Breaking down on the road is never a pleasant experience, but doing so in a particularly eerie or isolated location can turn a bad day into a particularly unsettling one. The UK has its own rich history of spooky folklore, and so here in Britain we’ve got no shortage of spooky places that you wouldn’t want to spend the night – especially if you were spending it stood next to a broken down car.
With all our years of experience running the best online car auctions here at RAW2K, we’ve heard our fair share of breakdown tales from people coming to us for replacement parts, or even whole salvage cars. So in that spirit (so to speak), we explore four of the scariest places to break down, from desolate motorways to remote countryside roads.
The M6 near Shap
One of the most notorious spots in the UK for breakdowns is the M6 near Shap, located in Cumbria. This section of the motorway is known for its high altitude and unpredictable weather conditions. The area is often shrouded in mist, and the desolation can make it feel even more isolated. With very few services available, drivers can find themselves stranded for long periods, and the lack of traffic can exacerbate feelings of vulnerability.
This part of the M6 is surrounded by vast, open fields and rolling hills, which can seem picturesque during the day but take on a sinister tone at night. The solitude of the landscape can play tricks on your mind, and the thought of being stuck in an unresponsive vehicle, with no one around to assist, is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor National Park in Devon is renowned for its rugged beauty, but it also holds a reputation for being one of the scariest places to break down. With its sprawling moorlands, dense fog, and ancient stone circles, Dartmoor has a rich history steeped in folklore and mystery. The remote nature of the park means that mobile phone reception can be patchy, potentially leaving you without a reliable means of communication in the event of a breakdown.
The eerie silence that envelops Dartmoor can feel oppressive, especially if you are waiting for help. It doesn’t help that various visitors have reported strange noises and sightings – not least the legendary Hound of Dartmoor. You better hope its bark is worse than its bite…
The A666 near Bolton
The A666, also known as the "Devil’s Highway," runs through Bolton and has gained notoriety for its dark history and spooky associations. This road is not only busy but is also steeped in urban legend, with tales of hauntings and ghostly apparitions often shared among locals. Find yourself breaking down here, and you might well feel the weight of those stories suddenly hanging over you.
With its narrow lanes and twisting turns, the A666 can be treacherous, especially at night. The dense trees lining the road can obscure your view and create an unsettling atmosphere. Many drivers have reported feeling an inexplicable chill when passing certain spots, so you’d definitely never want to find yourself stranded. The fear of being alone in a place with such a haunted reputation is enough to make this road one of the scariest places to break down.
The Scottish Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are known for their breathtaking scenery, but they can also be among the most daunting places to find yourself stranded. The remote roads, often winding through rugged landscapes, can be treacherous, particularly during harsh weather conditions. The isolation can leave drivers feeling incredibly vulnerable, especially in the more desolate areas.
If your car were to break down here, the vastness of the Highlands could make it feel as if you were entirely alone in the world. The unpredictable weather can change rapidly, with fog, rain, or even snow creating additional challenges. The haunting beauty of the Highlands, with its craggy mountains and lochs, can quickly turn sinister, particularly when the sun begins to set, and the shadows lengthen. The vast stretches of road, combined with the isolation and potential for extreme weather, make the Scottish Highlands a chilling place to experience a breakdown.
Those are just some of our own suggestions – you might well have your own opinions on the spookiest places to find yourself stranded! If you ever have broken down though (wherever it’s happened to occur), and you could do with some spare parts on hand to prevent it from happening in future, you’re in exactly the right place.
We run daily and weekly auctions with a huge range of salvage cars to choose from, including many from world-famous brands like BMW, Nissan and Ford. You can strip these cars for parts, or even restore one to working condition and use them as your new personal vehicle! Our auctions are refreshed on a daily and weekly basis, so there are always bargains to be found. Why not take a look around, and see what you can discover?
