Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness

 A Bigger, Darker and More Twisted Experience Than Ever Before.

This Halloween, North Devon’s Watermouth Castle invites fear-seekers and horror fans to Descend into Darkness - an immersive and utterly bone-chilling scare event running on selected nights from 17^th October to 1^st November 2025. Prepare for a night of terrifying thrills and teeth-chattering chills...

With five immersive zones filled with live actors, shocking special effects and pitch-black terror, guests will navigate a nightmare world of gore, suspense and hair-raising encounters. This year, the experience is bigger, darker and more twisted than ever before.

Two New Scare Zones for 2025

Two brand-new scare zones join the line-up this year - Bad Barnyard and The Z Factor.         

• Bad Barnyard - Nightmare-inducing farmyard creatures lurk in the shadows, step carefully as every creak, squeak and squeal is a nightmare waiting to consume you.

• The Z-Factor - An outbreak has brought the undead back to life and they’re hungry for more than just your brains. Can you make it to the other side?

These brand-new horrors join three returning fan favourites:

• Cursed Forest – Deep in the shadowed woods, ancient fears awaken. Tread carefully through the Cursed Forest where whispers echo through the trees as unseen horrors close in around you.

• The Haunted Castle – Foolish mortals, step into a twisted nightmare that only the bravest of souls will escape.

• Carnival of Clowns – Roll up, roll up - a feral fairground freak show of twisted laughter and manic menace has made its blood-curdling return.

When the sun goes down and darkness cloaks the castle, Watermouth Castle transforms into a playground of horror. This event is not for the faint-hearted: children under 12 are not permitted, and those aged 12–16 must be accompanied by an adult. Expect jump scares, gore, total darkness and intense live performances designed to push you to your limits.

Enter if you dare... With trembling terrors lurking around every corner, only the bravest can make it through Watermouth Castle’s blood-chilling scare event, Descend Into Darkness. Whether you’re a spooky season regular or a Halloween newcomer, Watermouth Castle will leave you with haunting memories and spine-tingling tales for years to come.

Don’t miss out on Devon’s ultimate Halloween event. Rally your crew, summon your courage and embrace the darkness at Watermouth Castle’s Descend Into Darkness.

Too Scared for Descend Into Darkness? Try Our Daytime Spooktacular Family Fun

Families can still get into the Halloween spirit at Watermouth Castle this Halloween with their daytime spooky family fun event, running daily from 25^th October to 2^nd November 2025, 10:00am to 4:00pm. Packed with fang-tastic fun for all ages, follow a spooky Halloween Trail, hunt for mischievous gnomes and collect magical crystals in the gardens. With all activities included in admission, it’s the perfect way to enjoy a spell of spooky fun without the blood-curdling screams.

Extend Your Visit with a Short Break

Escape the playground of horror and extend your stay in Watermouth Castle’s on-site accommodation. Book a spooky short break and spend the night inside the castle itself.

Watermouth Castle is open until 1^st November 2025. Tickets start from £30pp when booked in advance online. For more information and to book, visit: www.watermouthcastle.com/events/descend-into-

 Watermouth Castle Unleashes Descend Into Darkness - Its Most Terrifying Halloween Yet Featuring Brand-New Frights

 

About Watermouth Castle.

Watermouth Castle’s first-ever immersive scare attraction: ‘Descend into Darkness’

A haunted castle with a twisted maze of horrors … This October, be first to experience Watermouth Castle’s first-ever immersive scare attraction: ‘Descend into Darkness’

Get ready to be spooked! Watermouth Castle, located in North Devon, is hosting a hair-raising Halloween scare event, promising thrills and chills for all those who love a good fright.

With event dates set for October 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and November 1 and 2, brace yourself for bone-chilling attractions, live scare actors, and heart-pounding themed areas. This event is not for the faint of heart! Join us if you dare for a night of spine-tingling fun, and unforgettable scares. 

Do you dare to come face-to-face with terror…?

The castle’s multiple different immersive scare zones include:

• Cursed Forest: a bone-chilling woodland trail of howling wolves, clanking chains, and hanging trees
• Carnival of Clowns: this twisted fairground is a freakshow of horrifying jokers, bloody face paint and maniacal laughter…
• The Mad Maze: beware; a gang of the undead scarecrows have to come to life – and now they wander the twisted paths of the castle’s maze, looking for their next victim… you!
• Voodoo Valley: journey down the river of restless spirits; just make sure you don’t become yet another one of the lost souls trapped on its waters…
• The Haunted Castle: when the castle doors slam closed, you’ll find yourself trapped in a hellscape of cobwebs, cursed animatronics, and haunted robots. And only the bravest will dare to complete their journey with a descent into the bowels of the castle itself – the demented dungeon…

 Run by Catfish Productions, in partnership with Watermouth Castle.

The experience lasts approximately one hour

For ticket prices and early bird rates visit www.watermouthcastle.com

 

 Not suitable for under 12s or wheelchair users. Under 16s must have an accompanying adult.

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WATERMOUTH CASTLE MEDIA RELEASE

About Watermouth Castle 

Devon’s largest adventure play village - Hobbledown Bay – is now open!

The Hobblers have landed in Devon… and brought with them a whole world of fun!

Watermouth Castle is thrilled to announce the official opening of its brand new adventure play village, Hobbledown Bay.

Local schools were invited to be the first to experience the magic of the new attraction - the largest outdoor play village in Devon.

Nestled within the Castle grounds, Hobbledown Bay marks the beginning of a thrilling new chapter for the family theme park.

The playground features role play towers, castles, huts, bridges, slides nets and anunique water pillow. Kids can immerse themselves in endless hours of exploration in the Pixie Roleplay Village and the interactive Mining Village.

Hobbledown and the Escapade Group
Watermouth Castle was acquired by the Escapade Group in early 2023, and Hobbledown Bay is just one part of a £1.2 million investment into the site.

The new area marks the arrival of the Hobbledown style of play village to Devon.

With two other existing sites located in Surrey and London, the Hobbledown family is defined by its groundbreaking style of innovative, explorative play where imagination comes to life.

A thrilling addition
Nick de Candole, founder of the Escapade Group, said: "We couldn't be more excited to unveil Hobbledown Bay. It's a thrilling addition that promises to spark wonder and adventure for all our visitors, young and old alike.

Inviting our affiliated schools to be the first to explore this magical realm is just the beginning of the unforgettable memories we hope to create here. Come and join us as we embark on this exciting journey together."

The Tides of Watermouth: A Children’s Fantasy Novel
Also new for 2024 is The Tides of Watermouth – a beautifully illustrated tie-in storybook telling the tale of how the Hobblers came to Devon.

Go back in time to 1912, and meet Edith Penderford: the only daughter of kooky Professor P. Penderford, a daydreamer, and friend to the fairies. When her smuggler friend Littlejohn arrives in Watermouth Harbour with a mysterious package, she’s about to be thrust into a world of magic and adventure. A tale of fairies, Hobblers, sailboats, smugglers, forest spirits, and so much more…

Other Improvements to the Castle
Other new additions to the site include the Fairy Museum, opened in March 2024, which invites guests to uncover the secret magical history of Watermouth Castle. This fictional museum is a wonderland of leaves, crystals, spyglasses, potions, mushrooms, mirrors, and much more. Step into a world where magic is real, pixies scurry among the shelves, and fairies flutter overhead.

Alongside the new play areas, visitors can also look forward to exploring the four newly-renovated castle apartments. The Big River ride has also been transformed with new animatronics and boats.

Wider landscaping works including the installation of bird and bat boxes and the planting of trees will further enhance the Castle's natural beauty and wildlife habitat.

Jack & Adrinna cutting the ribbon at the official opening at Hobbedown Bay,

Pupils from Berrynarbor & West Down Primary Schools at the official opening of Hobbledown Bay on the 22nd May 2024

Media Release Watermouth Castle 23rd May 2024