Day 17 – The Ghosts of the Kirkstone Pass Inn
Standing 1,481 feet above sea level in the heart of the Lake District, the Kirkstone Pass Inn has earned a reputation as one of England’s most haunted pubs.
For centuries, this lonely inn has offered shelter to weary travellers attempting the perilous journey across Kirkstone Pass. Before modern roads and reliable weather forecasts, blizzards could arrive with little warning, leaving people stranded on the exposed fells. It’s perhaps no surprise that such a place has become steeped in ghostly folklore.
The inn’s most famous spirit is said to be Ruth Atkinson.
According to local legend, Ruth was making the difficult journey across the pass during the nineteenth century while carrying her young child to visit her sick father. A violent snowstorm overtook them just short of the inn. When they were eventually found, Ruth had tragically frozen to death after wrapping her child in her own clothing to keep the infant alive. The child survived.
Today, guests and staff have reported seeing a woman in period dress standing silently near the fireplace or gazing through the windows towards the mist-covered pass. Others describe an unexplained drop in temperature accompanying her appearance.
Another frequently reported apparition is the mysterious Coachman, said to be connected with the old coaching routes over the pass. Witnesses have described seeing him sitting quietly in the bar before fading from view.
One of the more unusual stories linked to the inn concerns the spirit of a fell runner. During one of my own investigations, I was told that a runner who had tragically died on the surrounding fells was believed by some to still haunt the building. I’ve never been able to find historical evidence to support the story, but it’s one of the many tales that continue to circulate among paranormal investigators who have visited the inn.
The Wonderful Bar in the Inn
Perhaps the most unsettling report is that of a large black shadow figure. During investigations in the early 2000s, several paranormal teams claimed to have seen a dark, human-shaped figure entering one of the upstairs bedrooms. Some witnesses even described it as having glowing red eyes before it disappeared. As fascinating as these reports are, they remain anecdotal and have never been independently verified.
Another intriguing claim concerns the bar itself. During one investigation, I was told that a ground-penetrating radar survey had identified two anomalies beneath the flagstone floor which some believed could be unmarked graves. However, I’ve never found any archaeological evidence confirming this, so it remains part of the inn’s enduring folklore rather than an established historical fact.
Beyond the apparitions themselves, staff and visitors have reported a variety of unexplained phenomena over the years. Heavy footsteps have been heard in empty rooms, glasses have reportedly moved without explanation, strange noises echo through the building after closing time, and during severe winter storms, some visitors claim to hear desperate cries for help coming from outside—only to discover the mountain pass deserted.
My Investigation
Around twenty years ago, I organised a charity ghost hunt at the Kirkstone Pass Inn with a group of work colleagues. This was long before high-definition cameras and modern paranormal equipment. We relied on the technology available at the time—early digital cameras, camcorders recording onto cassette tapes and audio recorders.
I captured photographs and video throughout the night and, while we experienced several moments that certainly made us stop and think, nothing we recorded could be described as conclusive proof of the paranormal. What has stayed with me all these years isn’t a single piece of evidence, but the atmosphere of the building itself. Standing alone on the exposed pass after dark, with the wind howling across the fells, cloud hanging low, it’s one of the eeriest locations I’ve ever investigated.
Could there be a rational explanation?
The Kirkstone Pass, looking down on Windemere
The Kirkstone Pass Inn sits in one of the most isolated and weather-beaten locations in England. Fierce winds, rapidly changing temperatures, old timber beams and centuries-old stonework all create an environment where unusual sounds are common. Add a building with hundreds of years of history and well-known ghost stories, and it’s easy to understand why visitors may interpret unexplained events as paranormal.
Despite its formidable reputation, no investigation has yet produced conclusive evidence that the inn is genuinely haunted. As with so many historic locations, the case rests almost entirely on eyewitness testimony and local tradition.
Richard’s Verdict
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
The Kirkstone Pass Inn remains one of the most atmospheric places I’ve ever investigated. Having spent a night there myself, I completely understand why it has earned such a formidable reputation. The isolation, dramatic mountain weather and centuries of history make it a perfect setting for ghost stories. There are certainly some intriguing reports associated with the inn, but after all these years, there is still no evidence that conclusively proves the paranormal. For me, it’s a fascinating case that remains firmly open.
Would you spend the night at the Kirkstone Pass Inn… especially if the snow started falling outside?
Starting tomorrow with 365 Paranormal a week long look into UFO sightings, starting with the Calvine UFO Sighting.
#365DaysOfTheParanormal #KirkstonePassInn #LakeDistrict #GhostStories #HauntedPub #HauntedBritain #Paranormal #FavouriteHaunts #GhostHunting #RichardKnapper
Leave a Reply