What's the story? Take your pick! Notable ghosts include the Earl of Douglas, who demands vengeance for his bloody murder at the hands of James II in 1452. And then there's the mysterious Green Lady, who - so the legend goes - was once a loyal servant to Mary Queen of Scots. Meanwhile, a ghostly nun prowls the line of the Burgh Wall, seeking sinful union with her priest lover. It's no wonder Stirling was chosen to host this year's first-ever Scottish Paranormal Festival.

Find out more here www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk

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What's the story? This 12th-century castle has so many ghosts and ghouls, it's featured on TV's 'Most Haunted' - twice! Its most famous spook? That'll be Lady Elinor Cavendish, who was strangled by 'a gentleman admirer' (or ex-admirer, presumably) on the top floor. The murder was witnessed by a servant who was framed and later found hanging from a balcony. Many visitors have felt a choking sensation when they walk upstairs. Gulp!

Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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What's the story? Standing high on Bodmin Moor, this legendary coaching house boasts more than its fair share of paranormal activity. Visitors have reported hearing the 'foreign whispers' of smugglers discussing their hoards and the clattering of horses' hooves. The inn is also thought to be haunted by the ghost of a stranger who was found dead on the moors after drinking at the inn. Feeling brave? Sign up for an overnight ghost hunt.

Find out more: www.jamaicainn.co.uk

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What's the story? Newstead's most notable ghost is a tall dark monk, who goes by the fairly uninventive name of the Black Friar. His appearances tend to signify that something awful is about to happen. An example? Lord Byron - who lived here from 1808 to 1814 - reportedly saw the monk just before his disastrous marriage to Anne Milbanke. And talking of Lord Byron, Newstead is also haunted by the ghost of the poet's beloved dog, Boatswain. Even today, staff report seeing wet paw prints and hearing the sound of barking when no living pooches are around.

Find out more: www.newsteadabbey.org.uk

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What's the story? A lone musketeer stalks the ramparts, apparently unaware he's dead. The desperate wails of a Portuguese woman, wracked with grief at her husband's death, can sometimes be heard. The phantom of a suicidal soldier lurks in the passageways. Waah! And that's just a handful of the spooky stories surrounding this fort. So it's really no surprise to learn that this fantastic fort is said to be the most haunted place in Suffolk.

Find out more: www.landguard.com

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What's the story? The only pub in Britain to be surrounded by a stone circle, The Red Lion is home to at least five ghosts - and has been voted one of the top 10 haunted pubs in the world. Its most famous spectre? A woman called Florrie, who was killed by her husband after he discovered she'd been having an affair. Apparently, she often throws 'small items' across the bar. (Maybe she's angry because they don't serve spirits? Sorry.) A ghostly horse and carriage sometimes pulls up outside, too.

Find out more: www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

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What's the story? Dating from the 12th century, the aptly named Chillingham boasts a bloody history owing to the fact that it sat in a strategic position during the border feuds between the English and Scots. Several ghosts are said to wander the halls and grounds - and each has been given a handy self-explanatory name. There's the White Pantry Ghost, the Ghost in the Chamber, the Voices in the Chapel and Ghosts in the Courtyard.

Find out more: www.chillingham-castle.com

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What's the story? Beaulieu is one of the UK's most haunted villages - largely due to the ghosts of the Cistercian marks who are often seen, heard and sensed around the 13th-century abbey. In particular, people often hear chanting, footsteps and the clinking of keys. But it's not all about the monks! There's also a Grey Lady - thought to be the ghost of Isabella, Countess Beaulieu, who died in 1786. Visitors sometimes mistake her for a costumed guide and complain when she won't answer their questions.

Find out more: www.beaulieu.co.uk

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What's the story? There are numerous paranormal tales associated with Derby Gaol - ranging from visitors feeling sick or suffocated in one particular cell to the sight of two dead bodies hanging from a beam. And if that sounds like the kind of place where you'd like to hang out in the small hours (no pun intended - honestly!), you can join an overnight vigil led by TV ghost-hunter Richard Felix. There are regular ghost walks around Derby, too.

Find out more: www.derbygaol.com

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What's the story? Past owners of this manor house - now a hotel - include Edward the Confessor and Henry VIII. The most notable ghost is probably that of Annabel, a little girl in a blue dress, who was thrown to her death from an upstairs window. She's been spotted wandering the corridors, calling for her mother. One recent visitor told how her daughter had tried to make friends with Annabel - not realising she was a ghost until she'd disappeared into a wall. Oh, and do listen out for the chanting of the ghostly monks, too...

Find out more: arretonmanor.co.uk

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