The Truth May Be Stranger Than the Stories
Me auditioning for the remake of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”
Welcome to Favourite Haunts, a journey into Britain’s ghosts, UFO encounters, cryptids, strange phenomena and unexplained mysteries.
I’m Richard Knapper, a photographer, filmmaker and lifelong enthusiast of the unexplained. Through Favourite Haunts, I explore the stories that have fascinated, frightened and puzzled people for generations — from lonely castles and ancient ruins to remote moorlands, forgotten villages and the skies above Britain.
But this isn’t about simply repeating ghost stories or accepting every strange claim as fact.
It’s about asking questions.
What really happened? Who witnessed it? What evidence remains? Can there be a rational explanation — or are we sometimes left with something genuinely difficult to explain?
A Lifelong Fascination with the Unexplained
My interest in the paranormal began when I was young, particularly with UFOs. I grew up fascinated by reports of strange objects in the sky, unexplained encounters and the possibility that there might be more to our world than we currently understand.
That fascination never disappeared.
Over the years, it expanded to include ghosts, hauntings, cryptids, folklore and unexplained historical mysteries. I’m fascinated not only by the extraordinary claims themselves, but by the people who experienced them and the places where these stories unfolded.
With Favourite Haunts, I want to visit those places, investigate their histories and separate documented fact from folklore, exaggeration and legend.
Stories, Evidence and the Search for Answers
Favourite Haunts takes a balanced approach to the paranormal. I don’t set out to prove that every ghost story is true, nor do I dismiss unexplained experiences simply because they challenge conventional explanations.
I believe scepticism is important — but so is curiosity.
Each case deserves to be judged on its own merits. Wherever possible, I look at original witness accounts, historical records, contemporary newspaper reports and other available evidence. I’ll explore possible rational explanations alongside the paranormal theories and leave room for the possibility that sometimes, we simply don’t know.
At the end of many cases, I’ll give Richard’s Verdict and an Evidence Rating — my own assessment of how compelling the case really is.
You don’t have to agree with me. In fact, I’d rather you make up your own mind.
Exploring Britain’s Favourite Haunts
Although Favourite Haunts is based in the North East of England, the stories I explore reach far beyond it.
From the castles and windswept coastlines of Northumberland to Britain’s mysterious forests, mountains and moorlands, I’ll investigate stories of alleged hauntings, UFO sightings, strange creatures and unexplained events from across the country.
Through videos, photography, written case files and the 365 Days of the Paranormal series, Favourite Haunts explores famous mysteries alongside forgotten cases that deserve to be rediscovered.
Some will be chilling.
Some will be bizarre.
Some may have perfectly rational explanations.
And just occasionally, we may encounter something that genuinely refuses to be explained.
Photography, Film and Atmosphere
I’ve been a professional landscape and wildlife photographer since 2008, and visual storytelling is at the heart of Favourite Haunts. If you want to check out my professional photography website, click here.
Rather than simply talking about mysterious places, I want to take you there — using original photography, atmospheric filmmaking, drone footage and on-location investigations to bring each story to life.
The ruined castle at dusk. The lonely road where something strange was reportedly seen. The silent woodland with a history of unexplained encounters. The windswept moor beneath a darkening sky.
Because sometimes, understanding a mystery begins with understanding the place where it happened.
Join the Investigation
Favourite Haunts is ultimately about curiosity.
It’s about exploring the boundary between history and folklore, evidence and belief, the known and the unknown.
Whether you’re a believer, a sceptic or simply someone who enjoys a good mystery, you’re welcome to join me.
Read the case files. Watch the investigations. Examine the evidence. Question the stories.
And decide for yourself.
Because the truth may be stranger than the stories.
