A Cumbrian Ghost Story The Highest Inn in England

[@Pattilapeep]

When my daughter turned 15 she went from a darling child to an evil twin. For about a year and a half she was totally impossible. You absolutely nailed it with your description of the surly, joyless daughter. Another great one. Keep it up, Tony!!

[@ClassicGhost]

It's true, but they come back nice again.

[@Kate0603]

I was born in Dorset, and absolutely love these stories. I have such fond memories of ghostly tales being told around Christmas, and whilst I adore late Victorian and Edwardian writers, the stories that always managed to elicit waves of goose flesh were the ones that were set in remote villages and inns. Even better if they are rooted in folklore whose origins are shrouded in the mists of time. Thank you for giving me that delicious chill down my spine as the days are getting shorter, and the nights ever longer.

[@ClassicGhost]

We have a lot of winter to come. Lots of dark nights and ghost stories

[@franken-pattern]

I really enjoy stories about doppelgangers and mimics! The aspect of something terrifying taking over someone that you know or someone you love, lulling those around them into a state of false security, is such a frightening concept. Wonderful story! Thank you, Mr. Walker! 😊

[@scoopup2349]

We stayed in Troutbeck for our honeymoon in 2018 and the names of the places in this story are familiar. My husband wanted to visit the Mortal Man, having seen it referenced in a book by Rebecca Tope. The range of ales met with his approval. Thankfully no shapeshifters spotted during our stay. There is something comforting about a story set in familiar surroundings.

[@jaceek2030]

Engrossing and perfectly narrated, as always. Thanks Mr. Walker.

[@todddickinson3262]

Thank the lord for Tony Walker and this channel!!I don’t know how I ever lived without it!!! Great story Tony, as always…

[@gail9566]

That was awesome, very creepy!

[@666dianimal]

Hope the move is going well, and Happy Birthday to your girls! Great story, as always.

[@micheleshave323]

Video commentary! Fabulous!

[@marjie012000]

Enjoyed this story. The beautiful Lake District is a great setting for a creepy story like this with its mountains and large bodies of water, not forgetting the rainy days!

[@ClassicGhost]

lots of those at the moment

[@robertingham6123]

Been to the Inn a few times. Actually camped at the roadside on the struggle in the fog. A proper eerie place indeed. Great story thanks

[@ClassicGhost]

It's nice when you know a place

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Dark...subtle but dark...Good story!

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Most enjoyable, and (as a parent myself) unnerving. One of those tales that feeds one just enough to have an inkling of the horrible thing that might happen, that you can't help hope doesn't happen, but that the story wouldn't be complete unless it does happen.

[@ClassicGhost]

Statistically very rare of course. But for the story...

[@bluegreenglue6565]

@@ClassicGhost Just so. In fiction we exorcise the maybe-demons.

[@karenbanks5985]

@@ClassicGhost thank you so much these stories are great

[@ann-mariepaliukenas19]

Thank you Tony 😊.

[@shannonlucas2980]

As always, great story with fantastic narration. Also I wanted to thank you for recommending the EnCrypted channel. Props to you Sir for not being selfish and turning us listeners on to another fantastic storyteller. As always...keep up the great work👍

[@janetcw9808]

Hope that all is well. Thanks for this, love your work.

[@andrewrollinson7739]

Thank you for such a great tale, so well-told. Nice twist on the Changeling.

[@chazmena]

I've been listening to your stories all day, Tony, and it's perfect as I put up our halloween decorations at home. Thanks for all the fun content.

[@grahamturner1290]

Always entertaining!

[@msamelienp]

I really enjoyed that story. Thanks Tony!

[@ClassicGhost]

Welcome 🙏

[@mariameere5807]

Thank you very much!

[@sarahsamaria8283]

Beautiful set up for the story. Love your accent for this narration. Feel sorry for the father who lost his daughter in such a majestic setting.

[@simonward-horner7605]

Thanks, I'm enjoying your self-written, self-read tales!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you for liking them :£

[@grahamturner1290]

Great twist, by the way!

[@juliestone1756]

My brother used to freak me out when we were kids by just staring at me from an expressionless face - your comments at the end just reminded me of that!

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes it works every time.

[@nancynickerson4341]

Great story, thank you!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening

[@user67883]

A thoroughly entertaining and spooky story full of atmosphere. I really enjoyed it! You're a really talented writer.

[@terryolsson4145]

Mr Walker, you are such a marvelous narrator and a wonderful man. Thank you for all your spooky tales.

[@666dianimal]

Thank you!! 😀

[@dwoods5688]

Brilliant as ever ❤❤❤❤😊

[@murtazaarif6507]

Nice story and psychology talk. I could never guess what happens next. The mystery kept me wondering right till the end every step of the way. As humans I think our feelings become slowly intensfied to become emotions. On the other hand our memories are mental imagies that stand motionles. So we can mould them to become what we want.i like how you fine tune these elements. Also the word kerk is the same for church in flemish. I remember growing up in Belgium.

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and ramble. Thanks! It is good and eerie!!

[@gohboy56]

Relistened to this tale so happy to see you in the end chat. Best wishes.

[@ClassicGhost]

I may do a few more videos

[@BloobleBonker]

Shivers down my spine at the end! Great story.

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you liked it!

[@loulou7963]

Excellent story. Eerie and unnerving. 👍👍💕

[@tonicastel5933]

Really great story. Chilling & classic.

[@dianaantu8227]

great story!

[@britaccent4352]

Shivers! I love your writing about this family. Real people with warmth and affection for their daughters, but they also take turns being the one to smooth over the others inevitable irritation with their surly teen. Then we know somethings not right when she becomes so docile after her proclamation about never being able to leave. Nice touch with the changing picture as well. It seems to be a clue, but it also strikes me that it’s reflective of the narrators understanding of what’s happening. It reveals and mirrors the truth.

[@DragonsEyeTours]

Great story and so well read. Thanks very much.

[@donnacostanza532]

I loved it!!!! Thank you. Great story the end gave me goosebumps!

[@ClassicGhost]

Good stuff’

[@cityboy77]

Great narrator. The Lake District has a history of ghosts. Some great stories about the old corpse roads there.

[@wendybirdangeladawn]

Love this frightening story!

[@marshawargo7238]

My first time here, Such a Nice emotional voice! I'm Subscribed! Thank U! 😊

[@drzaius844]

I love “Donkeys” as a unit of measure.

[@stardust949]

Thank you, it was quite entertaining! Good spooky story for a Friday night. Best wishes in your new home.

[@StoryVoracious]

Great story Tony, Thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening April. Great support as always

[@DKCGamerGirl]

Thank you for telling us about Kirkstone Inn! Ended up looking it up and reading about it. Very pretty place and I love the ghost stories I'm reading that occur there!

[@ClassicGhost]

I’m glad you think so. I hope you visit !

[@DKCGamerGirl]

@@ClassicGhost Would love to visit Northern England one day. The landscapes and scenery are so beautiful out there!

[@ClassicGhost]

@@DKCGamerGirl they are but it’s cold and rainy

[@careyannewesternpa5512]

Your voice can melt better sir! Great story and narration.

[@ClassicGhost]

I should try that. I think I will. Thank you :)

[@zoeyhumbert3868]

Really loved this and your voice is great to listen to 😊

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening

[@mariameere5807]

Actually this is really well written! Thanks again!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks M

[@sinacide11]

Very well written! The family chemistry feels very genuine.

[@tinahale9252]

Whoo hoo! I just happened upon your channel and that I must say was bloody brilliant. From America kansas.

[@genmama1955]

Oh well done! I really enjoyed this ghost story. Happy birthday to your girls.

[@deniseroper9030]

Brilliant story. Well read. 👏😀

[@TheRickie41]

I remember Kirk, on my green class to the lake district, many years ago...beautiful.

[@angelaroberts2803]

Very spooky this one.Well done

[@NoxForest]

Loved it.

[@karenpearson2215]

Very enjoyable, thank you!

[@martiwilliams4592]

Marvelous!!!! Fantastic. Hard to choose which tale is my favorite in "Cumbrian Ghost Stories: Weird tales from an old land", but your presentation has fired it to the top of the list like a rocket. The vividly painted word images made me drop the dirty dishes, sit down, close my eyes and watch the mind-film. Can't wait to hear the other stories! Good luck with your move and a very happy birthday with your daughters

[@ClassicGhost]

Many thanks!

[@angelachouinard4581]

I love it when you magically transport me off across the pond for a supernatural adventure. You fed my mind's eye just what it needed, even to the descriptions of the girls, everything was so easy to visualize.

[@ClassicGhost]

I have tagged a video to it in comments which shows the place low-res

[@matthewandersen4524]

Pg faq

[@stevenshipman650]

Excellent!!!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks Steven

[@jeffreese1828]

Good one , Tony ! Happy Birthdays to the twins ! 💀🎱💀

[@mijiyoon5575]

Oh, *Happy Birthday Twin daughters* you *Tony Walker* are double blessed🧁🧁🍨🍨

[@ClassicGhost]

I know :) Thank you

[@phill3910]

Been across there many times, worked at the Patterdale hotel when it was refurbished.. Thanks for this, subscribed.! 🙏

[@jeffwarren6906]

I just recently found your channel , and I am so glad I did . I am in the process of playing catchup with all videos on the homepage .. This one really held my attention .. A nailbiter at the end . The vampire tales were as well very good .. Thank you for all the effort you put in for our benefit ... Jeff from USA

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks Jeff. There are hundreds of stories now to listen to

[@bethcastagnoli2911]

Guessing my new sweatshirt would be perfect for this place!

[@applewagon253]

Absolutely wonderful story! Reminded me a bit of the story “The Wardrobe” by MD Vickers and a little bit of your “The Dernwentwater Haunting”!

[@ClassicGhost]

I'll check it out! I suppose the Derwentwater Haunting makes sense. It's the same geographical area and also that mix of family life and the supernatural. After you've written a few stories you see the commonalities in them. I've just done the Haunting of Unit 409 which is being 'broadcast' (sounds grand) on Halloween. That's a v. recent story but has that ordinary bloke and awful things mix. I suppose this reflects a lot of modern horror movies which owe a lot to Stephen King where ordinary everyday people get involved in fantastical horror. There was a general morphing into that but a lot of the stories we read on the channel are of posh blokes having adventures or people who have privileged lives. Anyway. The other kind of story I write is the more poetic dark fairytale and I am currently fonder of those. There are one or two in my new forthcoming More Cumbrian Ghost Stories. Also period stories. I did a couple of those in London Horror Stories-The Shadow of The Ripper, A Doctor Calls. Anyway, I must get on. I can type-ramble as well as I can talk-ramble. Have a lovely day! Tony

[@mijiyoon5575]

👍.😬agree, it is uncanny & scary...nice ending sound effects

[@thelastsausage635]

I have teenagers! Love that description of sulky rebellion and being vegetarian mainly to annoy meat eating parents, I was definitely Hazel at that age! I’ve always wanted to stay somewhere creepy, brilliant story!

[@ClassicGhost]

I had teenagers. They are wonderful young women now and I am so proud of how they have flowered. I adored them as girls too though. I have some suggestions for creepy places! I wouldn't stay at the Kirkstone Inn just yet. It probably needs new owners, but if the right people got it they could make it marvellous

[@doreathasmithalbright7476]

So so good. Thamk you so much. 😪

[@annabellreads]

Wonderful contemporary ghost story, wonderfully read as always, and by the author! In addition to being well-written and enjoyable, I feel like I've been learning so much more about the Cumbrian region beyond, "well, Wordsworth liked it..." via ramble.

[@ClassicGhost]

Ha ha. He did

[@cityboy77]

My region where I live. A little peice of heaven on earth.

[@evgenih2930]

I've been to the Kirkstone Pass, but haven't been inside. It was fun knowing the areas in this story!

[@ClassicGhost]

last time i went past it was closed up

[@carbonated_cat_soup445]

I enjoyed that. creepy!

[@lynnritchie231]

Loved this.....

[@gjones7547]

I love this ghost story. It captures your attention right from start to finish. I want to travel to this inn and stay a night or two. I once saw a ghost in a Colwyn Bay Hotel in North Wales, bit of a fright at 2am but it had my fiancee at that time running out of the room screaming. "There's an Old lady in my room." Lol. Thanks for the upload, I thoroughly enjoyed your story.

[@hollyhobby2763]

i dig this story mr. walker🤍

[@Josephinejefferies]

Enjoyed this

[@melissataylor9880]

Brilliant!

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Yay!

[@malcolmcraven4906]

Been for a pint in this pub! It was in winter and snow had blocked the road... With fires roaring I can imagine ghosts frequenting the bar😁

[@ClassicGhost]

Sounds great. I wish I'd been there

[@dougjamesberwick2625]

Superb :)

[@roxanavasilakis9435]

Thank you 😊, beautiful voice 😍

[@ClassicGhost]

Welcome 😊

[@teddydog6229]

Great story Tony. You know how I love straightforward ghost stories that go straight to the fear. I had a hunch I was taking a little peek into the real life of Tony Walker with that tale. Another thing is that one story which frightens me more than almost any other is 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' yet I never trained my incisive intellectual powers on why it disturbed me so. Luckily you were on hand to call my attention to Dr Freud's thoughts on the unfamiliar familiar and I thought "There. He got it in one." I became very anxious indeed as it grew clearer that your daughter was no longer your daughter. I really love the clarity and humor and really everything else about it. You would have been a perfect fit with our old friends at Pan Ghost Stories. Their loss I say. I chatted with Lloyd Cole of all people on Twitter today. Not sure if you're a fan but I think he's got a real knack for the melancholy love song and have been listening to him since his first album came out when I was 15 and now I'm 55 so that was a real treat. I also had to offer my much belated condolences to him regarding the suicide of his lead guitarist Robert Quine who was truly one of the most innovative and unique guitarists ever. A genuine genius and his death came as a real shock to me. Who's shoulder better to cry on than Lloyd Cole's ? Anyway I thought it was pretty cool to watch that switchover from a magazine image to a flesh and blood person who was kind as could be. So that was my night. Thanks again for that story. A perfect fit for this vampire !

[@ClassicGhost]

Lloyd Cole! I was a massive fan and saw him a few times in the 1980s. However, I had lost track of him. I have dipped into a few of his more recent things and like them. I used to spend a lot of time on Charlotte Street in my youth. I was looking at Invasion of the Body Snatchers and wondering if I could do it.

[@teddydog6229]

@@ClassicGhost If you like Krautrock - and Lord you must - you're almost sure to like a couple albums Cole recorded with Roedelius from the group Cluster and one solo - and they're exceptional. I made it point number one to compliment the work itself and his boldness in recording it. You can be sure plenty of critics were eager to call him a pretentious prat. I got the impression he was both surprised and very pleased by my sincere compliment. As I said a lifelong idol and, as it turned out, very nice and funny cat. Does the heart good to have encounters like that !

[@teddydog6229]

@@ClassicGhost My own impression is Wilko Johnson of Dr Feelgood and Robert Quine who was first with Richard Hell and the Voidoids and then Lloyd Cole were a massive influence on what's called 'harmelodic' guitar playing which Andy Gill of the Gang of Four later made somewhat mainstream. The genius is they play what ought to be noise yet isn't. I suspect music is a bottomless rabbit hole for both of us. Happily we're of the same generation. Well maybe not. You were a teen during prog and I became a teenager during the Sex Pistols US tour back in the Sid (aka 'the Coatrack') days. So I came late to progressive music but I do dearly love it and it's good that I know a man I can come to with all my prog-related needs. Here's an obscure one for you - the End who went on to become Tucky Buzzard. Bill Wyman managed them I think. Any friend of Jimmy Saville is an enemy of mine but they made some great music ! And Help Yourself and Tractor.. you know the list is gloriously endless.

[@ann-mariepaliukenas19]

Ive been to that inn years ago.

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes, it is a real place

[@missy3240]

But are you sure you came back with the same people!

[@gena1714]

@@ClassicGhost Where is it? I used to live & work in pubs up there, but The Tan Hill Inn in Yorkshire is the highest pub.

[@horseleft]

By coincidence I visited that pub a couple days ago, unfortunately it was shut. Great Story

[@ClassicGhost]

It never does very well. It's often closed. Pity because it's such a great setting

[@jpss634]

Kirk, as a word I mean, could be coming from the German word for church which is kirche. Very good narration of a very good original story. Thank you.

[@genevieves8908]

This is the scariest story I've ever listened to on youtube ever. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for your praise!

[@lifewithherbthedog6509]

Nice.

[@jenniferjacobs228]

oooo that was good...thank you :-)

[@ellymay1455]

I was a barmaid in the Yorkshire Inn. Very old and spooky but I never saw a ghost but hated being in caller alone

[@margaretwood7135]

Many a great visit to Tan Hill more than 66 years ago

[@jared1870]

So, you accidentally returned home with an unwanted souvenir of a family trip? Great narration.

[@ClassicGhost]

Not me thank goodness

[@tomsdottir]

Enjoying your wonderful book, "Collected Ghost Stories" which I ordered recently, and hear your voice in my head as I read. It's so rare to find contemporary short fiction which is both creepy AND well written and yours in 100% both. I watched an analysis of a terrifying famous scene in a (foreign language) film, where the critic made the point that a lot of what passes for horror today (jump scares, for example) is just surprise. The fear wears off as soon as the surprise is over, and so you can watch or read such stories again without being scared. But stories like yours or those of M R James or E F Benson don't rely on those tricks. You can return to them over and over and still get goose flesh. Thankyou so much for these. Edited to add : the video is on KZbin and is called " That one scene". It's from the movie Kairo.

[@ClassicGhost]

I will take a look at that one. Thank you. I didn't know Collected Ghost stories was still available!

[@danieldand7639]

They are interestin these tales

[@kelliryan464]

Thank you for this creepy treat. Thank you for mentioning pentimento. I purposely create pentimento in my paintings and palimcest in my illuminated manuscripts. I recently discovered your divine channel an subscribed immediately. Just signed up to your Patreon because a thank you note is not enough. I like to collect local 'lady in white' legends. There has been one in every place I've ever lived. Tell me, do you like them?

[@kelliryan464]

To anyone who reads my comment, the word is - palimpsest - I hate spell check.

[@ClassicGhost]

Me too! Sometimes my texts are incomprehensible. I mistype something and the program changes it to another utterly unrelated word so the sentence makes no sense at all

[@jbos5107]

Scared me!

[@ClassicGhost]

Good! Sorry :(

[@AND-od5jt]

20:00 So - like Dunkirk or Kirche (german for church)... nice2know - thx :)

[@ClassicGhost]

Yep

[@gwenthomassss]

Cerreg means stone in Welsh also.

[@domward8352]

I really enjoyed this but there's one thing I don't understand. Why would she be found in a secret room? Did Alf just happen to discover the secret room the day they left? If it wasn't him or his wife, why would the police or anyone even think to ask nevermind look there? I was dozing as I listened to this so maybe I missed something. Anyway, lovely story and nicely read.

[@ClassicGhost]

So my thoughts were that once the girl had disappeared, they ransacked the inn and searched it more thoroughly than anyone had before, hence the discovery.

[@domward8352]

@@ClassicGhost I see what you're saying but I just don't see why they would.

[@nielsebbesen7821]

A good little story - It is refreshingly minimalist. There's no extended build up, with smaller incidents getting wilder and wilder. Also, I wonder if there's a bit of a moral to it too - I found it curious that Hazel, who was the least in contact with her own roots, who fell prey to the ancient ghost. Also, speaking of simulacra: I wonder if this is the real channel, given that there were no audio bits from Psychomania this time ;)

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes, that tune is branding. I thought that my stories rather than the 'classics' should have different music. Not 100% sure though