Get into the Halloween spirit this October half-term with spooky self-guided Treasure Trails across the UK, taking you on ghoulish adventures featuring vampires, ghosts, werewolves, witches and wizards. 

Crack the codes en route to unlock scary stories from the past and solve the mystery at the end. 

Treasure Trails are themed walking, cycling and driving trail adventure booklets (£9.99 each) that provide socially-distanced, budget-friendly discovery fun for all ages, all across the UK. There are three types of trail to choose from: Murder Mysteries, Treasure Hunts and Spy Missions. 

Suitable for small groups and designed to appeal to anyone with a sense of adventure, the aim of each Treasure Trail is to solve clues by exploring landmarks, open spaces and quirky corners of villages, towns and cities. 

Treasure Trails has gathered its top 10 Spookiest Trails to try out this October half term in the run up to Halloween: 

• Curse of the Vampire, Whitby, Yorkshire – Treasure Hunt, 2+ hours, 2.3 miles

Follow in the seaside footsteps of Bram Stoker as you search along Whitby's oldest street before climbing up to St Mary's Church. Solve sneaky clues to locate the witch's spell book needed to break the undead curse that bloodthirsty vampire Ivan Tsukyablud has been under. 

• Haunted Prestbury, Cotswolds – Treasure Hunt, 1.5 hours, 1.5 miles

Prestbury is known for its ghost sightings and paranomal disturbances, including the  apparition of the Black Abbott. You'll pass places where ghosts have been seen on this trail as you head along the High Street, the Burgage and past St Mary's Church before returning to the war memorial. 

• Pendle Witches, Lancashire – Murder Mystery, 3 hours, 1.5 miles

The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous in English history. This driving trail starts at the Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford and takes you along quiet lanes with fantastic views as you explore the villages of Downham and Newchurch-in-Pendle, before finishing in Barley. 

• Haunted Hitchin, Hertfordshire – Treasure Hunt, 2 hours, 1.8 miles

Hunt along the riverside and around the market place to help clairvoyant, Buster 'Para' Normall, solve clues to find the lost head of ghostly resident, Roy Allist – the Headless Cavalier. Discover other local ghost stories along the way, and look out for the Priory's Grey Lady. 

• The Wicked Wizard of Alnwick, Northumberland – Murder Mystery, 1.5 hours, 1 mile

Find out who the murderer is as you explore this small market village, most famed for its castle which featured in some of the Harry Potter films. The route explores Baliffgate, St Michael's Church and Pottergate as you come into contact with life gone by from every century for the last 700 years. 

• Wizards of Watford, Hertfordshire – Treasure Hunt, 2 hours, 2 miles

This brand new trail follows a maze of clues around Watford, taking inspiration from Leavesden Studios, home of the 'Warner Bros. Studios Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter'. 

• The Mermaid's Curse, Staithes, North Yorkshire - Treasure Hunt, 2+ hours, 1.7 miles

Explore the narrow lanes and alleyways of this pretty seaside village as you uncover where Captain James Cook first discovered his passion for the sea and learn the secret behind The Mermaid's Curse. 

• Pirates Graveyard, Portland, Dorset – Treasure Hunt, 2 hours, 2 miles

This trail explores the secluded Pirates Graveyard and the ancient ruin of St Andrew's Church - look out for the skull and crossbones on some of the old gravestones! Then it's on to Rufus Castle along the South West Coast Path before continuing to explore more of Portland.

• Winchester City North Ghost Trail / Winchester City South Ghost Trail, Hampshire – Treasure Hunt/Murder Mystery, 2 hours, 2 miles

These two exciting trails will lead you on a trail of discovery around areas of this ancient, historical - and sometimes spooky - gothic city. 

• The Wizard's Spell Book, Manchester – Treasure Hunt, 2 hours, 1.5 miles

Wands at the ready! Your mission is to search the vibrant Spinningfields area to locate the spell book of wicked witch, Abby Cadabra, to break her terrible curse of never-ending rainfall across Manchester. 

This autumn, Treasure Trails is partnering with the British Heart Foundation to help fight heart and circulatory disease, and will be donating £5,000 of proceeds each month to the charity.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

For more information, please contact: Sarah Runnacles, sarah@flamingo-marketing.co.uk  /  01637 873379

Treasure Trails have entertained over two million people since 2005 and are rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Ekbom, the independent review site.  Treasure Trails cost £9.99 (plus P&P as required).

Treasure Trails Covid-19 Code of Conduct:

Treasure Trails are ideally suited for everyone to re-discover what's around them in a fun and responsible way. 

• Follow social distancing rules at all times. Be prepared to skip a clue if social distancing is not possible.
• If planning a trail with people outside your household group, make sure you are still following the latest guidelines for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland on how many other people you can meet up with outdoors.
• Avoid touching any hard surfaces such as plaques, signs, information boards, gates, walls or benches that clues may be based on.
• Don't linger for too long – if you need to, take a photo of a plaque or sign and move to a quieter area.
• Respect others – remember that there are many vulnerable people who still need to self-isolate. While walking, keep a safe distance from residential homes, schools and other premises.