The Ghosts of Jamaica Inn: Cornwall’s Most Haunted Coaching House



Perched high on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, Jamaica Inn is famous not only for its smuggling history but also for its chilling ghost stories. Built in 1750, the inn originally served as a stopping point for weary travelers and became notorious for its connection to smugglers who used the rugged moorland to hide their illicit goods.

However, it is not just the echoes of smugglers’ footsteps that haunt Jamaica Inn. Over the centuries, numerous paranormal encounters have been reported, making it one of Britain’s most haunted locations. From shadowy figures and ghostly whispers to poltergeist activity, Jamaica Inn is a place where the past refuses to rest.

A Smuggler’s Haven Turned Haunted Hotspot

Jamaica Inn gained notoriety as a smugglers’ hideout in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cornwall was a hotspot for illegal trade, with contraband such as brandy, tobacco, and silk being smuggled along the coastline. The isolated inn provided the perfect location for smugglers to plan their operations, store their loot, and perhaps even dispose of those who threatened to betray them.

Daphne du Maurier immortalized the inn’s dark history in her 1936 novel Jamaica Inn, which tells the tale of wreckers—criminals who lured ships to their doom along the Cornish coast to steal their cargo. The book cemented the inn’s eerie reputation, but ghost stories had already circulated for centuries.

The Ghosts of Jamaica Inn

The Mysterious Phantom Walks the Courtyard

One of the most famous ghostly residents of Jamaica Inn is the wandering spirit of a man in a tricorn hat and long coat, believed to be a smuggler or a traveler who met an untimely end at the inn. Legend has it that one stormy night, a man left his drink on the bar, stepped outside—and was never seen alive again. His body was later discovered on the moor, but his killer was never found. Ever since, his ghost has been spotted walking through the courtyard, sometimes appearing as a shadowy figure or simply the sound of footsteps in the darkness.

The Disembodied Voices

One of the most unsettling paranormal occurrences at Jamaica Inn is the sound of ghostly conversations. Staff and guests alike have reported hearing muffled voices speaking in an unknown language, often in the dead of night when the inn is otherwise silent. Some believe these are the voices of long-dead smugglers, speaking in their secret dialect to evade the law. Others claim to have heard whispers coming from empty rooms, only to find no one there.

The Ghostly Highwayman

Bodmin Moor was once a notorious haunt for highwaymen, and one such figure is said to linger at Jamaica Inn. Guests have described seeing a spectral figure on horseback, galloping across the moors before vanishing into the mist. Some even claim to have seen a ghostly rider inside the inn itself, appearing momentarily before disappearing into thin air.

Could this be the spirit of a highwayman executed for his crimes, now forever riding through the place he once used as a hideout?

Room 5: The Most Haunted Room

If there’s one place at Jamaica Inn guaranteed to test the nerves of ghost hunters, it’s Room 5. This is considered the most haunted part of the inn, with reports of strange noises, sudden drops in temperature, and even sightings of full-bodied apparitions. Some guests have woken up in the middle of the night to find an unknown figure standing at the foot of their bed, only for it to vanish before their eyes. Others have experienced the unsettling sensation of being watched or even touched by unseen hands. Look inside the wardrobe in room 5 and you will find a growiing collection of toys and a folder of letters, which have been left by guests for the ghost of the little girl who is said to have spent her last night in the room with her mother, guests and satff have named her Hannah

Would you dare to spend a night in this infamous room?

Poltergeist Activity and Paranormal Investigations

Jamaica Inn has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations, including visits from TV ghost-hunting teams. Investigators have recorded EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), witnessed objects moving on their own, and even encountered sudden temperature drops. Poltergeist-like activity has also been reported, with glasses moving on their own, doors slamming shut, and furniture shifting in empty rooms.

The Haunted Legacy of Jamaica Inn

Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or a skeptic, there’s no denying that Jamaica Inn carries an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. With its dark history, eerie legends, and countless ghostly encounters, it remains a must-visit destination for ghost hunters and history enthusiasts alike. If you ever find yourself on Bodmin Moor, stop by for a drink—or even a night’s stay. But beware: you may not be alone.