If your degree isn’t scary enough, here are the most haunted places in Durham

What’s the scariest part of Durham? If you’ve been here for more than a few weeks you’ve definitely found some scary things. The brain fog after a Freshers’ Week mistake, the looming threat of exams, or a solo walk back from Jimmy’s after your supposedly loyal bestie thought a stranger looked tastier. But today we’re here to talk about something more traditionally spooky. Here are the most haunted places in Durham City. The truly most spine-chilling spots, perfect for pre-drinking and scaring your friends this Halloween.

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral and the accompanying castle have some of the most haunted atmospheres in the city. If you’ve ever been walking by the river and seen the skyline-dominating structure floodlit red, you know what we mean. On certain nights this place can feel right out of a horror movie. Up close it’s not much better, with the architecture of the surrounding alleys turning sinister by night. It’s the perfect spot to hide and jumpscare your friends when they aren’t looking. Durham students even have a few superstitions about the cathedral. It’s been well-documented that ascending to the highest point of the cathedral before graduating curses you to fail your degree – so that’s one haunted spot we can warn you away from.

Prebends Bridge (and the areas around it)

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If we’re talking about the scariest spots in Durham, Prebend’s Bridge (and the surrounding paths) take the cake. The stretch from Prebend’s Bridge to the stairs by Rev’s is particularly ominous. It’s even featured in online registers of paranormal locations. If you want a good laugh, when you’re walking to the clubs from the hill, run ahead and hide behind the pillar just before the bridge, then jump out and scare your friends when they arrive. It’s been done before but it never gets old.

Whinney Hill – not the road, the actual hill

If you don’t mind the walk, you’ll find the prettiest and spookiest spot in the city. Nestled between Whinney Hill (the road) and the Maiden Castle sports centre is a small hill with a gorgeous view of Durham City. Despite its prominence, students often forget it exists, making it perfect for Halloween pre-drinking. Where does the haunted part come in? At the summit of the hill is a row of trees, and the first in the line is adorned with sets of shoes hanging by their laces from the branches. Some are inscribed with initials, others so impossibly high you’re left wondering how they ever ended up there. While a few Durfess posts over the years have speculated about its purpose, it remains a mystery known to few.

Go here at the right time and you’ll have the night of your life. But at the wrong time you might end up encountering impossible piles of drinks without names, makeshift dolls tied to the trunk, and maybe even a long-dead companion you won’t get rid of that easily…

Moatside Lane

Staying on the topic of hidden gems, Moatside Lane is a weird little spot connecting Saddler Street to Framwellgate Bridge. It does double as a handy shortcut from the Fabs-Subway-Jimmy’s triangle to the Viaduct and Babs/Loft. But late at night it can be one of the weirdest routes to take your friends, and even feels a bit forbidden. While this is probably the entry on this list with the biggest risk of genuine danger, one of my friends did once see a kitten here, so it has that going for it. And once again the opportunities for jumpscares are begging to be taken advantage of.

Jimmy’s

Moving back towards places you’re more likely to have heard of, Jimmy Allen’s is up there with Klute as one of Durham’s most iconic nightclubs. We’re not going to take sides, however, for fear of becoming embroiled in the semi-ironic rivalry currently unfolding between the two. Jimmy’s also has all the hallmarks of a haunted building: the basement aesthetic, the multiple levels with a descending feeling of horror, even the bizarre history as a former prison. If you’re looking for a genuine ghost in Durham, Jimmy’s is probably one of your best bets. You just might run into a former hookup instead of ghost.

As a matter of fact, as an honourable mention a Durham man’s bedroom serves as a fitting conclusion to a list of Durham’s scariest places.

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