Starring North Yorkshire: A Spooky Screen Tour for Halloween
A cinematic journey through Yorkshire’s mysterious and magical filming locations.
- Stories & Inspiration
- Starring North Yorkshire A Spooky Screen Tour For Halloween
As the evenings grow longer and the air tingles with mystery, North Yorkshire reveals its spooky, more enchanting side. Beneath its rolling moors and ancient ruins lies a cinematic legacy steeped in mystery, magic and the supernatural. From steam trains bound for wizarding schools to eerie abbeys echoing with ghostly footsteps, this region has played host to some of film and television’s most haunting and spellbinding moments. Whether you're a fan of witches, wizards or things that go bump in the night, North Yorkshire is home to a selection of spooky and spectacular screen locations to explore this Halloween.
So, let's venture deeper into the 'reel' world of North Yorkshire’s eerie and magical locations...
North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Hogsmeade Station
Goathland Station, better known to Harry Potter fans as Hogsmeade Station, is arguably one of the most iconic filming locations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This charming heritage stop is part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where the steam train famously whisked Harry off to Hogwarts. Surrounded by sweeping moorland and autumn mist, it’s a magical spot that feels straight out of the wizarding world.
Fountains Abbey - The Witcher
Steeped in centuries of history and cloaked in atmospheric grandeur, Fountains Abbey was transformed into a mystical backdrop for The Witcher Season 2. Fans may recognise its haunting ruins as the location where Yennefer saves Cahir, a pivotal moment in their journey. The production team used dramatic lighting and special effects to enhance the abbey’s natural gothic beauty, turning this World Heritage Site near Ripon into a setting worthy of Geralt’s world of monsters and magic.
Malham Cove - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
You may be thinking - these rocks look eerily familiar? During Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Malham Cove served as the dramatic hideout for Harry and Hermione during their perilous mission to defeat Voldemort. With Ron temporarily gone and tensions rising, it was here the pair set up camp, seeking refuge while unravelling the secrets of the Horcruxes. The stark beauty and windswept isolation of the cove perfectly captured the mood of uncertainty. Even without a wand in hand, standing here feels like stepping into a moment of magical history, where danger and destiny hung in the air.
Scarborough South Bay - St Maud
Scarborough South Bay plays a subtle yet atmospheric role in Saint Maud, the critically acclaimed psychological horror directed by Rose Glass. Key scenes were filmed at Holbeck Cliffs, the vintage amusement arcades along Foreshore Road and the lighthouse on Vincent Pier. These locations helped shape the film’s unsettling tone, particularly during Maud’s spiritual reckoning by the sea. While Scarborough is best known for its seaside charm, Saint Maud showcases how its familiar landmarks can be transformed into something hauntingly cinematic.
Fountains Abbey - 28 Years Later
Fountains Abbey makes a second appearance in this blog, this time as a filming location for 28 Years Later, which hit cinemas earlier this year. With its haunting medieval ruins and sweeping grounds, the site offered a fitting backdrop for Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic sequel. Its dramatic architecture and sense of isolation complement the film’s themes of survival and psychological tension, turning the abbey into a quietly powerful part of the story.
Whitby Abbey – Dracula
Whitby Abbey’s dramatic ruins famously inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula and continue to draw filmmakers today. Most recently, the abbey featured in the BBC’s 2020 adaptation, where its gothic silhouette and windswept cliffs helped set the tone for the Count’s eerie arrival. Its lasting appeal makes it a regular choice for horror and period dramas alike.
Scarborough and the Yorkshire Dales – The Woman in Black
Before it became a West End phenomenon and chilling feature film, The Woman in Black began its journey at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from Susan Hill’s 1983 novel, the play premiered here in 1987 - fittingly close to Hill’s birthplace in Scarborough. The 2012 film, starring Daniel Radcliffe, brought the ghost story to a wider audience and even featured scenes shot in Halton Gill in the Yorkshire Dales, adding a local touch to its eerie atmosphere. The play’s success helped cement its reputation as one of British theatre’s most enduring supernatural tales.
Coming soon...
North Yorkshire’s screen legacy is set to grow even more with two major productions currently underway. A bold new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, has been filming across the Yorkshire Dales National Park - including Swaledale, Arkengarthdale, and Low Row, bringing Brontë’s brooding landscape back to life. Meanwhile, Skipton has been transformed for the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series, with rooftop rigs and wand-wielding actors spotted filming scenes for the retelling of The Philosopher’s Stone, set to premiere in 2027.
So grab your cloak, lace up your boots and head off to explore North Yorkshire’s eeriest screen spots. Whether you're chasing vampires, witches, or just a good story, these haunting locations are waiting to be discovered.
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