The Pendle Witches Trail – 15+ Witchy Places to Visit in Lancashire (2026)!

If you were looking for an enlightening and spell-binding day trip in England, I would recommend the Pendle Witches Trail in Lancashire.

The route starting in Pendle Hill follows the shocking events of the Pendle Witch Trials.

This is the most famous witch trials in English history and took place in an era of ‘Satanic Panic’ during the reign of King James I.

In 1612, thirteen innocent people were arrested for witchcraft around Pendle Forest.

Ten of them were found guilty in Lancaster and hanged for their ‘crimes’ on Gallows Hill.

The reason why this trial shocked the nation is that the key witness was a nine-year-old girl who was the daughter of one of the accused.

On this scenic trail, you can learn the stories of the condemned and follow in their footsteps.

It’s quite a dark trail that covers sinister themes but I feel it’s an important one to experience and to keep their story alive.

Here is the tragic story of the Pendle Witches with 15+ places you can visit on the Pendle Witches Trail.

Who were the Pendle Witches?

In 1612, thirteen innocent people were arrested for witchcraft in Pendle Forest.

One was tried and hanged in York, one died in Lancaster Goal before trial, one was found innocent and ten were found guilty and hanged. Their names were;

1. Anne Whittle or Chattox
2. Ann Redferne
3. Elizabeth Demdike or Southerns (died before trial)
4. Elizabeth Device
5. Alizon Device
6. James Device
7. Alice Nutter
8. Katherine Hewitt
9. Jane Bulcock
10. John Bulcock
11. Isobel Robey
12. Alice Grey (found not guilty)
13. Jennet Preston of Gisburn (tried and hanged in York)

Their trial was to become one of the most famous witch trials in history and it all started with a pedlar who was ‘cursed’. 

Religious and political background

To truly understand the gravity of the Pendle Witch Trials, you need to be aware of significant chapters of British history leading up to them.

In the 17th century, religious turmoil was paramount in England between Protestants and Catholics. 

The Catholic faith was banned after Henry VIII separated from Rome and became an Imperial Monarch.

The Dissolution of the Monasteries followed soon after which saw many abbeys and cathedrals in the country shut down and their wealth raided. 

Henry then executed many Catholics who refused to convert to the Protestant faith. 

After Henry’s death, King Edward VII followed in his father’s footsteps of persecuting Catholics but his sister and successor Queen Mary was a devout Catholic and persecuted Protestants.

This religious tempest only calmed temporarily during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign who was somewhat religiously neutral compared to her bloodthirsty siblings.

After her death, her cousin King James I took the throne uniting England and Scotland and bringing peace between the nations. But, he was a paranoid ruler obsessed with magic and the occult. 

King James I, the Witch Hunter

King James VI of Scotland and I of England is reputed to have sentenced more men, women, and children to death for witchcraft than any other monarch throughout history. 

In 1590, after his marriage to Anne of Denmark, a terrible storm battered his ship on his return from Scandinavia. 

His advisors claimed that Dark Arts were at work and it was the fault of the North Berwick witches that he almost died at sea.

They were questioned (some even by King James himself) and tortured making forced confessions. Over 60 people were sentenced to die.

This witch hunt caused James to write his ‘Daemonologie’ and he made it his life’s mission to rid the world of witches and the devil from the country. 

King James became largely paranoid and it didn’t help matters that he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt of the Gunpowder Plot organised by begrudged Catholics. 

His sanction of witch trials caused a national Satanic Panic. 

People were worried that witchcraft was to blame for all manner of things like failed crops and livestock dying. Fingers were pointed at neighbours and accusations ran ablaze. 

It was no different in Lancashire and this is where the events leading up to the famous Pendle Witch Trials began.

The Tragic Story of the Pendle Witch Trials

The area surrounding Pendle Hill was known as a wild and lawless area in the 17th century. Many residents were poor and downtrodden.

It was traditionally a Catholic Parish and the residents held mass in secret, refusing to attend services of the Church of England. 

In early 1612, the zealous John Nowell who was the local Justice of the Peace (JP) asked for a list of recusants in Pendle Forest. These were people who refused to convert from the Catholic Church.

While investigating the recusants, he took an interest in a claim made by the son of a local pedlar, John Law from Halifax.

According to Law, he met Alizon Device in Trawden Forest. She asked him for some pins which were quite expensive and often used for healing and divination. 

Whether she was begging for them or asked to buy them is unknown. Either way, for whatever reason, John refused to give Alizon any of his pins. 

Alizon was not happy about this and put a ‘curse on him’. Shortly after, John Law fell down and became lame. He eventually sought help at a local tavern. 

Law didn’t report this event to authorities but his son overheard Alizon apologise and confess to cursing him through her ‘powers’ so he reported the incident to JP Nowell.

Confessions and Accusations

Shortly after, Alizon Device, her brother James Device and her mother Elizabeth Device were all summoned to Nowell. 

Alizon confessed to bewitching the pedlar but also accused her neighbours of witchcraft.

Alizon’s grandmother, Elizabeth Demdike, had a reputation in the community for being a witch for over fifty years.

Her daughter, Elizabeth Device told Nowell that Demdike had a bloodspot on her body known as a ‘Devil’s Mark’. 

Demdike admitted to being a Witch and selling her soul to the Devil twenty years prior.

Along with Alizon, she also accused her neighbour Anne Whittle (Chattox) of being a witch.

She also accused several members of Whittle’s family of practicing witchcraft including her daughter Anne Redferne. 

Many believe that these accusations came from a family rivalry as the two matriarchs had bad blood between them due to stealing.

Whittle did indeed confess to being a witch but her daughter Anne refused. 

After all the evidence was collected, Demdike, Whittle, Anne Redferne and Alizon Device were all arrested and sent to Lancaster Goal to await trial. 

The Witch’s Coven and a Black Sabbath 

Shortly after, Elizabeth Device held a party at Malkin Tower (Demdike’s home) on Good Friday when the parish was meant to be at church.

Many of the residents took pity on Elizabeth and so attended the event in solidarity.

However, the pious JP Nowell was not pleased when he learned of this rebellion and decided to investigate. 

An inquiry was held to determine what happened and they concluded that the Malkin Tower meeting was a witch’s coven. 

Eight more people were then arrested for witchcraft and sent to Lancaster Jail to await trial. 

They were Elizabeth Device, James Device, Alice Nutter, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, Jennet Preston and Alice Grey.

What happened to the Witches of Pendle Hill?

Twelve of the accused were sent to Lancaster to await trial.

Jennet Preston of Gisburn was from Yorkshire and so she was sent to trial at the York Assizes.

She was found guilty of witchcraft in July 1612 and hanged in Knavesmire.

The other twelve made the long journey to Lancaster from Pendle through villages around Clitheroe, the Forest of Bowland and finally were locked away in the Well Tower at Lancaster Castle. 

Old Demdike never made it to the trials. As she was elderly, she died shortly after arriving due to the terrible conditions they were held in.

The rest of them were imprisoned in the tower and attended an intense two-day trial in August of 1612. 

Most of the condemned were accused of using witchcraft to commit multiple murders and other atrocities.

The part that shocked the nation wasn’t the fact they were on trial for being witches but that the key witness was a nine-year-old girl.

Her name was Jennet Device, the daughter of the accused Elizabeth Device.

Traditionally, a child would not have been allowed to give evidence in the 17th century.

However, as King James I wrote in his Daemonologie that “children, women and liars can be witnesses over high treason against God”, Nowell used the young girl to accuse her own family.

Jennet’s, most likely coerced, confession resulted in nearly all of the accused being found guilty.

All but Alice Grey, who was deemed innocent, were hanged shortly after at Gallows Hill. May they Rest In Peace. 

A Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches

Another rarity which made this trial famous was that the proceedings were thoroughly recorded for the time.

Everything that we know about the Pendle Witch Trials comes from ‘The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster’ (1613) by Thomas Potts who was a clerk to the Lancaster Assizes.

Unfortunately, the Pendle Witches weren’t alone in their fate.

Potts mentions 19 witches in this book as there were other Lancashire Witch Trials held that year such as the Samlesbury Witches.

Of course, thousands of other innocents were arrested and executed for witchcraft in the following centuries.

The Witchcraft Act of 1735 was only repealed in the United Kingdom in 1951 and the last person arrested for Witchcraft in Britain was the Scottish Medium Helen Duncan in 1933.

There have been many petitions sent to UK parliament requesting an official pardon be made for all of the innocent people who were executed for witchcraft over the years.

So far, all of these have been denied and their crimes still stand.

15+ Places to Visit on the Pendle Witches Trail

Witches are now synonymous with Lancashire which is known as the ‘Witch County’. It even has a witch flying on a broom as its logo. 

If you want to walk in the footsteps of the Pendle Witches and learn their stories, then there are many ways that you can do this.

Visit Lancashire have a series of witch trails that you can follow;

1. Walking with Witches Trail (short distance loops)
2. Pendle Witches Road Trail
3. Pendle Sculpture Trail 
4. Lancashire Witches Walk (long-distance trail)
5. Vicky Witch Trail

As someone who is fascinated with all things magic and witches, I was very eager to follow this trail. 

So, my friend Tilly from Travel Junkie Girl and I (who kindly took my photos) set out on a little Witchy road trip!

We only had one day, so we opted for the Witches Driving Trail and set out to visit as many of the highlights as possible.

There are so many places to visit on the Pendle Witches Trail in Lancashire, you could spend weeks seeing them all. But, I’m going to cover the main points of interest in this post.

1. Pendle Hill

The dramatic and intimidating vista of Pendle Hill which gives the area its name provides an evocative backdrop as you explore.

All of the witches involved in the trial lived in the forest surrounding Pendle Hill which was, at the time, regarded as a lawless place.

There is a legend that the Devil jumped from Hameldon Hill to Sabden and left footprints there. He gathered rocks in an apron and aimed to throw a boulder at Clitheroe Castle. 

But, the apron strings broke and the rocks landed near Pendleton, creating the rocky outcrop on the hillside. 

As an isolated hill in the Pennines, its summit is 557 metres and you can climb to the top of the steep hill on a well-marked trail. The views from the top are outstanding on a clear day. 

We didn’t have time for a full hike but we parked up near the bottom of the hill to take some photos and met some fluffy sheep!

2. Newchurch-in-Pendle

One of my favourite villages in Lancashire is Newchurch-in-Pendle which is one of the main highlights of the Pendle Witches Trail.

Formerly known as the Parish of Goldshaw Booth, most of the witches involved in the trial were from the villages of Newchurch, Sadden Fold and Spenbrook.  

It looks as if it’s been trapped in time and will transport you right back to 17th-century.

It’s a small settlement but while here you can visit a Witch Shop, the Alice Nutter Grave and St Mary’s Church.  

Note that parking is very limited in Newchurch Village and the roads are surprisingly busy, narrow and steep. 

There is some free roadside parking by St Mary’s Church and on the main street beside the Public Toilets.

Please drive carefully in the village and park with consideration. 

3. The Eye of God at St. Mary’s Church

One of the main places you should visit in Newchurch is the historic St Mary’s Church.

As you descend the snaking path to the graveyard, you’ll notice the ‘Eye of God’ which has been carved on the 16th-century church tower. 

According to the signboards in the village, the locals were superstitious.

So, they had this eye carved on the tower to ward off evil spirits, magick and witchcraft. 

Whether this is true or a Victorian tale to attract more daytrippers to the area is unknown. But, it is quite an interesting feature of this church. 

If you’re here, it’s well worth popping inside to see the interiors which date back to the 18th century. 

You’ll find some beautiful stained glass windows and an elaborate church organ as well which is still used for services. 

Make sure to pop your name in the guidebook to say where you’ve hailed from and give a small donation for the upkeep.

4. Alice Nutter Grave 

Alice Nutter is thought to be buried outside of St Mary’s Church in Newchurch-on-Pendle.

You can find the Alice Nutter Grave located to the right of the entry porch of the church if you’re facing the door.

However, you should know that it is highly unlikely to be the grave of Alice Nutter but of a member of the Nutter Family.

You see, as Alice was convicted of Witchcraft there was no way that she would have been allowed to be buried on consecrated ground. 

It is presumed that she was buried along with the other Pendle Witches in an unmarked mass grave on Lancaster Moor after her execution.

Many people are disappointed by this as the map says otherwise but I still think it’s worth seeing.

St Mary’s Church and the graveyard is so peaceful and beautiful! 

5. Witches Galore

Just up the road from St Mary’s Church, you can visit one of my favourite shops which is Witches Galore. 

You’ll spot the flying witch on her broomstick over the shop sign and, as soon as you walk inside the entire place has such a magical vibe. 

They are an award winner in Lancashire for the Best Gift Shop and have all sorts of mystic souvenirs such as mugs, key rings, figurines and books and pottery.

I bought SO many gifts when I was last here including a Pendle Witches mug, a magnet and a witches brew cauldron.

Fair warning, it’s a very small shop. So, on busier days you may have to wait to enter but it’s well worth it! 

It’s owned by the loveliest local couple who are always so friendly and happy to chat with you. 

6. The Pendle Inn

If you’re looking for a great place to eat on the Pendle Witches Trail then I would head to The Pendle Inn in the village of Barley. 

It was built in 1930, centuries before the witch trials took place but it does celebrate the local heritage with a witchy sign and artwork inside. 

We stopped here for lunch and they had a great menu of local meals and drinks. I had the steak sandwich with chips and Tilly had fish and chips! 

There’s lots of room inside plus they have a lovely beer garden if it’s a nice and warm day. 

7. Alice Nutter Statue & Roughlee Old Hall

If you head to the area of Roughlee in Nelson, you will find the Alice Nutter statue by White Hough Water.

Although it is a statue of Alice, it’s a commemorative piece to remember all of the victims of the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612.

It was constructed by a local artist, David Palmer on the 400th anniversary of the trials and is meant to provoke meaningful thoughts of the events.

Alice Nutter was a rarity in the trials as she was a wealthy lady. She was the wife of a yeoman who lived in Roughlee Old Hall nearby. 

You can still see the house when you pass by the statue, just be mindful that it is a private residence. 

The statue can be found on Blacko Bar Road between Crowtrees and Roughlee.

8. Pendle Sculpture Trail in Barley

A popular thing to do in Pendle is to head out on the Pendle Sculpture Trail near the village of Barley.

While here, you can follow a gorgeous trail through the woods to find all sorts of magical statues of witches, goblins and unicorns!

The trail is free but you do need to park in Barley to start the trail and they charge for parking.

Also, note that the car park is located around a mile from the start of the sculpture trail so you will need to leave at least 2-3 hours to complete it. 

Wear sensible shoes if it’s been raining as the floor in the woods can get incredibly mucky!

Near here, you can also find the presumed location of Malkin Tower near Black Moss Reservoir.

This is supposedly where the witch’s coven met for the Black Sabbath instead of being at church on Good Friday.

Also, another pub you can visit here is the Barley Mow. On my first visit to Pendle, I took shelter here for breakfast as it was freezing and wet. I loved their cosy open fire inside.

9. Pendle Heritage Centre 

Another wonderful place to visit on the Pendle Witches Trail is the Pendle Heritage Centre in Barrowford.

It’s set in a fabulous historic building and has a lovely café, a gorgeous garden, a gift shop and a witch’s museum to visit. 

Inside the exhibition, you can learn all about the Pendle Witches and the events leading up to the trials that shocked the nation.

You can buy tickets in their giftshop which has a delightful range of local artwork, crafts and witchy gifts. 

I particularly loved their tote bags which had ‘Hex, Drugs and Mind Control’ and ‘Party like it’s 1599’ on them haha!

10. Clitheroe Castle 

If you are on the Lancashire Witches driving trail, you may wish to stop at Clitheroe Castle on your way to Lancaster through the scenic Forest of Bowland. 

As the Pendle Witches were being transported to Lancaster for their trials they stopped at a few villages and taverns along the way such as the village of Slaidburn. 

Here you can find the Hark to Bounty pub (temporarily closed) which has an ‘Old Court Room’ where the witches were held.

As the local authorities in Clitheroe were worried about having witches in their town and pubs, the condemned were held in the dungeons of Clitheroe Castle for the night. 

The traditional Motte and Bailey castle in this pretty town is open to visitors. The castle has stood here for over 800 years and has a museum. 

After, you can visit Whalley Abbey. Here, you can find the intricately carved Nowell Family pew called ‘St Anton’s Cage’. 

Judge Roger Nowell was behind the executions of the Witches of Pendle Forest and would have prayed on this very spot. 

The drive through the Forest of Bowland to the city of Lancaster is incredibly scenic on the Pendle Witches Trail.

You’ll see lots of sheep, rolling hills and rivers. So, make some time to stop off at a few scenic locations on the way!

11. Lancaster Castle

After the Pendle Witches made their journey through the Forest of Bowland, they arrived in the city of Lancaster. 

They were locked up in the Well Tower which is now known as the Witches Tower.

Elizabeth Demdike died before the trials could take place because of the harsh treatment and poor conditions they had been held.

The others had their trials held which determined that they were guilty of witchcraft.

We arrived quite late in the afternoon and so didn’t have enough time to explore all of the interiors of the castle.

However, we were delighted to find out that you can still visit the inner courtyard for free to see where the trials were held.

Inside, they have a small and free exhibition in the Witches Tower which explains the events leading up to the Pendle Witch Trials. 

Lancaster Castle has had a long history since the Roman era and was a stronghold of the Duchy of Lancaster.

It’s had many royal visitors over the centuries and was a prison up until 2011!

So, it has a fabulous and diverse history to uncover inside its staterooms and prison cells.  If you have time, I would urge you to visit.

12. Judges Lodgings 

Just around the corner from Lancaster Castle, you can visit the Judges Lodgings Museum which dates back over 400 years.

The building we see today was a ‘New Hall’ constructed in 1625 which was well over a decade after the Pendle Witch Trials. 

However, the original building that stood here was the townhouse of Thomas Covell. 

Thomas Covell was the Mayor of Lancaster and Keeper of the Castle. He is famously known for locking up the Pendle Witches in the Well Tower.

Today, his house is an informative museum with exhibitions that tell stories of the residents of Lancaster. 

13. Gallows Hill 

Another place you can visit is the famous Gallows Hill which is where the witches were hanged after their trials. 

It’s good to note that Lancaster was only given city status in 1937 due to its long association with the crown. 

In the 17th century, during the time of the witch trials, it was known as a ‘hanging town’.

This is because many criminals were imprisoned in Lancaster Castle to await their trial and eventual execution.

Hangings took place on the Lancaster moors just outside the settlement.

To this day, no one knows the exact spot of Gallows Hill. However, many believe that the hill is near to where the Ashton Memorial is located.

This was built in Williamson Park and is well worth visiting in Lancaster! This elaborate folly has the nickname of England’s Taj Mahal.

If you didn’t know, the Taj Mahal is a world wonder and mausoleum in India built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. 

Similarly, the millionaire Lord Ashton constructed this memorial in 1907 in memory of his second wife, Jessy.

You can also visit The Golden Lion pub nearby. This is supposedly where the condemned had their final drink before meeting the noose. 

14. Pendle Witches Way / Lancashire Witches Walk

If you are feeling a little more outdoorsy and adventurous, you may wish to take the Lancashire Witches Walk or Pendle Witches Way instead.

It’s a long-distance trail of 51 miles that commemorates the 400th Anniversary of the hanging of the Lancashire Witches.

You start in Barrowford near the Pendle Heritage Centre and finish your journey at Lancaster Castle.

Both ends are accessible by public transport but the trail is remote. There are some lodgings you can use along the way such as YHA Slaidburn.

15. Vicky Witch Trail

If you have younger children, you may wish to take them on the immersive Vicky Witch Trail at Victoria Park in Nelson.

It’s a one-mile, family-friendly route where you can look out for signs of Vicky the Witch and her magical friends. 

Other places associated with the Pendle Witches

• Faugh’s Quarry – The quarry here is where the eldest witch Elizabeth Demdike claimed to have met the devil.

• Gisburn – This is where the ‘Gisburn Witch’ Jennet Preston was from. She was tried twice for witchcraft in York.

• Blacko Tower – Malkin Tower has long since been lost to time and many people try to find the original location of the famous Witch’s Coven. You can also visit Blacko Village to see their tower.

• Downham – This is the village where you can start your walk up Pendle Hill. Or, there is some off-road parking near the start of the trail as well.

• Waddington – Here, you can visit Pendle Witch Distillery and try some of their expertly crafted whisky and gins. 

Top tips for the Pendle’s Witches Trail

• Plan more than one day – If you also only have a short amount of time in Lancashire, I would concentrate on the areas around Pendle Hill on one day and then visit Lancaster on a separate day! There’s simply too much to do for a single-day trip, we were exhausted after.

• Drive carefully – on the driving trail, you’ll be traversing narrow and winding country roads and wildlife-protected areas.. Drive carefully and with consideration.

• Choose a good weather day – although it can’t always be helped, Pendle Hill is so much nicer to visit on a clearer day. The first time I visited in October, I couldn’t see the hill due to the fog and mist. 

• The sculpture trail needs lots of time – Pendle Sculpture Trail is at least a 2-3 hour visit so leave lots of time for the walk and wear appropriate footwear.

Is the Pendle Witches Trail worth doing?

Yes, most definitely. Although it is harrowing to follow the Pendle Witches Trail and learn about these tragic events, it is certainly worth doing.

Today, we love to romanticise all things magic, witches and Harry Potter.

We dress up at Halloween and watch cosy witchy movies like Practical Magic with a sense of comfort.

It’s easy to forget how privileged we are to be able to do this openly in safety and without persecution.

The Witches of Pendle weren’t so lucky and paid the ultimate price along with many others in the centuries following.

So, yes, I would highly recommend following The Pendle Witches Trail in Lancashire.

It’s a magical day out with lots of enlightening tales and history to offer you! 

Read more of my Witchy travel guides

Things to do in Burley Witch Village

A day trip to Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well 

Visiting the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle

Walking the Witches Bridge in Wroclaw 

How to find the Devil’s Pulpit near Glasgow 

The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh 

Boswell’s Court in Edinburgh 

Mysterious Margate Shell Grotto in Kent 

Save The Pendle Witches Trail for later!