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fenland misty tree – yogesh pedamkar
This Halloween, we’re sharing some of the Fenland’s most spine-tingling legends. From haunted bridges to eerie echoes in the dark, discover why the waterways are the perfect place to enjoy a shiver down your spine, and why autumn is one of the best times to book a Fox Narrowboats holiday.
Haunted Hotspot: Lurking in Littleport
The most famous of Fenland phantoms is Black Shuck, the legendary hellhound said to have inspired The Hound of the Baskervilles. This ghostly black dog has been spotted more than once around Littleport, on the Great Ouse near Ely.
black shuck – john knifton
One story says the beast haunts the town after being slain while protecting a local girl from the clutches of a lustful friar. Another tale (tail?!) places the spectral dog along the A10, where its unfortunate owner drove his carriage into a bog in the 1800s, and drowned.
The legend gained eerie credibility in 2014, when archaeologists discovered the remains of a seven-foot dog in the grounds of Leiston Abbey, Suffolk. Locals immediately suspected the shallow grave belonged to Black Shuck himself. Experts suggested the animal could have weighed more than 14 stone in life.
Whether a dark omen or a supernatural protector, Black Shuck is still said to roam the Fens. On certain nights, if you dare to walk the local towpaths, you may hear his ghostly howls carried on the wind.
Read John Knifton’s Blog on Black Shuck
The Lantern Man
The Lantern Man is another chilling figure of Fenland folklore, often linked with Wicken Fen. This spectral light, known elsewhere as Will-o’-the-Wisp, drifts mysteriously across marshland. The phenomenon has been reported around the world, though scientists now suggest it may be caused by pockets of burning phosphorous gas.
ghostly reeds fenland – janek valdsalu
Folklore paints a darker picture: the Lantern Man lures unwary travellers from the safety of the path into dangerous bogs and waters.
So, if you ever see a flickering glow on a misty night in the Fens… don’t follow the light! Head back to the comfort and safety of your narrowboat.
You can reach Wicken from the GOBA moorings on Wicken Lode. It’s only a short stroll to the National Trust Visitor Centre at Wicken Fen, where a café offers snacks and drinks. Wander a little further and you’ll come to the village and The Maid’s Head pub, a traditional 13th century thatched pub and restaurant. Wicken Fen is described by the National Trust, as its oldest nature reserve and England’s most famous fen.
A Famous Ghost: The Lord Protector
No catalogue of Fenland hauntings would be complete without Oliver Cromwell. The former Lord Protector of England is said to appear in his old bedroom at Ely, and his ghost has also been spotted at “Ghost Hill” near Murrow, a hamlet close to Wisbech.
Although Cromwell’s head is buried in the grounds of a Cambridge college, the final resting place of his body remains a mystery. Perhaps that is why his restless spirit still lingers in his old home. Oliver Cromwell’s house is now a museum and tourist information centre, and can be visited by narrowboat on the River Great Ouse. Every year the museum organises some events for the spooky season, such as Fen Tales in the Crypt, a guided tour of Witchcraft in Ely, and The Haunted Ely walking tour.
Set the Scene for Your Own Tales
Whether you’re seeking peace, adventure, or a touch of the paranormal, a Fox Narrowboats holiday lets you experience the waterways in a whole new light. Enjoy crisp spring mornings, leisurely cruises, and evenings snug aboard your own little boat, swapping ghost stories with your crew as the mist rolls in.
Ready to make your own memories (spooky or otherwise)? We are now taking bookings for March 2026, when you can discover the charms, and the chills, of these ancient waterways.
And don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more insider tips, local history, and stories from the water’s edge.
Photo Credits: Tree mist Yogesh Pedamkar on Unsplash Reeds night Janek Valdsalu on Unsplash
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If you have ever been curious about paranormal investigations you may like to explore the mysterious Fenlands by narrowboat. The eerie and captivating landscape of the Fens, with their reclaimed marshlands, huge skyscapes, and isolated villages have inspired fantasy novelist Philip Pullman, and horror fiction writer M R James. Our local folklore includes legends of drownings and stories of ghosts, disappearances and violence. You may be surprised to know that a narrowboat is the most comfortable way to travel, if you are planning a paranormal investigation in the Fens.
So, here are five haunted locations to visit if you dare…
The First World War Soldier
One of the eight resident ghosts at Peterborough museum is a First World War soldier. Peterborough can be reached by canal boat from our hire boat base, by travelling west through the Middle Level and along the picturesque River Nene. Whilst at the museum look out for a ghostly kitchen maid, banging doors, ghostly footsteps and voices, unaccountable smells, mysterious lights and orbs around the building. This 19th century mansion was used as a hospital from 1857 until 1928.
The Laughing Children
Travelling east from our hire boat base you can take the River Great Ouse towards Ely and visit Oliver Cromwell’s House, which is now a museum. This spooky season they are offering a number of events including guided ghost walks, a witchcraft walking tour, Fen Tales in the Crypt, and a pop-up escape room. Oliver Cromwell was a military and political leader, during the time of the English Civil War. In his 13th century Ely home you may now hear ghostly sounds of children’s laughter, footsteps which echo along corridors and down the staircases, and jangling keys. For real.
(Read about the murdered ghosts of Southery and the hanged men of Littleport in this article: The Spooky Truth About Cruising to Ely.)
Heartbroken Juliet
17 year old Juliet Tewsley sadly hung herself from a tree outside The Old Ferryboat Inn in Holywell, near Cambridge, because of her unrequited love for Tom Zaul. Her heartbroken ghost now returns to the inn on the anniversary of her death. Her body is buried under the floor of what claims to be the oldest pub in England. Staff avoid walking over her grave, as it is believed to cause frightening apparitions. A former duty manager said, “Sometimes the lights just won’t go out unless you say ‘goodnight Juliet’.” You can visit this pub by narrowboat, by cruising the Great River Ouse.
The Disappearing Nun
Near the River Cam in Cambridge a nun haunts Abbey House, a sixteenth century house, built on the site of Barnwell Priory, which was established in 1112. It is said that she wanders into bedrooms in the spring time and stands at the end of beds, before disappearing into the curtains. There are also reports of footsteps on the stairs, banging on bedroom doors and a spirit with rattling chains. Some say Abbey House is the most haunted house in Cambridge, as the ghosts include a poltergeist, a butler, a woman in white, a grey lady, a squirrel, a dog, and a hare.
Cambridge can be reached by boat, by cruising the River Cam on a narrowboat holiday. On a ghost walk tour you can visit the hangman’s house and learn about the final resting place for Oliver Cromwell’s head. The walk promises haunted pubs, secret graveyards, grisly hangings and ghostly dogs.
The Hanged Irishmen
The Ship Inn, Brandon Creek, can be visited via the River Great Ouse, and there are moorings for customers. A dog-friendly, cosy waterside country pub steeped in history. Mark Twain once ‘sobered up’ here but Cliff Richard was once turned away for not being appropriately dressed. In the 1800s the first landlord and his wife were murdered in their beds. Three Irishmen were suspected and hanged for the crime and their ghosts may still be seen on murky, misty nights.
If you’re serious about your supernatural research, pack your EMF meters, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, recording equipment, and night vision video cameras and book yourself a Fox Narrowboats holiday.
If you fancy haunting the Fenland waterways yourself next year, check availability here to plan your next narrowboat holiday, with paranormal investigation included!
For more haunting ideas to add to next year’s holiday plans, sign up for digital updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and sign up today!
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