violent Activity: Reports include people being slapped, pushed down stairs, or dragged by their hair, as was the case with the family’s daughter, Diane Pritchard