Haunted Pub & Castle Stay – Ghostly York Stopover + 5 Nights at Chillingham Castle
Hey spooky souls 👻
We have just been a cool little adventure and we have decided to share it with you with our travel blog — and this one has it all: haunted pubs, gothic castles, peaceful escapes… and a little unexpected paranormal twist at the end.
This summer we kicked things off with a night at The Golden Fleece in York — famously haunted — before heading to Chillingham Castle in Northumberland for our fourth stay. This time, we swapped our usual Easter visit for five nights in July, and it was one of our most interesting trips yet.
🏨 Golden Fleece, York – Hauntings and Ghostly Gifts
Our first stop: the Golden Fleece — one of York’s most haunted pubs. We stayed in the Minster Room, which was stunning: cosy, stylish, and came with a coffee machine for late-night chats and early starts.
We wandered York’s cobbled streets and stopped by the York Ghost Shop, where we picked up the cutest little ghost ornament — totally charming and very on brand for us. 👻
The stay was peaceful overall... until I heard an unexplained knock at the door late at night, followed by what sounded like furniture being dragged across the floor below us. Just your average night in one of England’s most haunted inns. 😅
The back bar at the Golden Fleece in York
The Minsters Room
🏰 Chillingham Castle – A Familiar Favourite in a New Season
Then it was on to Chillingham Castle, where we stayed in the Dairy Apartment — cosy, warm, and full of character. This was our fourth stay, but our first during the summer, and the mood was definitely different: softer, more peaceful, and beautifully calm.
We skipped the ghost tour this time and just soaked in the serenity of the castle and grounds.
Chillingham Castle in Northumberland
The Diary Apartment
🏖️ Beach Days & Puffins
We took a day trip to Bamburgh Castle and beach — clean, calm, and absolutely gorgeous under the July sun. Then we headed out to sea on a Farne Islands boat trip with Billy Shiel's, spotting puffins and seals up close. The boat ride was smooth, the sea was sparkling, and the wildlife was magical.
Billy Shiel's Boat trip around Farne Islands
⚡ And Then... The Lights Went Out
But here’s where things took a turn.
On our last night at Chillingham, just as the sun was going down and the shadows began to stretch through the stone halls... the electricity went out.
Suddenly, no lights. No Wi-Fi. No sound — just us in a centuries-old castle as the night crept in.
We spent several hours in total darkness, watching candlelight flicker across the walls and listening to the castle settle into silence. It was eerie but also strangely beautiful until we heard the piano being played in the hallway just a few feet from our front door...upon opening to check who was having a musical moment we found that there was no-one there..!
And then — just as the darkness became complete — the power mysteriously came back on. Lights. Internet. Everything. As if the castle itself had decided we’d had just enough spooky for one stay. 😅
🖤 Final Thoughts
So that was our gothic summer getaway — from the haunted charm of The Golden Fleece to five unforgettable nights at Chillingham Castle. Ghosts, puffins, power cuts, and peace — this trip had a little bit of everything.
If you're into haunted history, weird travel, or just beautiful places with a story to tell, this one’s for you.
Drop a comment below:
Would you have stayed when the lights went out?
See you next time, fellow weirdlings. Stay spooky. 🖤