General area, North Staffordshire Moorland

North Staffordshire Moorland has a dark history that refuses to stay buried. In a chilling tale of survival and depravity, a family who lived on these desolate moors were caught and executed for a heinous crime - they had been feeding off the flesh of those unfortunate enough to get lost in the vast, rugged landscape. Their gruesome practice was uncovered, and they were tried, found guilty, and put to death. But their malevolent presence didn't vanish with their lives. For years after their deaths, the sound of them giving chase to their victims echoed across the moorland, a haunting reminder of their brutal actions.

Field near Frith Bottom, Meerbrook

In a field near Frith Bottom, a rather unusual haunting has been reported. Locals tell the tale of a witch who, for practice, would transform into a hare and allow a neighbour and his hounds to chase her. One fateful night, a hound managed to nip at the hare's fur, and it's said that this event led to the haunting of the area by a ghostly pack of dogs and a phantom witch with a head injury. The story has become a piece of local folklore, passed down through generations.

Moorland by road from Waterhouses, Leek

The rugged Staffordshire moors have borne witness to countless tales of the paranormal, but few are as chilling as that of the headless horseman. It's said that on dark and stormy nights, a lone figure clad in tattered attire walks the windswept moorland near Leek, his horse nowhere to be seen. One poor soul, crossing the moors after dark, was met with a sight that would freeze his blood - the headless horseman, dismounted and walking alongside him. The man's terror was palpable as the entity glided effortlessly beside him, its presence seeming to draw the very life out of the air.

Well Street Gallery, Leek

The Well Street Gallery in Leek has a reputation that precedes it - one that's steeped in mystery and a hint of the paranormal. It all started back in 1992 when a local press article mentioned the gallery's haunted status in an exhibition launch article published on Friday the thirteenth, a date often associated with bad luck. The article didn't go into details but it was enough to pique the interest of locals and visitors alike.

Blakemere, Leek

Blakemere's eerie waters are said to be home to a legendary creature - the Killer Mermaid. This fish woman surfaces at midnight to comb her hair, but beware, for anyone venturing too close risks being dragged down into the deep waters with her. The mermaid's pool has been a source of fascination for locals and visitors alike, with many claiming to have caught a glimpse of this mystical being.

Area of Dieulacres Abbey, Leek

Dieulacres Abbey, a once majestic presence in Leek, Staffordshire, now lies in ruin, its grandeur lost to the passage of time. Yet, it's here that a rather intriguing sighting took place in 1894. Several people claimed to have spotted a white-robed figure wandering the grounds where the abbey once stood. The story quickly gained traction, with many believing it to be a ghostly apparition. However, the explanation turned out to be far more mundane, yet no less fascinating. The 'ghost' was identified as a Canon, a member of the clergy, who was visiting old religious sites, clad in the traditional white robes of his order.