“We need not think alike to love alike.” – Francis David
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I’ve heard the stories. I even wrote about the infamous Greenwich Duppy/Ghost said to haunt the Holywell area, never imagining I’d have my own experience with the supernatural. But on my most recent trip, I did—and it’s a story I’ll never forget.
The Plan: Camping Midweek at Holywell
Jess and I had always talked about camping at Holywell during the week when it’s less crowded. So, I decided to go and invited my friend Bobo, who had never camped before. He was excited and said yes, so off we went, leaving for Holywell at around 8:05 PM on a Tuesday. This would be my first time camping overnight and cooking at Holywell.
Tension in the Car
As we left Newcastle, I told Bobo not to pick up any passengers. I recalled a previous trip when a driver picked up a mysterious woman, and by the time we reached her stop, everyone in the bus realised she was not present. Creepy, right? Bobo agreed, and we continued peacefully—until he took off his seatbelt. I asked him to put it back on. He resisted, and we got into a heated argument. Eventually, he complied, but it left both of us upset for the rest of the drive. We arrived at Holywell in complete darkness. Still not speaking, we parked and made our way to the campsite. I began setting up the tent, still mad that our trip had taken such a rocky turn. Eventually, he offered to help, but I was too upset to engage properly.
Ghost/Duppy Love White Rice?
Dinner was curry shrimp and rice. I cooked the rice first, and something strange happened: the rice rose and overflowed from the pot. I thought I just used a small pot, but everyone I told the story to said that spirits—or “duppies”—love white rice and may have caused it. I brushed it off but couldn’t ignore the weird vibe in the air.
Dinner and Duppy Vibes
I wanted this trip to be perfect, but the energy was off. I couldn’t shake the anger, and I couldn’t understand why. It felt... unnatural. While I sat watching the city lights, trying to enjoy the moment, Bobo asked if I had heard anything. I hadn’t. He began recording strange sounds—nothing distinct, just the distant sounds of animals. He didn’t tell me until later what he thought he was hearing. He wandered up to the gazebo alone, then returned, saying his gum was hurting. I ignored him, still mad. But when he kept complaining, I finally snapped and cursed him out. I regretted it instantly, but I couldn’t stop myself. I told myself this trip was a waste of time and that I’d return to Holywell with people who truly loved and appreciated the outdoors.
The Footsteps
Later, while I lay in the tent, I heard footsteps circling around me. I thought it was Bobo—until they started running around the tent. My heart raced, but I stayed calm. Eventually, the noise faded. Then Bobo returned, saying he was going to sleep in the tent. But he couldn’t sleep either. I suggested we go home. He refused. I packed everything up, determined not to spend the rest of the night in fear and frustration. As I cooked the remaining food, I started hearing muffled voices in the distance. Though I couldn’t make out what they were saying, it sounded like a full conversation—even though we were alone.
After a few bites, I tossed the rest of the food away—frustrated and disappointed. I had spent a lot of money preparing that dish, hoping to savor it under the glow of city lights, accompanied by the soft hum of insects in the distance.
Things Got Even Weirder
Bobo eventually agreed to leave. When we reached the car, we discovered the tires were low on air. He filled them, and we made our way down the mountain. As we reached the gate, Bobo stopped to take a picture. My phone was dead, so I put it to charge. Suddenly, we were best friends again, laughing and talking like nothing had happened. Strange, right?
As we waited, we both heard people talking nearby. I asked him if he heard it too—he said yes. But it was almost 2:00 AM. Who would be walking around at that hour? Yet, no one passed us. My phone died again, so I used Bobo’s phone to take the final pictures.
Duppy, Mi Know Yuh Deh Yah
On our way down, Bobo stuck his head out the window and shouted, “Duppy, mi know yuh deh yah!” I was livid. I told him he had no respect for the dead and that spirits can still harm us. He apologized—and I made him apologize to the duppies too.
We started reflecting on the night. I told him about the footsteps around my tent, and he said he had heard them too, both while at the gazebo and again while in the car. He even said he thought they took the air out of the tires. He heard phantom cars driving in when we were the only ones there. He had wanted to take photos, yes—but also to try and capture the ghost. As we left Newcastle, he claimed to have seen a ghost, but I saw nothing. A part of me wished I had, especially since I missed my chance to glimpse the legendary Greenwich Duppy/Ghost.
The Ghost in the Photo
Days later, I was scrolling through the photos and I found one that looked like a ghost. I couldn’t believe I missed it before. I stared at it, stunned.We became convinced that the Duppies/Ghost were the reason we got so mad at each other, and why our energy shifted so suddenly. But as soon as we left the park, the anger vanished.
All the photos taken on Bob’s phone had mysteriously vanished. We had carefully reviewed each one after capturing them, so we knew for certain they were taken. The shock hit us hard when we discovered not a single photo remained — as if they had been erased by the wind.
Have you ever experienced something unexplainable at Holywell? Have you seen the Greenwich Duppy or had your ghost encounter? Let me know in the comments below—I’d love to hear your story.
Until the next (possibly haunted) adventure,
Nature’s Sweet Escapes
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