Haunted Graveyards of the South West UK: Folklore, Legends and Ghostly Tales

From phantom hounds on Dartmoor to ghostly monks in ruined abbeys, discover the most haunted graveyards and chilling legends of South West England.

Wander through the South West of England and you’ll find churchyards and burial grounds older than many countries. Beneath leaning stones and yew trees lie centuries of history — but also tales of restless spirits, devilish pacts, and ghostly figures who refuse to rest.

Here are some of the most haunted and legend-filled graveyards across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire.

Holy Trinity Churchyard, Buckfastleigh (Devon)

High above Buckfastleigh sits the ruined Holy Trinity Church, its graveyard tangled with ivy and eerie silence. This is one of Devon’s most infamous haunted sites, thanks to the tomb of Squire Richard Cabell, said to have been a violent and wicked man. Local legend claims that on the night of his death in 1677, a pack of phantom black hounds gathered at his mausoleum, howling through the night. Cabell’s grave is now encased in a heavy stone structure, supposedly to stop him from rising.

👉 Folklore link: The tale of Cabell’s ghostly hounds is believed to have inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles.

St Senara’s Churchyard, Zennor (Cornwall)

The Cornish village of Zennor is known for the Mermaid of Zennor legend, but the churchyard has ghostly stories of its own. Locals whisper of spectral figures moving among the gravestones at night, sometimes linked to shipwrecked sailors brought ashore for burial. The atmosphere is heightened by the remote, windswept moors surrounding the church.

👉 Folklore link: The Mermaid Chair inside the church connects the site with centuries of maritime myth and superstition.

Widecombe-in-the-Moor, St Pancras Churchyard (Devon)

In 1638, a violent thunderstorm struck St Pancras Church during a packed service, killing several parishioners. They were buried in the churchyard under grim circumstances, and stories soon spread of a dark rider — said by some to be the Devil himself — galloping across Dartmoor that day. Visitors to the graveyard sometimes report uneasy feelings and unexplained chills.

👉 Folklore link: The Devil’s ride across Dartmoor remains one of the region’s most enduring supernatural tales.

St Mary’s Churchyard, Clophill (Bedfordshire — but linked in folklore circuits often told in the South West)

Though technically outside the South West, the ruined St Mary’s Church at Clophill is often included in regional folklore tours. For decades it has been associated with tales of witchcraft, black masses, and ghostly figures seen drifting through its crumbling graveyard. Its notoriety grew in the 20th century when it became a hotspot for paranormal investigators.

👉 Folklore link: Many legends describe spectral monks or hooded figures moving silently through the ruins.

St Mary’s Churchyard, Cerne Abbas (Dorset)

The village of Cerne Abbas is best known for its chalk giant, but its churchyard is also home to spectral legends. Locals speak of shadowy monks linked to the ruins of the abbey, wandering through the graves as if still tending their flock. The abbey’s dissolution in the 16th century left many displaced, and stories suggest some never found rest.

👉 Folklore link: Monastic ghosts are common in the South West, where abbey ruins dot the landscape.

Nunney Churchyard, Somerset

In the quiet village of Nunney, near its famous castle, the churchyard is said to be haunted by the spirit of a murdered lord. Walter de la Mere, slain during medieval feuds, was laid to rest here — but tales say his presence still lingers, sometimes glimpsed as a mournful figure drifting between the graves.

👉 Folklore link: The intertwining of castle tragedy and churchyard burial often fuels long-lasting ghost stories.

St Mary’s Churchyard, Avebury (Wiltshire)

The village of Avebury sits within one of the most mysterious prehistoric landscapes in Britain. Alongside the stone circle, the churchyard has its own eerie reputation. Visitors sometimes speak of robed figures gliding silently among the graves at night, blurring the lines between Christian and pagan pasts.

👉 Folklore link: Avebury’s deep connection with ancient ritual landscapes seems to spill into its churchyard hauntings.

How to Explore Haunted Graveyards Safely

• Respect the dead: These are sacred places — behave with care, and avoid visiting after dark without permission.

• Tread carefully: Many sites have uneven ground or crumbling ruins.

• Learn the stories: Folklore tours or local history groups often provide context that deepens the experience.

• Take only memories: Never remove items, stones, or offerings from graveyards.

• Stay sceptical but open-minded: Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the history and legends enrich the visit.

• 
  

Final Thoughts

From Dartmoor legends of devilish riders to spectral monks in abbey ruins, the South West’s graveyards are steeped in folklore. These sites remind us that history lingers — not just in the names on the stones, but in the tales that communities pass down through generations.

Holy Trinity - Buckfastleigh

So next time you find yourself near a South West churchyard, pause a moment. Beneath the silence and the yews, you may just sense the weight of centuries — and perhaps, something watching from the shadows.