The Lake District is a magical place, it’s said by most who visit, but only few know just how true that is. The Lakes is an area of the UK soaked in history, ancient and natural, with peaks and valleys carved by glaciers and volcanic activity, creating an environment where myth and mystery can grow, passed down through generations of locals and visitors alike, until we have the folklore we know today.
We can explore the most popular ones together, and hopefully it will inspire you to come and investigate them yourselves. You can return from your days of mystery hunting to one of our warm cottages in the area, kicking off your walking boots and hanging up your spyglasses to curl up in front of the log burner with your loved ones.
Bjorn, the ghost of Styhead Pass, Seathwaite
If you are an experienced hiker, Styhead may be a familiar name to you; it’s a pass high up in the Lakes between Great Gable and famous Scafell Pike, only walked by confident walkers due to its difficult terrain.
Because of its isolated nature, it’s the perfect place for paranormal activities to occur, and they do, regularly. Bjorn is one of the most well-known legends in the local area; he’s apparently been spotted countless times roaming the fells as a ghostly apparition.
The tales speak of him as a headless Viking warrior that silently walks the pass carrying a sack of cats – a strange accessory, but it’s said that this is a testament to his devotion to Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, war and death.
If you are going ghost hunting for our Bjorn, please ensure you are dressed appropriately, check the weather regularly and are confident in your hiking ability for this.
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Bownessie, the beast of Lake Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere
Now, I know this is sounding very similar to the Loch Ness Monster, but Bownessie has been whispered about for many, many years. Long before she was affectionately named, locals spoke of dark shapes moving under the surface, and visitors reported mysterious ripples along the water, a creature down in the depths of our famous Lake Windermere.
It sparked a lot of whispers at the start, passed down through generations of people until she gained more and more attention, enough for a few good old monster hunts to take place, one in 2006 bringing forth some blurry pictures of what could have been a humped lake monster, though no one is really sure.
If you’re going Bownessie spotting soon, we recommend wrapping up warm and bringing snacks, finding a spot on the shore of Lake Windermere with a good view, and maybe bringing some binoculars with you too. You could even get the Lake Windermere Cruise around the lake to get a proper look from the water itself.
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Fairies and Faes folklore, Border of Lake District and Eden Valley.
Honestly, where else would they be? The area is perfect for little winged creatures hiding in the secret spots of natural beauty, thriving amongst the flowers and on the shores of the lake.
There are a lot of tales of fairies and faes in the Lakes, whispers of their tricks and gifts to humans spread through the peaks and valleys of the Lakes, but there are a couple that are more famous than the rest – The luck of Eden Hall up on the border of the Eden Valley is one of the most well-known.
The tale of the Luck of Eden Hall is a very important part of our local history, so much so that the glass from the myth is on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The story goes that Eden Hall was a beautiful, large estate in the Lakes that was said to have a connection to a realm of fairies, enough so that there were multiple alleged sightings of them dancing in the halls and having little gatherings in the home.
The myth says there was a group of the little creatures entertaining themselves in the garden, laughing and drinking from their delicately crafted fairy glasses, when they had been scared off by the butler of the home, who took one of the glasses left behind by the fairies. A curse was placed on the house, one that said that if the glass ever broke, the good luck of Eden Hall would break.
This scared the inhabitants so much that the glass survived for decades and across generations of families, until it was finally given to the museum, where it sits safely now. Eden Hall has been knocked down since then, but you can still visit the field where the house used to stand, maybe if you stay long enough, you’ll catch sight of one of the little creatures flying through the foliage.
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The ghosts of Muncaster Castle, Eskdale
Muncaster Castle has thousands of years of history attached to it. First built in the 13th century, it was expanded over the years under different owners until it became the grand castle and estate we know today.
Due to its extensive history, this castle is considered one of Britain’s most haunted and people come from all over the country to conduct their own little ghost hunts. The most famous ghost is the jester from the 16th century, Tom Skelton, or Tom Fool, as he’s best known.
He was known to be a trickster, held in very high regard back in the day, known for his spiteful nature and cruel tricks – he was said to direct lost walkers into quicksand and was the driving force behind the beheading of a carpenter at the castle who had fallen in love with the Lady Helwise Pennington.
He is the most active at Muncaster, said to be the ghost behind most of the paranormal activity, especially the more sinister acts, though he’s only ever felt or heard, never seen.
The other well-known ghost is The Lady in White, who is heard less and seen more, compared to Tom. She’s said to be an apparition of a young woman dressed head to toe in white robes, ethereal and beautiful but very sad. She’s theorised to be the ghost of Mary Bragg, a maid from the 1800s who fell in love with a footman – her story tells a spotty tale of her being tricked away from the castle when a jealous maid weaved a story of her lover being ill, leading her to being attacked on the road and meeting her untimely end. She wanders the halls and grounds now, seen in the fog and out of the corners of eyes as she searches for her lover.
There are multiple other stories of ghostly characters and haunted rooms at Muncaster Castle, if you’re going to pop in and have a go at some ghost spotting, then you can buy tickets for the entire estate; it’s not only some paranormal fun, but it’s a brilliant family day out, exploring the castle itself, the gardens and the estate’s amenities.
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Long Meg and Her Daughters, the mystery of the stone circle, North East Lakes
Long Meg and Her Daughters is the name of the second-largest stone circle in the United Kingdom, with 69 stones in a circle, the longest being Long Meg at a height of 12 feet, dating back to 1500 BC.
This iconic monument is a site of serious history, but it’s also shrouded in mystery, with no clear purpose for the circle; many theories have had room to grow and flourish. The main ones are that this was an area of religious worship and ritual, or maybe a place people came to trade, or even just a place for socialising back in the Bronze Age. No one can agree on one sole theory, mostly because all of these things can be true at once, but the muddy history gives way for folklore to develop from whispers of locals and tourists alike.
The most popular, well-known theory is that the stones were once each a witch, the members of a coven that would gather in the dark of night in the field outside the settlement to practice witchcraft and pagan rituals. They were said to have been caught one night, either by a rival wizard or terrified mortals, and turned into stone right there where they stood.
This theory is so popular because Long Meg is said to be Meg of Meldon, a famous suspected witch who was alive at the time of the creation of the circle, and if you look at the large stone at the perfect angle, the stone looks as if it has the side profile of a witch watching over the circle of smaller stones.
This tale is so popular that it actually created superstitions that visitors try to steer clear of, or for the braver souls, attempt for themselves; it’s said that the stones can’t actually be counted, and if you try, you will never count the same amount twice but if you do, there’s a chance the spell will be broken or you’ll be cursed with bad luck. Another one is that if you walk the entire circle, counting the stone and then put your ear to Long Meg’s stone, you can hear her whispering to you.
If you’re planning to visit Long Meg and Her Daughters, we recommend you wear shoes you don’t mind getting a bit muddy, and you wrap up warm for a bit of supernatural investigation.
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Devils Bridge, a gift from its namesake, Kirkby Lonsdale
Devil’s Bridge is a popular landmark in the local area, especially popular in summer for walks along the river and picnicking on the banks. The origin of the bridge is mythology passed down through local families.
It’s said that the bridge gets its name because the Devil himself built it up from the ground; The legend goes that there was an old lady who lived on the banks of the River Lune; she had a couple of animals under her care, and one day she noticed that one of her cows had crossed the river and gotten stuck on the other side.
The devil came to her in person and told her he would build her a bridge to the other side of the river, but there would be a condition that the first soul to cross the bridge would be his to take. She outsmarted him by meeting him at the bridge the day it was finished, throwing some bread and having her dog run across the bridge first, giving him no choice but to claim the dog’s soul instead of hers.
This tale stems from the deep gouge in the stone at the highest point of the bridge, which is said to be the handprint of the Devil he’d left in a fit of rage.
We have a cosy range of cottages in Kirkby Lonsdale, perfectly placed for you to visit the bridge and see the impression left by the demon; maybe you can feel his presence in the stone itself. If you don’t, visiting the bridge and the town makes for a brilliant day out, especially under the turning leaves of Autumn.
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The curious case of the heart-shaped woods, Orton
This one is my personal favourite on the list, having lived in that area for a while, I’ve driven past this mysterious heart more times than I can count and grown up hearing all kinds of stories about why it’s there. This is one of those things on the list that most, if not all, people who live in or visit the South Lakes will know about.
The heart-shaped bundle of trees is located on the way into Tebay, planted on the side of the of a mountain, it can be seen perfectly from the train tracks along the Lune gorge, the bustling M6 a level above, and the winding back road just set up and back from the motorway – You can’t miss it as you pass, not as a passenger, a perfect, green heart shape growing out of the hillside, made just from trees.
There are many different theories you can get from the locals; depending on who you ask, they may have a different answer from the person before. The most popular one is that it was planted by a mother in memory of her son, who went and bravely fought in World War One, the only way to move on from her grief was to plant trees in the shape of a heart, so anyone who may pass would know he was loved dearly.
Another well-known theory is that a retired soldier returned home to his wife on their farm following the war and planted the trees as a declaration of his evergreen love for her, a visible sign she could see from the window of their home every day after years of being without him. The tragic story of two star-crossed lovers is told regularly, too, a young couple who would meet there in secret under the cover of night, hiding from their families who wanted to keep them apart; Eventually they had to separate for good, but not before they planted the trees as a memorial for their passionate love affair, something they could see across the fells and remember one another.
The final leading legend is that back in wartime, an RAF plane crashed into the gorge, a tragedy seen by the local community who had come together to plant the woods for his sacrifice.
If you’re interested in catching a glimpse of this landmark, you can stay in our cottages just around the corner – Stones Throw in Grayrigg is only a 6-minute drive away from the M6 Viewpoint, where you can see the heart from the side. We also have a brand-new property in Orton, mere minutes away from the M6 Viewpoint. Chapel Farm Nook is perfectly placed for driving past this cornerstone of the South Lakes.
Tizzie-Whizie, the Lakes cutest cryptid, Lake Windermere
Now, the name might be slightly strange, but it’s certainly fitting for this creature. A Tizzie-Whizie is a local legend here; it’s said that if you get down to the water’s level and listen very carefully, you can hear them squeaking as they rustle around on the shore of Lake Windermere.
Tizzie-Whizzies are said to have the body of a hedgehog, a fluffy tail like a squirrel’s, little antennae like a bumblebees, and the delicate wings of a dragonfly; they all come together to make up a truly adorable cryptid.
The folklore dates back all the way to the 1900s, when a boatman in Bowness came into the local pub after a long day on the water, he shared his tale of his creature sighting to a group of tourists from London and took them out to hunt for the Tizzie-Whizzie.
It’s said that amazingly, a Tizzie-Whizie was caught that night, and the photographer before it escaped, the picture is used on postcards in Windermere and Bowness even today – this beloved legend is so well-known that you can even buy little stuffed Tizzie-Whizzies from popular brands.
If you’re going to go do some cryptid hunting of your own, make sure to dress comfortably and bring your best listening ears out with you, just promise not to bring one back to one of our cottages!
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King Arthur’s sword, the legend beneath the lake, Bassenthwaite Lake
The legend of King Arthur is one of Britain’s most enduring tales, although whether Arthur was a real king or a figure of myth remains a mystery. The locations mentioned in Arthurian stories are often equally uncertain, which has allowed places across Britain to become associated with the legend.
Cumbria has several Arthurian connections, including a local tradition linking Bassenthwaite Lake with the resting place of his legendary sword, Excalibur, a magical weapon that protected him from ill-health and injury.
Stories differ on how Arthur first received Excalibur, with some versions telling of a sword drawn from a stone and others linking it to the mysterious Lady of the Lake. However, one of the most famous tales comes at the end of Arthur’s life. Mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann, Arthur ordered one of his knights to return Excalibur to the water.
When the sword was finally thrown in, a mysterious hand rose from the lake, caught and brandished it before disappearing beneath the surface. According to local Lake District folklore, that lake was Bassenthwaite, leaving the legendary sword hidden somewhere beneath its waters.
If you’re going to go see the place where the most famous sword in English history is said to be hidden, then we recommend strapping up your walking boots for a lovely nature walk along the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, where you and your family can try your luck at spotting a glint of a sword under the surface. You could even stop for a pint at The Pheasant Inn before making the short journey home to one of our cosy cottages.
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Which Lake District folktale are you going to go hunting for first? Whether you’re going out chasing the squeaking of the Tizzie-Whizzie, or the whispering of Long Meg and her Daughters, or a glance of our local ghost Bjorn, make sure you’re dressed appropriately for the Lakes’ famously temperamental weather.
There is no better place to wrap up cosy and start your monster hunt this autumn than one of our holiday properties tucked in the magical rolling hills of the Lake District. So, get a holiday booked, pack your walking boots, keep your eyes peeled, and you never know what legends you might uncover this autumn…
