The Vanishing Leapfroggers Legend
The Devil's Stone in Marston Moretaine marks the spot where a rather unusual game of leapfrog allegedly took place. According to local legend, the Devil himself played a game of leapfrog with three local lads. As they jumped over his back, a hole to hell opened up and they were never seen again. This bizarre tale has been passed down through the years, leaving many to wonder if there's any truth behind the story.
Historical records of the area don't provide much context about the exact date or circumstances of this event. However, the fact that the stone is also known as the Devil's Jump Stone suggests that this legend has been a part of local folklore for some time. While there's no concrete evidence to support the supernatural events described, the story remains a popular part of Bedfordshire's paranormal heritage.
The legend has been a part of local folklore for an unknown period of time
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Drummer Boy of Marston Moretaine
General area, Marston Moretaine
Marston Moretaine is a village with a dark history that's still echoing through its streets. On windy days, locals and visitors alike claim to hear the haunting sound of a drumbeat, a chilling reminder of a tragic event that took place during the English Civil War. The story goes that a group of Cavalier soldiers retreated into a tunnel that led from the church to the rectory, but were trapped when Roundhead troops sealed both ends of the passage. As the cavaliers slowly died, the last sound the roundheads heard was the beating of a drummer boy's drum.
Creeping Man
Methodist Church, Newnham Avenue , Bedford
The Methodist Church on Newnham Avenue in Bedford is home to a rather unsettling presence known as the Creeping Man. This well-dressed gentleman has been seen making his way along the back of the church, seemingly oblivious to the living. What's truly bizarre about his appearances is that he walks through a wall, leaving behind a thin veil of smoke. It's a sighting that has left onlookers scratching their heads and wondering what exactly they've just witnessed.
Galloping Dick's Phantom Ride
Station Road, Millbrook
Millbrook's Station Road is home to a rather unsettling apparition - the ghostly figure of Galloping Dick, a local highwayman. This phantom rider is said to haunt the area, and his legend has been passed down through the years. While we dont know the exact date or time of his appearances, one thing is certain - Galloping Dick's presence is a harbinger of intrigue and curiosity. His headless horseman ghost has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike, and his story continues to be told and retold.
Kempston Manor Ghostly Coach
Kempston Manor, Kempston
Kempston Manor, a grand Bedfordshire estate, is said to be haunted by the ghostly sounds of a tragic Christmas past. Every year on Christmas Day, the sound of horse's hooves and a child's screams echoes through the manor's empty halls. This unsettling phenomenon is said to commemorate the anniversary of a young child's fatal accident. The child, eager to meet his parents who were returning home for Christmas in a horse-drawn coach, ran out of the manor and was tragically struck by the horses.
The Floating Hat Phantom
Buttercup Lane, Cranfield
Buttercup Lane in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, is home to a rather bizarre and unexplained phenomenon. In 1969, two men were walking along this very lane when they witnessed something that would stay with them for a lifetime. A legless and armless shape, wearing a large hat, drifted along in front of them. This strange entity stood at just over two metres tall and changed colour from white to black right before their eyes. The men's encounter with this ghostly figure has left us with more questions than answers, and it's a story that continues to fascinate paranormal enthusiasts to this day.
Lady Snagge's Ghostly Ride
Wood End Road, Cranfield
Wood End Road in Cranfield is home to a rather gruesome and intriguing haunting. Lady Snagge, a local noblewoman, met her untimely demise here many years ago. While riding her horse, she was brutally decapitated by a thin piece of rope pulled across the road by robbers. They didn't stop at that; they also plundered her body, leaving her lifeless and headless on the ground. It's said that Snagge's ghost still rides these roads, sometimes with her head intact and sometimes without, reliving her final terrifying moments.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Devil's Stone

The Knife & Cleaver
Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire

The White Hart
Ampthill, Bedfordshire

Flitwick Manor Hotel
Flitwick, Bedfordshire

Cromwell Hotel
Stevenage, Hertfordshire