Wiltshire named UK’s haunted road capital with 57 paranormal reports
Our new research looks at the spookiest roads in the UK
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Wiltshire has been named the UK’s haunted road capital, with 57 paranormal reports linked to roads across the county, new research has revealed ahead of Halloween.
Our new research analysed more than 1,100 UK reports listed in The Paranormal Database’s Roads & Motorways archive to reveal which parts of the country have the most reported paranormal activity on their roads.
Wiltshire tops the ranking with 57 reports, six more than second-placed Dorset with 51, while Essex follows closely behind with 50.
So, whether you're driving a JAECOO, OMODA or Chery, keep your eyes peeled for haunted happenings on the roads.
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The 10 UK areas with the most haunted road reports are:
Wiltshire – 57
Dorset – 51
Essex – 50
Suffolk – 45
Somerset – 43
Kent – 40
Sussex – 40
Norfolk – 39
North Yorkshire – 38
Greater London – 32
Reports range from ghostly figures appearing in front of vehicles and on roads. Phantom hitchhikers, unexplained animals, horse-drawn coaches and cars are all said to have disappeared without trace.
Wiltshire’s reports include sightings linked to major routes such as the A4, A36, A350, A365 and A419, alongside smaller country roads and village lanes across the county.
One report from the A365 describes a horse and rider emerging from a hedge and crossing directly in front of a driver, forcing them to brake before apparently disappearing into a wall.
Another report from the A4 near Corsham describes a driver encountering a strange figure at the roadside with what appeared to be a grinning skull-like face, prompting them to slow down.
South West has the most haunted road reports
The South West has more haunted road reports than any other English region, with 218, followed by the East of England with 187 and the South East with 183.
The East Midlands ranks fourth with 109 reports and the North West fifth with 88, while the North East has the fewest of any English region with 18.
Three of the five highest-ranking areas in the UK are in the South West, with Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset accounting for 151 reports between them.
Scotland has 59 haunted road reports, while Wales has 50 and Northern Ireland has 10.
Essex has the most user-submitted haunted road reports
The Paranormal Database brings together reports from sources including published media, historical records and submissions made directly by members of the public.
Essex has the highest number of haunted road reports submitted directly by members of the public, with 21.
One 2023 report from near Margaretting describes a driver seeing what appeared to be a legless figure moving across the road in front of their car.
Another driver reported seeing an unexplained white object while travelling along Maldon Road in Colchester during the same year, while a report from Little Hallingbury describes a floating figure appearing close to Church Road and causing a motorist to brake.
In another Essex sighting near North Shoebury, a driver said they swerved after a figure appeared in front of their vehicle.
Suffolk follows closely behind with 20 user-submitted reports, while Norfolk ranks third with 18. Cambridgeshire and Somerset complete the top five with 15 each.
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “Whether you believe in ghosts or not, seeing something you can’t explain while you’re driving would be enough to catch anyone off guard.
“Some of the stories have been around for decades, while others have been submitted much more recently, so it’s clear they still capture people’s imagination. It’ll be interesting to see if any new sightings are reported this Halloween.
“With darker evenings now setting in, drivers are also more likely to be travelling in conditions where shapes and movement can be harder to judge, particularly on rural or unfamiliar roads. Giving yourself enough time and space to react safely is important, whatever you think you might have seen.”
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