Spirits of Saddleworth: Uppermill’s Ghost Walk Audio Guide
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Uppermill, nestled in the valley of Saddleworth, harbours secrets beneath its quaint exterior. On this atmospheric walking tour, you’ll journey through a village whose stone buildings and quiet corners have witnessed centuries of unexplained phenomena. You’ll also discover why this picturesque spot has earned a reputation as one of England’s most haunted villages.
The tour starts outside the Uppermill Civic Hall, built in 1859 in Gothic Revival style as a Mechanics’ Institute. You’ll meander along Spring Street and down to the Huddersfield Canal where a human skull was once dredged from the murky depths. You’ll wander through quiet riverside paths, and climb to the abandoned Micklehurst railway line, where the ghosts of navvies and lost children are said to linger in the twilight.
Along the way, you’ll hear about the woman in black who appears on the road near the viaduct, the ghostly policeman who still rescues children from the duck pond decades after his death, and the mysterious little boy in blue who vanished at the railway station in 1902. The tour ends where it began, at the Civic Hall car park, where modern encounters suggest the supernatural continues to make its presence known in Uppermill.
On this 60-minute tour, you’ll also:
- Visit Saddleworth Museum and see the site where a Victorian cot borrowed from the museum brought a terrifying presence into a local teacher’s home
- Learn about Ammon Wrigley, Saddleworth’s poet laureate, whose deep connection to the landscape continues beyond his death
- Stand on the former Micklehurst railway line, still haunted by its workers
- Discover the tragic story of Rita, who fell from the viaduct with a broken heart and now appears before drivers entering the village
- Hear about the unexplained phenomena in the library, where a forbidden book triggered supernatural events
- Walk past the former site of Saddleworth mortuary, linked to one of Britain’s most notorious crime cases
- Explore local superstitions about standing stones and “witches’ seats” that were believed to trap evil spirits
- Learn how grief and tragedy leave their mark on places, creating imprints that some believe manifest as apparitions
Prepare to see Uppermill with new eyes as you discover the thin places where the veil between worlds grows transparent.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Mark Whiteley
I trained as an actor at London's prestigious Arts Educational School where I learnt about the voice and the art of telling stories. I went on to work in theatre, television and film for 10 years eventually running my own theatre company for 20 years. As a company we tried to make the work as imaginative and unique as possible, in one show we walked across the UK with no money, food or accommodation to see if humanity was kind. In another play we emigrated to Poland and used the experience for an award winning UK tour about immigration. I turned shops into theatre spaces, I performed in barns, houses, fields and many of the UK's best theatres.
In 2014 I won a prestigious Manchester theatre award for my play Thick as Thieves. I've taken three shows to the Edinburgh festival winning rave reviews along the way. In 2020 our world changed forever as COVID hit. My theatre company "went dark" and I lost my passion for it. On a whim my wife and I bought a motorhome unseen in an auction and in blink of an eye a new obsession began... travel.
To date I have been to most countries in the European union, I have parked up in woods, on cliffs in car parks. I have travelled far and wide until I picked Portugal to put down new roots. But even that wasn't easy, where do you live in a foreign land? The answer is you go out in the motorhome and look, so that's what we did. From the mountains in the north through the midlands and into Algarve we travelled for two years until we discovered Tomar.
We bought our home in 2025 and because I needed to find work I started studying Tomar's rich history and researching the stories about Templar Knights, Portuguese kings and how Portugal once discovered the world. With my background in performance and storytelling I began take travellers around Tomar sharing not only the history, but Portugal's culture too. This is what brought me to Voicemap and their excellent team and production values.
On my audio tours I take the role of your friend in whatever city we are in, I like to make you smile and see a place as a real city, not a museum piece. Seeing a place warts and all is what makes the difference between an okay tour and a great tour.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 7
Teacher Laura & Saddleworth Museum
But first, sit on the wall on your left and I'll tell you a true tale to make you shiver with fear.
[5 sec pause]
A few years ago a local school teacher, I'll call her Laura, enquired about using... Read More
View locations and route
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Uppermill Civic Hall
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Huddersfield Narrow Canal
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Saddleworth Museum
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Uppermill Library
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Saint Chad’s Gardens – King George V Playing Fields
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Uppermill Methodist Church
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationCivic Hall, Lee St, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6AE, UK
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Total distance2km
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Final location5 Station Rd, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6HQ, UK
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Distance back to start location51.06m
Directions to Starting Point
From the main high street in Uppermill you'll find a co/op mini supermarket. The street next to it will take you to the Civic Hall. At the right of the hall is the entrance to the car park go up there and the main door can be found. There's also a community toilet just inside the building.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are lots of café's, pubs and bars in Uppermill. The one in the park about half way is great, but most are fine.
Best time of day
The best time is dusk, when the light can trick your eyes and your imagination.
Precautions
Just be careful along the canal towpaths as there are trip hazards disguised as mooring bollards. Also If you feel like a ghost has followed you home, the first thing to remember is that you’re not powerless. Whether it’s an actual haunting or just an intense emotional experience, there are ways to handle it that can help you feel safer and regain control.
Here’s what you can do:
🕯 1. Ground Yourself First
Take a few deep, steady breaths.
Turn on the lights and focus on tangible things in your space (touch a wall, smell something strong like coffee or incense).
This helps bring you back into the present moment and lessens fear.
🕯 2. Cleanse the Space (Spiritual or Symbolic)
Burn incense, sage, or light a candle—choose something with a comforting scent.
Open windows and doors for a few minutes, imagining fresh air pushing out any unwanted energy.
Sprinkle salt at entryways or in the corners of rooms (a common tradition across cultures).
🕯 3. Set Boundaries Verbally
Whether or not you believe in spirits, stating your intention out loud can be powerful:
“This is my space. You are not welcome here. Please leave.”
This works psychologically (affirming your control) and spiritually (many traditions hold that spirits respect clear boundaries).
🕯 4. Use Protective Symbols
If you have a faith tradition, use symbols or prayers from it—like a cross, holy water, protective amulet, or a favourite verse/mantra.
If not, you can create your own: a circle of salt, a protective charm, or a visualization of light surrounding you and your home.
🕯 5. Ground Yourself Afterwards
Take a shower or bath with salt in the water—this is an old trick for “washing off” unwanted energy.
Eat something grounding (bread, rice, chocolate) to bring yourself fully back to the present.
🕯 6. Seek Help if Needed
If things persist—unsettling feelings, nightmares, or unusual occurrences—talk to someone you trust: a spiritual leader, a friend, or even a mental health professional. Sometimes fear amplifies experiences and outside support can calm things down quickly.
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