📍 Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, UK
Perched high on the windswept expanse of Bodmin Moor lies one of Britain’s most haunted inns — the legendary Jamaica Inn. Famous for its smuggling past, ghostly legends, and literary ties to Daphne du Maurier, this remote Cornish coaching house has terrified and fascinated visitors for centuries.
But is the Jamaica Inn really haunted, or is it just folklore spun into legend? Let’s dive into the dark history, ghost sightings, and paranormal tales of Cornwall’s most mysterious inn.
A Brief History of the Jamaica Inn
Built in the late 1770s, the Jamaica Inn began life as a modest farmhouse created by retired sea captain John Broad. Located between Launceston and Bodmin, the inn became a vital rest stop for weary travellers crossing the dangerous moorland.
The inn thrived under the Broad family for over 40 years, eventually becoming an official staging post for Royal Mail coaches travelling to and from the busy port of Falmouth.
By the 19th century, a small community grew around the inn — complete with a school, church, and farmland. But the arrival of the railway in Cornwall spelled decline for Jamaica Inn. The last Royal Mail coach stopped here in 1851, and the inn slowly shifted into a new era of tourism.
Smuggling at the Jamaica Inn
The inn’s isolated location made it the perfect meeting place for smugglers. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, contraband such as brandy, tea, and tobacco was secretly stashed within its walls. Sailors and smugglers alike drank in the bar, plotted their trades, and sometimes disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Today, guests can explore Cornwall’s Smuggling Museum, right next door to the inn, where artefacts from this shadowy trade are preserved. The Jamaica Inn proudly showcases this dangerous past, reminding visitors that its foundations were built on more than just stone — but secrecy.
Daphne du Maurier and the Jamaica Inn
The Jamaica Inn’s fame exploded in the 1930s, when celebrated author Daphne du Maurier visited. Caught in mist on the moors, she took shelter at the inn and was captivated by its atmosphere and history.
Inspired by smuggler tales told by the local vicar, du Maurier penned her famous gothic novel Jamaica Inn (1936), cementing the inn’s reputation as a place of romance, danger, and eerie mystery.
Today, the inn even houses the Daphne du Maurier Museum, making it a must-visit for both book lovers and ghost hunters alike.
Ghost Stories and Hauntings of the Jamaica Inn
The Jamaica Inn embraces its haunted reputation, hosting regular paranormal investigation nights. Guests often report phantom footsteps, ghostly whispers, and full-bodied apparitions. Some of the most chilling legends include:
The Ghost of Jack
One of the inn’s most famous spirits is Jack, a sailor and suspected smuggler. Jack vanished one night after drinking half a pint at the bar. His body was later found on Bodmin Moor, and many believe his restless spirit still roams the inn. Bar staff have heard his invisible footsteps approaching the counter, only to find no one there.
The Victorian Children
Room 5 is notorious. Guests report seeing a young blonde-haired girl in the mirror, hearing her laughter, and even finding toys mysteriously moved. Another child spirit, nicknamed Tommy, is often seen in the Smuggling Museum and in guests’ rooms. Playful yet chilling, these spirits add to the inn’s unnerving charm.
Stagecoach Phantoms
Several visitors claim to hear phantom horse hooves and carriage wheels outside the inn at night, as though the Royal Mail coaches are still arriving long after their last stop in 1851.
The Mysterious Man in the Tricorne Hat
In the bar area, guests have seen a man in a cloak and tricorne hat vanish straight through solid doors. Others have heard hushed conversations in what many believe to be the old Cornish language.
Modern Paranormal Investigations
Far from dismissing its supernatural side, Jamaica Inn welcomes ghost hunters. Paranormal groups, YouTubers, and even TV’s Most Haunted have filmed here, with the team calling it “one of the spookiest places we’ve ever investigated.”
If you’re feeling brave, you can book one of the reportedly haunted rooms — especially Rooms 3–6, 23, 27, and 34 — where many guests claim their nights were far from peaceful.
Visiting Jamaica Inn Today
Today, the Jamaica Inn operates as a pub, hotel, museum, and paranormal hotspot. Visitors can:
- Stay overnight in historic (and haunted) guest rooms
- Explore the Smuggling Museum and Daphne du Maurier Museum
- Join a paranormal investigation night with the Jamaica Inn Paranormal Team
- Enjoy traditional Cornish food and ale in the Smugglers Bar
Whether you come for the history, literature, or ghosts, one thing is certain: the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor offers an experience you won’t forget.
Is the Jamaica Inn Really Haunted?
From ghostly footsteps to spectral children, the Jamaica Inn is one of the UK’s most haunted pubs. While skeptics may dismiss the stories as imagination, thousands of visitors leave convinced that something otherworldly lingers within its walls.
So, the question remains — will you dare spend the night at the Jamaica Inn and discover the truth for yourself?
Final Thoughts
The Jamaica Inn, Cornwall is more than just a pub. It’s a living museum of smuggling, folklore, and hauntings. Nestled in the heart of Bodmin Moor, it continues to capture the imagination of travellers, ghost hunters, and history buffs alike.
If you’re planning a trip to Cornwall and want a taste of its darker side, the Jamaica Inn should be at the very top of your haunted bucket list.
Written by Lauren Campbell | Edited by Hauntic.com
