Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Driving through the quiet countryside of Lancashire might seem peaceful - but not everyone dares to travel down one road after dark.
Platt Lane, near Westhoughton, has become one of the UK's most notorious haunted routes -- with ghostly sightings said to date back more than a century. Drivers have reported glowing eyes in the hedges, shadowy miners hauling carts, and a deep sense of unease, as if they're not alone on the road.
Many believe the eerie atmosphere is tied to the Pretoria Pit mining disaster, which devastated the area in 1910 and claimed the lives of 344 men and boys. Locals say the spirits of those lost may still haunt the area, trapped in an "eternal shift".
Platt Lane has now been named one of Britain's top eight haunted roads, in a new list compiled by car parts firm Ovoko -- alongside other infamous routes like the A666 in Bolton, the M6 in Cheshire, and Dartmoor's B3212, known for its tales of "Hairy Hands" taking control of vehicles.
While the ghost stories might seem like harmless folklore, driving experts warn that roads with haunted reputations can actually increase accident risks. Kazimieras Urbonas, a vehicle safety expert at Ovoko, said: "Roads with haunted reputations often share a pattern: they are poorly lit, lined with trees or hedges, and have a history of accidents.
"When driving at night, it's easy for the mind to misinterpret shadows or fleeting movements as figures, especially when local stories are well-known. Maintaining your focus, reducing speed, and taking regular breaks are practical ways to navigate these stretches safely.
"Psychological factors, like fatigue and heightened awareness, can amplify the sensation of seeing something supernatural, so it's wise to remain alert and cautious rather than distracted by the stories themselves. While ghostly tales are entertaining, the real hazard is your reaction behind the wheel.
"Swerving to avoid what might be a shadow can lead to genuine accidents. Respecting the road, keeping a steady speed, and knowing the route are the safest strategies, regardless of whether the legends are true."
The firm has now compiled a list of the UK's most haunted roads, where driving at night can be an experience that's equal parts eerie and unnerving, the M.E.N reports. Here's its top eight routes:
1. A75, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Known as Scotland's most haunted road, the A75 travels through Dumfries and Galloway and has a history of bizarre sightings. Drivers have reported phantom trucks appearing out of nowhere, ghostly pedestrians stepping onto the tarmac, and spectral animals darting across the road.
One haunting story involves two truck drivers who crashed into what they thought was an oncoming lorry, only to find nothing but an empty road when they recovered. The A75 has been home to supernatural encounters for centuries, making night driving here an unnerving experience for even the bravest.
2. Platt Lane, Lancashire
The Pretoria pit disaster devastated this area in 1910, but still seems to linger along Platt Lane today. Drivers have reported seeing glowing eyes peering out from the roadside hedges and ghostly miners hauling carts as if trapped in an eternal shift.
People who have driven here at night have described a feeling of unease, as if unseen workers are walking alongside the car. The stories of ghostly miners are so vivid that some locals avoid this stretch after dark entirely.
3. Oldnall Road, West Midlands
The Oldnall Road is a straight B-road running between Halesowen and Stourbridge. However it has gained a reputation as an accident "blackspot".
Kazimieras says: "A 'blackspot' is an area of road which sees a statistically high rate of accidents. These areas are often identified by engineers using statistical analysis in order to implement targeted safety measures."
Crashes along this stretch of road have been attributed to drivers swerving to avoid apparitions, most frequently children dressed in Victorian clothing, who vanish as suddenly as they appear. While there are no sharp bends or poor visibility, reports of collisions caused by these ghostly interruptions continue to puzzle both locals and traffic authorities.
4. A456, West Midlands
A couple of miles down the road from Oldnall Road is the A456, where there are regular reports of a cavalier in full tin-hatted regalia. One famous encounter came from a local Detective Constable, who swore he saw the figure riding along the roadside before disappearing entirely.
Drivers say they often have a sense of being followed or watched, though no tangible threat has ever been identified.
5. A666, Bolton
The A666 has earned its nickname of the Devil's Highway. Stretching between Bolton and Pendlebury it has had a long history of spooky encounters.
Drivers have told of dense, inexplicable fog rolling across the road, shadowy figures darting between the trees, and hauntings by a hunched-over figure or white creature. One story that has persisted for decades is that of a woman appearing on the roadside, only to vanish the instant cars slow down.
"In the UK, the first number of an A road is given based on the area in which it starts, which is how the A666 ended up with its first six," says Kazimieras. "The other numbers are assigned at random. Despite its reputation, the number was likely not given to this road intentionally."
6. A229, Kent
The A229 in Kent is just one of a number of roads haunted by the "Girl in White", the A229 has been the site of unnerving encounters for generations. Witnesses tell of a bride-to-be, dressed in her wedding gown, stepping in front of vehicles and vanishing before any impact.
One account tells of a motorist who covered her body with a blanket after encountering her. But then she suddenly vanished from sight simply leaving the blanket behind.
7. M6, Cheshire
The M6 spans multiple counties as the longest motorway in the UK. However despite being a busy road it comes with a history of an astonishing number of ghostly reports.
One particularly notable stretch runs between junctions 16 and 19, where drivers have glimpsed shadowy figures seemingly crossing lanes before disappearing into thin air. Historical tragedies from the English Civil War and Roman times may explain the apparitions of soldiers sometimes reported here, giving drivers an unsettling feeling of the past brushing against the present.
8. B3212, Dartmoor, Devon
One worrying tale comes from Dartmoor's B3212, famous for the legend of the Hairy Hands. Reports date back to the early 1900s of motorists feeling unseen hands seizing control of steering wheels and even bike handles, forcing motorcycles, bicycles, and cars to veer off-road.
The stretch between Postbridge and Princetown is lined with tors, ruins, and ancient stone circles, creating an eerie backdrop that only heightens the unsettling tales. "It has been suggested that the real explanation for these incidents is that the B3212 is a narrow, winding road that is often hard for tourists, who are unfamiliar with it, to navigate in the dark," says Kazimieras.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox