Wales has got some spooky secrets and some of the most eerie hotels in the UK
Wales, a land steeped in ancient folklore and dramatic landscapes, is also home to some of the most genuinely terrifying haunted hotels in the UK. For those who dare to seek out the supernatural, a stay in one of these establishments promises more than just a comfortable bed; it offers a direct portal to the past, where historical facts intertwine with chilling paranormal occurrences. If you’re looking to unearth spooky secrets, grab your courage – and perhaps a crucifix – as we explore three of Wales’ most notoriously haunted hotels.
First on our spectral journey is the Skirrid Mountain Inn in Abergavenny, widely considered the oldest pub in Wales and certainly one of its most haunted. This ancient inn, dating back to at least 1110, has a grim past as a former courthouse where condemned criminals met their end. A hangman’s noose it says can sometimes be seen hanging mysteriously from a beam in the stairwell, a chilling reminder of the over 180 executions carried out here.
Guests and staff alike report a pervasive feeling of unease, sudden drops in temperature, and the distinct scent of lavender, believed to be linked to Fanny Price, a former landlady who died there in the 18th century. Objects move inexplicably, disembodied voices whisper in empty rooms, and some have even claimed to feel the ghostly touch of the executed. The inn’s dark history has imbued it with an oppressive atmosphere, making it a hotspot for paranormal investigators hoping to make contact with the tormented souls trapped within its ancient walls. The Skirrid Inn do their own mini ghost hunt nights for more information HERE
Nearby is another unquiet spirit that can be seen wondering around the woods near Abergavenny – This young lady was supposed to have been caught with her master from a nearby Manor house – so far as to say at the displeasure of his wife. The story goes she chased the young bar maid from the Skirrid Inn and into the woods to reprimand her however it seemed the girl ‘got lost’ and wasn’t found until the next day frozen to death propped up against a big oak tree, she was wearing at the time a long white gown – the woods now being known as White Lady Woods.
The haunted woods can be accessed by walking through as part of the Skirrid Mountain Trial today – HERE – these woods are known as Skirrid Wood and Caer Wood. The trial is 4 miles being moderately difficult with some gravel tracks, mud and grass paths. Car park is on the old Monmouth Road.
There are many stories about the White Lady and I wonder if she wasn’t from Llanvihangel Court? She might have been working there in the 1700s as a maid of some sort. My research after walking the trail and not finding her, took me to other stories including the fact she could have been working at the Court at the time and running away from the mistress of that great Tudor Hall and with lots of reports of a White Lady being seen in the woods nearby at midnight ………. Are there two white ladies? or have the woods changed geographically? – Anyway this place is worth a visit too if you’re in the area – HERE – check for limited opening times though.
About 9 miles from Abergavenny lies Tretower Court and Castle (open until the first week in November -Currently cafe closed 2025) HERE for more information. But there is talk of the Y Ladi Wen (the white lady) haunting this fabulous building. The story goes he husband was away a lot during the war of the roses and she being kind of lonely in the old castle waiting for him to return week after week, just couldn’t get him out of her mind.
But Sir Roger Vaughan was one of the powerful men in Wales at the time, he was passionate about the causes of the Yorkists and a fine and generous host to many a learned and important gentleman at the time offering entertainment at his fine residence when he could get back there.
Staff here as well as visitors have seen the white lady mostly in the house. Lady Margaret it seems is still waiting for her husband, longingly looking out of the window ’till this day.
Did she not know his rival Jasper Tudor had Roger’s head cut off after being captured? I don’t think Margaret is our White Lady of Skirrid, as no reference is made to her wandering a wood at all,but Tretower fortified Manor House. With its herb garden and arranged rooms as they would have looked back 600 years ago, this is still worth a visit even if the ghost doesn’t present herself to you.
Other great woods with ancient oak trees near Abergavenny are well worth the visit; 6 miles away at Goytre Hall Woods you can park, walk and picnic on wooden benches for free. It is just East of the Goytre Warfe Canal Centre linked by a path.
Goytre Hall has been restored and to stay book HERE
Interested in exploring the Black Mountains by Canal? HERE
There is also nearby Strawberry Cottage Woods – an old forest at the time I was there covered in lovely carpets of Bluebells. I didn’t see the White Lady but maybe I should have gone back at midnight? To get there HERE
Found this accommodation for bigger parties HERE
Next, we venture to the picturesque town of Llangollen and the grand Hand Hotel HERE While its Victorian elegance might initially seem inviting, the Hand Hotel harbours its own share of ghostly residents. The most famous apparition is that of a former chambermaid named Sarah, who tragically took her own life in Room 20. Guests staying in this particular room have reported inexplicable cold spots, the feeling of being watched, and the disembodied sound of a woman crying softly.
Beyond Sarah, other spectral guests are said to roam the corridors. Footsteps are heard when no one is there, and doors slam shut seemingly of their own accord. The hotel’s long history, stretching back to the 17th century, has seen countless lives pass through its doors, and it seems some have chosen never to leave. The mix of polite Victorian spectres and more restless spirits makes the Hand Hotel a fascinating, if unnerving, experience for any ghost hunter.
Another story associated with the hotel is that of the hand – a blood red hand image that was used on the crest of the Myddleton family (no relation to the Middleton family of the current royalty) In about 1595 a Thomas Myddleton bought Chirk Castle and made it the seat of the Myddleton Estate.
He was a Sargent Major General in the Parliamentary Forces in North Wales and served in a lot of battles against Royalist Forces during the civil war; however he was against putting Charles I on trial and became dissillusioned with Oliver Cromwell and his causes, he changed his allegiance and became a Royalist. Thereafter and due to the continued support from the Myddleston’s to the then King Charles II they were awarded with a Baronetcy in 1660 after The Glorious Restoration. And thereby the right to incorporate the ‘Arms of Ulster’ or The Bloodied Hand into their own coat of arms.
Today the Hand Hotel’s garden allow people to sit by and stroll the riverbank, non- residents are welcome into the hotel to read the history and look at the photos of the family and historical information on display.
On the far side of the garden near the riverbank there once stood a row of cottages near Bridge Street, also a market hall and town hall in this area in the 18th century – in one of the cottages lived a barber who killed his wife, the year was 1739 and he slit her throat after an argument. He was hanged on the hill still known today as Moely Y Barbwr (Barbers Hill). Dare you sit and have your picnic here?
Finally, our spine-tingling tour concludes at the majestic Castell Malgwyn Hotel in Pembrokeshire. This stunning Georgian mansion, set amidst beautiful grounds overlooking the River, belies a troubled past. The most prominent ghostly resident is that of a young woman named Gwen, a former maid who tragically drowned in the river nearby. Her spectral presence is often felt in the older parts of the hotel, particularly in the grand staircase and the rooms overlooking the river. Guests have reported seeing her fleeting reflection in mirrors, hearing unexplained whispers, and experiencing a sudden, melancholic atmosphere. The hotel’s history as a private residence and later a country house hotel means it has witnessed countless personal dramas, and it seems Gwen’s story is just one of many that linger. The grandeur of Castell Malgwyn only amplifies the eerie feeling of sharing your stay with unseen entities, making it a truly memorable, and frightening, experience.
Unlikely never to have been regarded as an actual castle, records refer to this being an original farm house with a high wooden bluff (clump of trees) and a thriving tin works as a business. In 1792 a Sir Benjamin Hammet who acquired the estate began the present Hammet Castell Malgwyn house, parks and gardens. In the rural country village of Llechryd, North Pembrokeshire this beauty is found over a bridge of the scenic river Teifi about 5 miles from Cardigan town centre. It is child and dog friendly.
These three Welsh hotels offer more than just accommodation; they offer a journey into the spectral past. For those brave enough to check in, the whispers of history and the undeniable presence of the supernatural promise an encounter you won’t soon forget. So, if you’re ever in Wales and feel a craving for something truly out of the ordinary, consider booking a room – but don’t say I didn’t warn you! Castell Malgwyn HERE
Enjoy walking and unspoiled beaches – self catering accommodation HERE
From us, until next time dear friends x
