There are many tales of ghostly sightings on UK roads, which can make driving on them at night an unnerving experience for some
Throughout Britain, certain routes have earned reputations that could leave even seasoned motorists thinking twice about venturing out after dark. Eerie apparitions materialising out of thin air, ghostly motors, and baffling crashes have been consistently documented by those behind the wheel for decades.
These spine-chilling encounters have transformed ordinary stretches of tarmac into legendarily haunted thoroughfares. From quiet country byways to major motorways and A roads, these notorious routes have woven themselves into local legends.
Yet whilst they might appear to offer harmless entertainment, navigating these supposedly supernatural stretches can present genuine hazards for certain drivers, reports the Daily Record. One motoring specialist warns that becoming overly conscious of the allegedly paranormal atmosphere can actually heighten your chances of a mistake whilst driving.
Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at European used car parts firm Ovoko, explains: “Roads with haunted reputations often share a pattern: they are poorly lit, lined with trees or hedges, and have a history of accidents. When driving at night, it’s easy for the mind to misinterpret shadows or fleeting movements as figures, especially when local stories are well-known.
“Maintaining your focus, reducing speed, and taking regular breaks are practical ways to navigate these stretches safely. Psychological factors, like fatigue and heightened awareness, can amplify the sensation of seeing something supernatural, so it’s wise to remain alert and cautious rather than distracted by the stories themselves.
“While ghostly tales are entertaining, the real hazard is your reaction behind the wheel. Swerving to avoid what might be a shadow can lead to genuine accidents. Respecting the road, keeping a steady speed, and knowing the route are the safest strategies, regardless of whether the legends are true.”
The company has now put together a chilling rundown of Britain’s most spine-tingling roads, where night-time driving can leave motorists feeling thoroughly spooked and on edge. Here are its top eight routes:
A75, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Known as Scotland’s most spine-chilling stretch of tarmac, the A75 snakes through Dumfries and Galloway and boasts a terrifying history of unexplained encounters. Motorists have witnessed phantom lorries materialising from thin air, ghostly figures wandering onto the carriageway, and supernatural creatures bolting across the road.
One bone-chilling account tells of two lorry drivers who smashed into what appeared to be an approaching truck, only to discover absolutely nothing when they came round. The A75 has witnessed paranormal activity for generations, turning nocturnal journeys into a hair-raising ordeal for even the most fearless drivers.
Platt Lane, Lancashire
The tragic legacy of the 1910 Pretoria pit catastrophe appears to haunt Platt Lane to this day. Motorists describe witnessing glowing eyes staring from the roadside bushes and spectral miners dragging carts as though condemned to work an endless shift.
Motorists who have travelled this route during the night hours report an unsettling sensation, as though invisible labourers are strolling beside their vehicles. The tales of ghostly pit workers are so compelling that certain residents completely shun this section once darkness falls.
Oldnall Road, West Midlands
The Oldnall Road is a straight B-road between Halesowen and Stourbridge, and it’s earned a reputation as an accident ‘blackspot’. “A ‘blackspot’ is an area of road which sees a statistically high rate of accidents,” says Kazimieras. “These areas are often identified by engineers using statistical analysis in order to implement targeted safety measures.”
Crashes at this location have been blamed on drivers veering to dodge phantoms, typically youngsters clad in Victorian attire, who disappear as abruptly as they materialise. Despite the route’s absence of sharp curves or limited sight lines, accounts of smashes triggered by these supernatural disturbances persist in baffling both residents and transport officials.
A456, West Midlands
A few miles from Oldnall Road sits the A456, notorious for glimpses of a cavalier donning complete armoured headgear. One of the most renowned incidents was documented by a local Detective Constable, who insisted he witnessed the figure galloping along the kerb before vanishing completely.
Motorists at this location frequently describe feeling pursued or observed. However no concrete danger has ever been confirmed.
A666, Bolton
Dubbed the Devil’s Highway, the A666 runs between Bolton and Pendlebury with a lengthy history of spine-chilling encounters. Motorists have reported thick, unexplained fog sweeping across the carriageway, shadowy figures weaving between the trees, and apparitions of a stooped figure or white entity.
One tale that has endured for decades involves a woman materialising at the roadside, only to disappear the moment vehicles decelerate. “In the UK, the first number of an A road is given based on the area in which it starts, which is how the A666 ended up with its first six,” says Kazimieras.
“The other numbers are assigned at random. Despite its reputation, the number was likely not given to this road intentionally.”
A229, Kent
Recognised as just one of the roads haunted by the ‘Girl in White’, the A229 has been the location of unsettling encounters for generations. Eyewitnesses describe a bride-to-be, clad in her wedding dress, stepping before vehicles and vanishing before any collision.
One particularly chilling account describes a driver who draped her body with a blanket, only for her to vanish, leaving the covering behind.
M6, Cheshire
The M6 is not your typical haunted country lane. Stretching across multiple counties, it is the longest motorway in the UK, and its length and history accommodate a staggering number of spectral reports.
Particularly infamous is the section between junctions 16 and 19, where drivers have spotted shadowy figures apparently crossing lanes before vanishing into thin air. Ancient tragedies from the English Civil War and Roman era could account for the ghostly soldiers occasionally witnessed here, leaving motorists with an eerie sense of history colliding with the present day.
B3212, Dartmoor, Devon
Dartmoor’s B3212 has become notorious for the myth of the Hairy Hands, with accounts stretching back to the early 1900s. Motorists describe invisible hands grabbing control of their steering wheels and even bicycle handlebars, compelling motorbikes, pushbikes, and vehicles to swerve off the carriageway despite their operators’ desperate attempts to maintain control.
The section linking Postbridge and Princetown is flanked by tors, ancient remains, and prehistoric stone circles, forming a spine-chilling setting that only amplifies these disturbing accounts. Kazimieras says: “It has been suggested that the real explanation for these incidents is that the B3212 is a narrow, winding road that is often hard for tourists, who are unfamiliar with it, to navigate in the dark.”
