The Phantom Army of Souter Fell

In 1743, on a fine summer's evening two people out walking observed an unusual sight on Souterfell.

It resembled the figure of a man with a dog in pursuit of horses, running at an amazing pace, till they got out of sight at the other end of the fell.

Souter Fell

On the following morning, the two men climbed the mountain again, fully expecting to find the man dead, and to pick up some of the horses shoes that they thought must have been cast aside while they were galloping at such a furious rate. However no traces of man or horse could be found; indeed the place was so extremely steep that a horse could scarcely travel on it at all.

On the 23rd of June 1744, at about seven o'clock in the evening, another strange phenomenon was seen. This time troops of horsemen were seen riding on the side of Souterfell, in close ranks, and at a brisk pace. The equestrian figures became visible at a place called Knott, and advanced in regular troops along the side of the fell, till they came opposite Blake hills, and passed over the mountain. They moved at a regular swift walk, and continued to be seen for upwards of two hours, only the approach of darkness preventing them from being visible. Many troops were seen in succession, and frequently the last but one in a troop quitted his position, galloped to the front, and took up the same pace with the rest.

Over two dozen witnesses allegedly saw these ghostly riders.

Over the centuries many other sightings of soldiers on horseback have been talked about in homes and hostelries throughout Cumberland. Some listeners believing these stories, others perhaps sceptical until they’re out walking on Souterfell and hear the sound of horses’ hooves rumbling by!