Haunted South West Wales: The spookiest spots to visit this Halloween

From ghostly gamekeepers to spectral actresses, South West Wales has no shortage of spine-tingling tales. A new study by Verdant Leisure ranks Carmarthenshire and Swansea among the most haunted counties in Wales — but Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Bridgend have their own chilling legends to share.

As Halloween approaches, here’s your guide to the most haunted places in our patch — and the stories that still echo through them.

👻 Top 5 Haunted Spots in South West Wales

• Newton House, Carmarthenshire – National Trust mansion with multiple spirits, featured on Most Haunted
• Margam Castle, Neath Port Talbot – Haunted by a white lady, ghostly children and a furious gamekeeper
• Swansea Grand Theatre – Home to “Jenny,” a ghostly actress linked to the Titanic
• Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire – Haunted by Princess Nest, with sightings of a woman in white
• Ogmore Castle, Bridgend – Linked to ghostly knights and riverside apparitions

Carmarthenshire: Newton House and the Ghosts of Pembrey

Carmarthenshire ranks second in Wales for paranormal activity — and it’s easy to see why. At the heart of its haunted reputation is Newton House, a grand National Trust property in Llandeilo. Twice featured on Most Haunted, it’s said to host multiple spirits, including a woman seen drifting through corridors and a man whose footsteps echo in empty rooms. The house’s long history and isolated setting make it a magnet for ghost hunters.

But the real chills lie deeper in the woods. Pembrey Forest, near Llanelli, has terrified locals for generations. Tales speak of the “little hatchet men of Pembrey” — lantern-carrying figures who lured ships onto the rocks before slaughtering survivors and stealing their cargo. During the 19th century, gunpowder and dynamite were produced here, and in WWII, damaged planes often crashed nearby trying to reach the RAF airfield. Today, ghostly figures are said to roam the dunes and shoreline — from cursed pilots to phantom sailors aboard ghost ships.

Whether you’re chasing folklore or just looking for seasonal fun, Carmarthenshire delivers. Paranormal investigations run year-round in Pembrey Forest, but for something gentler, Pembrey Country Park’s Pumpkin Trail offers a family-friendly way to explore the area’s darker side.

🎃 Halloween Event – Carmarthenshire

Pumpkin Trail at Pembrey Country Park
A gentle walk through the woods with spooky surprises for all ages.
Event details

Swansea: Jenny of the Grand and Castle Shadows

Swansea ranks fourth in Wales for paranormal activity — and its ghost stories are as theatrical as they are chilling. The most famous is “Jenny,” said to haunt the Swansea Grand Theatre. Legend has it she was an actress who performed there shortly before boarding the Titanic. Her presence is still felt backstage, with unexplained footsteps and flickering lights reported by staff. Actor Owen Straton retells her story in a haunting reading available on YouTube.

Beyond the stage, Swansea’s castles offer plenty for horror fans. Oystermouth Castle leans into its haunted past with ghost tours and tales of medieval spirits, while Swansea Castle, tucked into the city centre, is part of the “Legendary Castles Trail.” Further west, Oxwich Castle sits above the bay on the Gower Peninsula — a crumbling Tudor ruin steeped in shadow and folklore, perfect for windswept Halloween walks.

Whether you’re chasing ghosts or just dressing up, Swansea’s Halloween calendar delivers. The city’s annual Spooks in the City event returns with a new monster mash-up of street theatre, parades and family fun.

🎃 Halloween Event – Swansea

Spooks in the City
A monster mash-up of street theatre, parades and family fun across the city centre.
Event details

Neath Port Talbot: Margam’s Ghostly Gamekeeper and Abbey Shadows

Neath Port Talbot may not be ranked in the study, but its haunted history runs deep. Margam Castle is widely considered one of the most haunted buildings in Britain. Visitors have reported sightings of a white lady, ghostly children, and the angry spirit of a gamekeeper who once worked on the estate. Paranormal investigators have captured unexplained sounds and shadows in the castle’s grand halls.

Nearby, Neath Abbey is said to be haunted by monks and a Victorian policeman who patrols Old Market Street. The Castle Hotel in Neath has its own cast of ghosts — including an Edwardian boy, a headless cavalier, and a festive spirit who appears only at Christmas. And then there’s the Cursed Wall of Port Talbot, a local legend claiming that if the wall falls, so does the town.

For those who want to experience the chills firsthand, Fright Nights at Margam Castle offer after-dark ghost hunts in one of Wales’ most storied buildings.

🎃 Halloween Event – Neath Port Talbot

Fright Nights at Margam Castle
Paranormal investigations and ghost hunts in one of Britain’s most haunted buildings.
Event details

Pembrokeshire: Princess Nest and the Creepy Mill

Pembrokeshire may not have made the top five, but its haunted history runs deep. Carew Castle is said to be haunted by Princess Nest, a noblewoman whose tragic story has echoed through the centuries. Visitors have reported cold spots, strange noises, and sightings of a woman in white near the battlements.

The county’s coastal paths and ancient churches also carry whispers of ghostly monks, shipwrecked sailors, and long-lost lovers. The windswept ruins and remote beaches make Pembrokeshire a perfect setting for eerie tales and Halloween walks.

This year, Carew Castle is hosting Creepy Mill, a haunted house experience that transforms part of the castle into a terrifying attraction for brave visitors.

🎃 Halloween Event – Pembrokeshire

Creepy Mill at Carew Castle
A haunted house experience inside one of Pembrokeshire’s most storied ruins.
Event details

Bridgend: Ogmore Castle and Creepy Cocktails

Bridgend’s ghost stories are quieter but no less eerie. Ogmore Castle, with its crumbling walls and riverside setting, has long been linked to spectral sightings. Locals speak of a ghostly knight who guards the ruins, and visitors have reported strange sounds after dark.

The county’s folklore also includes tales of haunted inns, shadowy figures in the woods, and mysterious lights near the coast. It’s a place where myths linger — and Halloween brings them to life.

For a grown-up twist, Maesteg Town Hall is hosting Monstrous Myths & Creepy Cocktails — an evening of storytelling, spirits (of both kinds), and seasonal surprises.

🎃 Halloween Event – Bridgend

Monstrous Myths & Creepy Cocktails
A grown-up evening of storytelling and seasonal spirits at Maesteg Town Hall.
Event details

🎃 Halloween Ideas Across the Region

• Book a ghost tour in Carmarthen or Neath
• Visit Newton House or Margam Castle for a haunted day out
• Explore Swansea’s haunted theatre or castle trails
• Share your own spooky sightings — South West Wales has plenty of stories still untold

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Margam Country Park commemorates VE Day 80 with moving tribute

In partnership with the Friends of Margam Park, staff and volunteers have worked together to create a series of installations, exhibitions and commemorative displays that will be open to the public from late April through September, encompassing both VE Day on the 8th May and VJ Day on the 14th August.

Inside Margam Castle, visitors will find the Entrance Hall beautifully decorated with hand-knitted and crocheted red poppies arranged around the fireplace. The staircase hall will feature red poppies, white paper doves and VE Day 80 flags in a display designed to symbolise both remembrance and peace.

Historic photographs from VE Day celebrations, from the 8th May 1945, will be on display, accompanied by atmospheric audio recordings – including Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech, music from the 1940s and memories of local residents who lived through war years.

One of the most ambitious elements of the tribute will be found near the Castle Terrace, where more than 3,000 handmade poppies crafted from upcycled plastic bottle ends and individually painted, will be installed on Monday 28th April. Park staff, volunteers and the Friends of Margam Park will work together to place each poppy by hand, creating a striking sea of red across the landscape. The poppies will remain in place until the 12th May.

Margam’s on-site café, Charlotte’s Pantry, will also take part in the commemoration. From the 28th April each table will feature a small-scale version of the photo exhibition, allowing visitors to quietly reflect while enjoying refreshments. There will also be a VE Day 80 ‘Street Party’ in Charlotte’s Pantry on the 8th May.

Additionally, Charlotte’s Pantry will be serving fish and chips, a nostalgic nod to one of the few foods that remained unrationed during World War Two, helping to boost morale.

Councillor Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing said: “VE Day is an important opportunity to pause and reflect on a generation that endured so much. By marking the occasion we are remembering their stories, celebrating their resilience and giving our local communities a way to come together in tribute. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Friends of Margam Park and volunteers for their support with this installation.”

The display inside Margam Castle will be in place from Monday 28 April and will remain open until the 9th September. The external poppy installation will begin on Monday 28 April and will be in situation along the Broadwalk steps and Castle Terrace for two weeks.

#CllrCenPhillips #Margam #MargamCastle #MargamCountryPark #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #VEDay #Veterans

New ‘time machine’ AR app allows visitors to experience Margam Castle like never before! 

Once filled with stunning artwork, sculptures, and furnishings, Margam Castle’s interiors were lost to a major sale in 1941 and a devastating fire in 1977. 

But now, for the first time, the M[AR]gam app allows users to step back into the castle’s Victorian grandeur.

Using a smart device, visitors can scan key areas of the castle to see accurate digital reconstructions of the library and dining room, complete with paintings, replica furniture, and intricate ceilings. 

Cllr Cen Phillips, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing, said:

“This marks the first time visitors can virtually step back into Margam Castle as it once was giving an unparalleled glimpse into the past that transforms empty spaces into the vibrant, opulent interiors of the Victorian era.”

This project is funded by the UK Government, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The app, developed by Swansea University and Zubr, is a virtual “time machine” – appropriate for a location which has been used to film episodes of Doctor Who.

The app’s development has been supported by the Margam Interiors project which combines research from local volunteers, historians, and university experts, weaving together fragments of the castle’s past.

These fragments include paintings now housed elsewhere, surviving statues, archival images, and written descriptions, which have helped create a cohesive and immersive experience for castle visitors.

The M[AR]gam app was launched at the castle on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, and is available for public use from January 24th, 2025.

The new app and Margam Interiors project brings together key contributors, including Neath Port Talbot Council, Swansea University, CFP consultancy, project volunteers, and local history enthusiasts, to celebrate this innovative reimagining of Margam Castle’s lost interiors.

To use the app on site visitors will first need to download it from the App Store / Google Play Store. Once in the castle there will be posters on site for visitors to scan, launching the experience.

Dr Hilary Orange, Co-Director of CHART (Centre for Heritage Research and Training) and part of the Swansea University team who co-developed the app said:

“Margam Castle is a remarkable heritage site with great historical significance. We hope the app will enhance the cultural and educational experience of visitors, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the castle’s legacy.”

Margam Castle was designed by architect Thomas Hopper for Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot. It was built between 1830 and 1840 at a cost of around £50,000. Listed Grade I as a mansion of exceptional quality, the castle has some spectacular features such as its vast staircase hall and octagonal tower.

One frequent visitor to Margam was Talbot’s cousin, Henry Fox Talbot. A pioneer photographer, he took one of the earliest ever photographic views clearly showing the corner of the castle’s south west façade. 

Until 1942, the castle and estate remained in the ownership of the Talbot family when it was acquired by a local landowner, Sir David Evans Bevan. It is now in the care of Neath Port Talbot Council.

Last year the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) announced a £900,030 grant for Margam Castle to fund much needed capital works to restore the building, ensuring sustainability and accessibility are at the fore, and facilitating enhanced community engagement through the construction of mixed-use public spaces.

The exciting and ambitious project is aimed at ensuring the future of the iconic castle building itself while also bringing in new uses to attract new audiences and greater income.

The M[AR]gam app is now live on the App Store and Google Play.

[Lead image: Neath Port Talbot Council]

#augmentedReality #MargamCastle