Buckler's Hard, Beaulieu and more – haunted New Forest

These tales of spooky sightings and ghostly goings-on are just a few of the many to have occurred in the past but work towards proving that the New Forest is a hotspot for the paranormal:

Palace House, Beaulieu

Rumours of a mysterious figure known as the Lady in Blue have been circulating for years.

It is believed that this spirit is Isabella, Countess Beaulieu, who passed away in 1786.

Witnesses claim to have seen her walking through walls and heard loud noises coming from the private apartments where she once lived.

The mysterious events at Beaulieu drew the attention of renowned author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famed for his creation of detective Sherlock Holmes.

As part of his investigations into the supernatural, Sir Arthur held a séance in Palace House's Drawing Room. This became an iconic moment in the history of paranormal activity at this peculiar location.

More recently, a Palace House guide used her phone to take an eerie photograph of a figure wearing blue in the Lower Drawing Room.

This figure is thought to be Isabella, Countess Beaulieu.

East Wellow

Famed across the local area is the ghost of Florence Nightingale who grew up in East Wellow on the fringes of the New Forest. Her final resting place can be found in this very same village.

It is said that the presence of her spirit can be felt around the Church of St Margaret.

Witnesses have even reported seeing it on multiple occasions, seated in one of the church's pews or taking a stroll through the graveyard.

Breamore

As the sun begins to set, a peculiar sight can be seen in the churchyard of Breamore near Fordingbridge.

Two cloaked figures are said to appear near a solitary yew tree - under which three stone coffins are buried - and then slowly drift away towards an ancient mizmaze contained within a small copse of trees.

As they reach their destination, these mysterious monks fade away until nothing remains.

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Breamore House

Today, Breamore House stands as a testament to the two generations of Dodington ladies who resided here in the 1600s.

An eerie reminder of their presence is the portrait of the elder lady that still hangs on its walls; it is said that upon her deathbed, she cursed anyone who dared move it.

Back in the 1950s, a man who was cleaning the house was met with an unfortunate accident.

After shifting the feared piece of furniture, he stumbled and broke his leg. As a result of this incident, no one has ventured to move it since.

Since her untimely and tragic demise, the younger Mrs Dodington's presence has been felt in her former home.

Whenever there is a major illness or someone passes away, the spirit of the woman is said to appear.

Tyrrell’s Lane, Burley

As the sun sets in the summer sky, you may find yourself face-to-face with a strange figure. His bright red hair and traditional clothing of tunic and boots are unmistakable - it is King William II of England who, some claim, was slain by his own brother, Henry.

Henry is thought to have used Sir Walter Tyrrell, a knight who was hunting deer nearby, as a scapegoat.

He claimed an arrow from Tyrrell's bow missed a stag before killing King William.

Fearing for his life, Sir Walter made haste away and galloped down what is now known as Tyrrell's Lane in Burley.

Rumour has it that his spirit still haunts this very path today.

Burley Lawn

In Burley Lawn, a spectral figure is said to haunt the area.

The area of Burley Lawn is said to be haunted by the ghost of one who perished there long ago.

In 1759, he was hanged from an ancient tree where his spirit is said to have been seen riding past.

Sightings state that the spooky apparition is a gallant figure in a dapper suit with shiny metal buttons sat astride a brown stead.

Tudor Rose Inn

Located in Burgate near Fordingbridge, one can find an inn that has been around since 14th century - it's known as Tudor Rose Inn.

This place is said to be haunted by a phantom cavalier.

He is said to bang on doors before entering a room and then slamming them shut with a loud thud - much to the annoyance of patrons and staff.

Consequently, the landlady saw no option other than to remove nearly all of the doors from their hinges.

White Hart Inn, Ringwood

For many years, the White Hart in Ringwood has been said to be haunted.

The ghost of a chambermaid is believed to reside there - always keeping things neat and tidy!

Employees have seen her on the staircase and swear she even puts away tools when workmen are distracted.

To ward off this supernatural presence an exorcism was performed in the 1960s, leaving behind a cross carved into the wall beside the stairs.

No matter what is used, a door within the kitchen still slams shut of its own accord - perhaps due to her presence!

Wagon and Horses, Walhampton

The Wagon and Horses pub at Walhampton, across the estuary from Lymington, is haunted by a double tragedy.

In 1893, the body of a farmer was discovered in a nearby field - he had been shot in the back with his own shotgun without any known enemies or motive for suicide.

The Walhampton gamekeeper Henry Card then made an unfortunate demonstration to prove how easy such an accident could be, and fell victim to the same fate; he was killed instantly by his own gun.

His spirit has supposedly been seen in the bar of the Wagon and Horses repeatedly.

Angel, Lymington

Boasting a high concentration of hauntings, the Angel in Lymington is widely considered to be the most haunted pub in the area.

Its four ghostly inhabitants include a coachman who gazes through windows, a blonde-haired little girl skipping on the second floor, an invisible figure playing piano and a sailor wearing a reefer jacket with brass buttons.

Bolten’s Bench, Lyndhurst

Tales of Sir Maurice de Berkeley and his two dogs linger on Bolton's Bench, a hill said to have been created by a dragon.

It is believed that this dragon had a den at Burley Beacon and would fly each morning to Bisterne for milk.

Determined to kill this beast, Berkeley constructed a hideout where he could ambush it with his two canine companions.

When it arrived as expected for its breakfast, he burst out of hiding and confronted it in battle.

They say there was an epic fight ensued through the New Forest before its death, its slain corpse forming the hill that is Bolton's Bench.

Following the battle, it is said that after a month of intense inner turmoil, the knight returned to the hill where he sat and passed away.

His yew-wood bow dropped to earth and soon grew into what is now the iconic yew tree.

This majestic tree stands proudly atop the hill to this day.

Montagu Arms, Beaulieu

The Montagu Arms is said to be home to numerous phantoms, with locals reporting the sighting of monks roaming in and around the premises.

An array of supernatural occurrences have been witnessed at the Arms such as inexplicable scents of incense, unexplained flashes of light and other strange phenomena.

Buckler’s Hard, Beaulieu

Tales of hauntings and heartbreak swirl around 74 West Terrace, Buckler's Hard.

Local legend tells us that Anne Norton, once a resident of this cottage, took her own life by jumping from one of its windows after being spurned in love.

This story has been kept alive as much of Buckler's Hard is now a live-in museum, and this particular address is said to be haunted by Anne’s spirit.