The spookiest places in Wales for ghost hunting

Truly a sleepover of the sinister variety, Craig y Nos Castle is known as the most haunted castle in Wales. It is the former estate of acclaimed 19th century opera singer, Adelina Patti - once one of the world’s most famous women.

Serious ghost-hunters can test their stamina at one of the castle’s regular overnight paranormal investigation events, where scientific tests and spiritual experiments are carried out throughout the night with the use of investigatory equipment. If the ghoulish activity becomes thirsty work, the castle’s Cross Bar offers warming spirits of a different kind. Find out more on the Craig y Nos website.

Ruthin Gaol in Denbighshire used to hold some of the worst criminals in the country, many of whom would be mistreated by guards, so it's no wonder it has some spooky spectres trapped in its walls. People report hearing doors slam, feeling presences sitting next to them, voices muttering in the dark and cackling laughs down corridors. Special ghost hunting nights are run by private organisers, so keep an ear out if you're keen!

With witches, fairies, strange Pembrokeshire customs, omens, mysteries, murder and - yep, you guessed it - ghosts, this guided evening Ghost Walk around the historic and atmospheric harbour town of Tenby is a light-hearted option for families and groups looking for some spooky storytelling.

Named by The Sunday Times as one of the top five ghost walks in Britain, the 90-minute walk is run by the popular and enthusiastic Guided Tours Wales company. Group walks start outside the Lifeboat Tavern in Tudor Square, running nightly until early November when only private walks are available.

This town may be small in size; but it is big on spooks. At the dramatic Conwy Castle, ghost hunters are said to have recorded a spectral voice from beyond the grave. Meanwhile, over at the Cadw-managed Elizabethan town house of Plas Mawr there are tragic tales of past inhabitants.

A haunted trip to the town should also take in the smallest house in Britain. Measuring 72 inches across, 122 inches high, the house has been declared too small for human habitation, but its current owner has reported strange smells and sightings when she opens it up for visitors.

So far, lots of the places we've mentioned have apparently been visited by ghostly men, women or children, but Carew Castle goes one step further: on dark and stormy nights, it is reportedly visited by the ghost of a deathly barbary ape! Other haunters include a Celtic warrior, a kitchen boy who clatters pots and pans and a white lady named Princess Nest who passes through on days with stark daylight or a full moon.

You can visit the castle during the day or hire it during the evening, if you dare to discover what lurks around at night. Check out the Carew Castle website for details on upcoming events, including witch hunts and ghost tours!

Originally built in 1530, the walls of Llancaiach Fawr Grade 1 listed manor house hold centuries of secrets. The house has been restored and furnished to accurately reflect its Tudor heritage, but the authentic atmosphere goes far beyond that, with regular reports of strange experiences in every room of the house. Steel yourself for strong odours of violet, lavender and even roast beef.

Ghost tours of the venue include a 90-minute tour of the manor by candlelight to hear true stories of uncanny things that have happened to staff and visitors over the years. There are also family ghost tours suitable for young people aged 12-15, a ghost tour with a meal option and a tour with a full paranormal guide and sensors to detect any uninvited guests.

See Cardiff Castle from a different perspective with this night-time history and ghost tour. There's been a fort on this spot since Roman times so no surprise that the walls have soaked up some atmosphere. Prepare to be spooked as you hear about the strange sounds, paranormal phenomena and shadowy figures seen in the castle grounds after dark on this two-hour torch-lit tour. The journey includes a walk of over 100 steps to the rarely-seen rooms at the top of the clock tower, where the 3rd Marquis of Bute apparently held ghost-summoning experiments. Find out how to book on the Dark Wales Tours website.

Standing in the shadow of its mountainous namesake, the Skirrid Mountain Inn is one of the oldest and reputedly most haunted pubs in Wales. It used to be a courtroom and, according to local legend, more than 180 convicted felons were hanged from an oak beam over the staircase at the inn. It is said their spirits can still be strongly felt and seen.

The pub hosts regular ghost hunting vigils and séances in small groups as well as leading ghostly experiments including glass divination, table tipping and ouija boards.

If you've ever been in one of the reconstructed buildings at St Fagans National Museum of History and felt a bit spooked out, here's your chance to find out more. St Fagans village was the site of a Civil War battle, and those historical buildings must have many memories absorbed into their walls...

Book on a torch-lit evening tour with Dark Wales Tours, and you'll learn about Welsh superstitions, traditions, and the ghostly happenings at St Fagans over the years. 

In the last decade, there have been multiple reports of spooky goings on in Margam Country Park. People visiting the old building at its heart have reported seeing orbs, feeling cold chills, hearing unexplained noises and seeing objects move, as well as catching glimpses of ghostly figures in Victorian dress.

Once the current restorations are completed, the house will be available to hire for private paranormal investigations, so you could either run your own special evening of ghost hunting or join an externally-organised event. Book a Ghost Tour on the Dark Wales Tours website.

On this family-friendly 90mins walking tour of Caernarfon with Celtic Tours Wales, you'll discover the medieval past of this ancient town. The Caernarfon Ghosts, Nasties & Naughtiness takes you round pubs with tales to tell, hear about the grim conditions in the Gothic-style Victorian Gaol, and the terrible punishments the prisoners endured, and of course, Caernarfon Castle.