Hermitage Ruins
Our classic one-of-a-kind tour into the haunted forest at night is back for Halloween!
Starts in a gatehouse before abandoning light for darkness. Down the short path to a hidden place with much history and legend. Featuring stories of a doomed coachman, shadows following the tour, experiences over generations and Ancaster’s infamous legend.
Includes rare access to the gatehouse and free parking ($10 value)
(ghosts are real time)
|| UPCOMING TOUR | October dates to be posted by the end of September. Click to Join the Waiting List…
Hermitage Ruins
The ruins of a haunted mansion in the middle of the forest
Only Light
You’ll see before heading into the pitch black woods
Characters
Characters (Dead Dude) in the woods at Halloween
Hermitage Ruins
Sulphur Springs Road MAP
Ancaster (Hamilton), Ontario, Canada
Prices
Adults . . . . . . . $15.00
Kids 13 & under . . . . $12.00
+ HST Tax / No Hidden Fees!
Searching Availability...
group bookings available for this tour
group bookings available for this tour
- 2020 Dates Soon!
- Returns in October!
hermitage ruins info
FAQ & About The Hermitage
Check out our reviews at…
Google Rating
4.6
Based on 58 reviews
The Ghost Walks
4.6
natasha gomes
12:59 27 Aug 20
M F A
21:21 08 Aug 20
I recently attended Hamilton's Dark History Tour. Overall it was great and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. The guide told interesting stories that kept everyone's attention. He made it a lot of fun and interactive, asking questions once in a while to keep us engaged. I like history so it was great for me personally to hear stories, some creepy and others were just accounts of historical events. I would definitely consider going to another Ghost Walks event.
K. W.
18:30 31 Jul 20
We toured Downtown Hamilton, The Dark Trolley, and the Hermitage Ruins this October 2019. What dreadfully fantastic experiences! We can't wait to go again!Everything was absolutely frightful and ghastly with the gory details in each tour more unspeakable and blood curdling than the previous one! We were horrified by the gruesome tales and grisly details of Hamilton's deepest, darkest, not-so-secret past. Daniel's ghoulish recount of terrifying, despicable and nefarious dealings of this city's colourful inhabitants is not for the faint of heart. Take heed, you have been warned! 😉
Pete Bland
22:33 12 Jul 20
I love how the tour is mixed with history and ghost stories. Even being locals you walk through and learn local lore of parts of the city you would never hear otherwise. I highly recommend going on these tours !
Allison
19:22 15 Mar 20
My 3 friends and I went on the Downtown Hamilton walk on Friday, the 13th with Daniel and we had a blast. This was our third walk with The Ghost Walks and it was just as awesome as the first two (the Distillery District in Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake). Each walk is not only entertaining with the ghost stories, but a fabulous history lesson of the town where you are walking. The tour guide we had in Niagara on the Lake was a total trouper, dressed in full Victorian garb (cape, waistcoat, long sleeve shirt and top hat in the middle of a brutal heat wave) and was a fantastic story teller. Daniel, from Hamilton was equally entertaining and informative, telling us great stories and history of the downtown core in Hamilton. Living in the Hamilton/Niagara region, you don"t realize just how much history is here and the Ghost Walk tours have created a fabulous combination of story telling and fact telling with a bit of spookiness thrown in to the mix. For less than the cost of a night at the movies, this is way more entertaining!
Linda Hayes
16:09 21 Jan 20
My daughter and I went on the Hamilton streets walk although it was a cold night the chill was not in the air but in your bones. Great time walking learning history and having a real good time with a great story teller. Will definitely be booking the other walks in Hamilton and area. Everyone should take a ghost walk
Emma Hogeterp
14:29 30 Dec 19
The ghost walk taught me a lot I didn't know, even as a born and raised Hamiltonian. The stories were really compelling, with funny comments here and there. Would highly recommend!
Laura Jean
15:38 03 Nov 19
I have been on multiple tours with ghost walks and it has been amazing every time! Doing on other one next week. I love a good night of friends and ghost stories. Amazing stories history and an amazing tour guide. I very much recommend going
Carole Berthelot
07:37 03 Nov 19
I did the Hamilton downtown ghost walk with Daniel. I truly enjoyed learning some history about Hamilton. Daniel was super knowledgeable and very entertaining. I highly recommend taking this tour.
Shannon Dougan
02:48 29 Oct 19
We had expected to go in to some of the buildings but overall a very interesting and historical walk! Our guild was fun and theatrical and made our walk even better! Thank you Graeme!
Tonya Cartmell
00:57 25 Oct 19
I arranged this with Ghost Walks as a private tour for work. Everyone had a great time on the Trolley Tour. Daniel was very entertaining. The stories were interesting and we learned a lot of Hamilton history. We have done other tours with Ghost Walks and always have a great time.
Boyce Collins
21:57 22 Oct 19
Attended the downtown Hamilton tour. Daniel was a great guide. He was knowledgeable and his enthusiasm for the subject matter made for a really fun night. I will definitely be checking out their other tours.
Catherine McGarrell
17:41 18 Oct 19
The Hamilton Ghost walk was so much fun! Very informative and interesting...we learned so much about the city we have lived in for years. Very reasonably priced and worth every penny. We will definitely be booking another tour! Thank you!!
Trxie
00:11 17 Oct 19
As someone that is new to Hamilton, this was so much more than an evening of ghost stories. Daniel told interesting stories about the history of prohibition, the war of 1812 and local mobsters. Fun evening that I'd recommend to everyone.
Brittany Williams
23:30 14 Oct 19
My husband and I had so much fun on the Dark Trolley tour around The Bay of Hamilton that we are trying to plan another trip before the season ends! The history and ghost stories are so interesting and we loved getting to hear about our neat little city. Can't wait to come again!
Ruth Cordukes
00:05 06 Oct 19
Daniel was a very knowledgeable, entertaining, and skilled guide. What a wonderful time! I saw historic places I never knew existed in Hamilton, and of course the ghost stories did not disappoint! I highly recommend this experience!
Nadine Novak
00:44 05 Oct 19
Great host. Very interesting historical stories. Fun night out
Frank Ryan
22:15 22 Sep 19
Did the haunted tram ride Daniel is a very engaging guide with the greatest macabre sense of humor ,as well he can bring you into the story he is relatingPersonable with no sense of hubris and always keeping the tour on track
Teresa Amberman
14:05 08 Sep 19
Shelley Eves
03:27 01 Sep 19
We love Ghost Walks! Had so much fun on the Dark Trolley Tour, Downtown Tour, and the Hermitage Ruins. It is a great night out and is super informative!
candace stewart-jones
20:16 03 Aug 19
Thought it was well done. very informative. We would definitely go on another.
Adam Yates
17:32 28 Jul 19
I've been on multiple tours with "Ghost Walks" including Niagara-On-The-Lake, Downtown Hamilton, The Hermitage, and the Dark Trolley tour. I've also been on other ghost tours with various other companies, so I have something to compare to.The history is well researched. Daniel and the other guides I've had were all captivating yet not over the top. Compared to other companies' tours, value for your $ is there. Scary wise, the Hermitage is probably the eeriest. All are interesting. Take note that the Dark Trolley tour was mostly regarding the history and less the supernatural. Still interesting the scenery was great. The tram is old and there were some technical difficulties, but Daniel (our guide) made the most of it and it wasn't an issue. Be prepared to sit on wooden benches, not unlike replica trains at amusement parks.From my recollection, all the ones mentioned are wheelchair accessible with maybe the exception of the Hermitage as it may be a challenge because its on grass with uneven ground and gravel trails. The Dark Trolley tour is wheelchair accessible except for the Rocco Perri bunker part of the tour, which is still visible from the tram.Would recommend to anyone interested in local history and/or the paranormal. Romantic? Depends what you're into, but it is a fun thing to do on a night out.
Willow Bug
21:56 27 Jul 19
Loved the Haunted Trolley Tour. Our guide Daniel was amazing. He was knowledgeable, humourous and really knows how to keep the crowd's attention with his storytelling. It kept us captivated. We are definitely booking more tours with this company. It's well worth the drive to Hamilton!!
QI QI
01:30 25 Jul 19
Grace Stockham
02:21 03 Jul 19
My boyfriend and I had a really great time on the downtown walk and definitely plan on getting out to see more tours. Our guide, whose name I unfortunately can’t recall, was SUPER knowledgeable about every site and you could tell that he was very passionate about what he was doing. Even if you aren’t totally sold on the whole ghost vibe, the tour is still great to learn a little bit of history about the buildings around us. I had also booked a tour for a different location and wanted to switch to this location, the customer service was awesome and the booking was switched painlessly.
Liane Ross
19:37 24 Jun 19
Ada Blair
05:13 17 Jun 19
Loved our walk at Hermitage Ruins. Loved all the stories that our ghost guide Geoffrey told us that surround this place. Even though the weather did not cooperate and it rained, it did not dampen our spirits!
Stacie Lee
00:54 17 Jun 19
We went on a ghost walk and had Daniel as our guide. He was fantastic! He was engaged with the group, really knew his history and set the mood well. It was drizzling outside and it definitely added to the mood and made it feel even more creepy. I would highly recommend this tour and we will definitely be going on more in the future. Can’t wait to do one during the fall season. Thank you Daniel!
Jodi Watson
04:44 16 Jun 19
A great combination of history and ghost stories. I've attended two ghost walks so far, The Ruthven and The Hermitage Ruins. The ghost walks are an awesome opportunity to see some unique locations and learn about the history. Would absolutely recommend.
Bailey Willock
03:08 16 Jun 19
Had a great night even with the drizzle the stories were told amazingly we will definitely be checking out some more ghost walks thanks guys !
Joshua Washington
14:37 29 May 19
Such a fun and chilling experience. I was apprehensive but proved completely wrong. Very friendly and kind guides. Will absolutley go again. Keep up the good work you guys!
Chrissie Fandrich
12:08 29 May 19
I have been going on ghost walks for about 15 years. I've gone on the downtown once multiple times because I enjoy it so much! Spooky Steph and the other tour guides do an amazing job of mixing ghost stories with historical information. It's a great way to get out and grow an appreciation for the downtown of Hamilton.
Cheryl Adkins
01:50 16 Apr 19
My husband, myself, and friends of ours went on the walk at the Hermatage this past Sat. It was very well organized, with the e- mailed instructions and directions being very clear and understandable. Dan was an awesome guide...very personable and made the history of the area really fresh and interesting.We can't wait to go on more Ghost Walks!
Michelle Phillips
18:18 13 Apr 19
Really enjoyed the Dark History Tour last night. So much fun being a tourist in our own city and learning about the interesting characters who have shaped what our city looks like today. Also loved the Ghost Trolley last year, and can't wait to check the other walks! Daniel is a great story teller, and really draws you into the stories he shares.
Jennifer Heeringa
16:37 02 Jan 19
Daniel was such a great host for our ghost walk in Hamilton. Having grown up in the city but been away for many years it was so great to hear about some of the history I was not aware of. Daniel is very knowledgeable and makes the walk lots of fun. Would highly recommend his tours.
Mel Mell
14:23 02 Jan 19
Have done almost all of the Ghost Walks venues and can't wait for more. Daniel and his crew are amazing story tellers and really make an enjoyable evening. Love the history!
Movember Lugini
02:14 18 Dec 18
Daniel was a great ghost walk tour guide. I've been living in Hamilton for about six years now and it was refreshing seeing the downtown sites and hearing all the spooky stories. Daniel opened our eyes up to the surrounding architecture and made us search up historic buildings that don't exist anymore. Hope to do more ghost walks soon.
K Doc
17:47 15 Nov 18
I love the history and stories. Daniel and his crew are very entertaining and passionate with the way they tell their tales. The ghost stories aren't jump out and scare you, more of a retelling of the stories from those who have experienced strange and unnatural events. I have been on many tours from several operators and will say Daniel does it the best.
Scott Mitchell
02:35 06 Nov 18
I've done pretty much all of his tours with my dad and the stories and history in the walks provided by the ghost guides is really really good. The ghost guides tell the stories with excitement and passion. Check out some of the walks offered. They're worth the money spent and you'll definitely come away with something to talk about after. If you're in Niagara on the Lake, make sure you stop in at the ghost walks shop.
Natalija Milkova
14:53 05 Nov 18
Shanna Scarr
16:36 31 Oct 18
Very informative and the guide had a lot of historical knowledge of Hamilton! Great for novices. Not particularly spooky though!
Aleksandra Urbanek
13:47 29 Oct 18
Awesome and knowledgeable guide, 4th walk we have done and always have a great time.
Janey Cat
10:09 29 Oct 18
We managed to get a spot- albeit barely. It was a dark cold rainy night which added to the spook and mud factor. The stories were creepy, tour guide was great, and I definitely caught some paranormal stuff on my camera 👻
Dynasty Logins
16:21 26 Oct 18
I took my pathfinder unit on the downtown walk and everyone had a great time!! Definitely would recommend this walk 🙂
Emily Hearn
02:01 23 Oct 18
Stacey
17:05 19 Oct 18
My daughter and I experienced this together for the first time last night. Graham is a fantastic, enthusiastic, storyteller. We enjoyed learning the groovy and ghostly history of our fine city during the tour and will definitely try a different tour that is offered by these folks! It Involved walking quite a bit, dress accordingly!
Marlene Reid
17:02 19 Oct 18
Graham did a great job on the tour. Super interesting facts!
M Bennett
23:24 08 Aug 18
Great ghostly adventures!
Erika Holt
13:34 01 Jul 18
It’s not often my fiancée and I get to do things like the ghost walk. I can tell you neither of us were disappointed. Graham was awesome, I loved that he totally gets into character. He tells the stories really well, and made the evening really enjoyable. One suggestion: since the Hamilton spectator was mentioned a couple times, it would be so neat to have copies of the news reports from some of the stories for your guests to see.
Taylor Partridge
12:27 10 Oct 17
Recently went on a tour of the Scottish Rite, this was my second ghost tour with this group. It was a very pleasant experience and the tour guide Danielle (I believe his name to be) is an absolute genius at story telling. You can really see his passion and knowledge shine through! It was very interesting to hear the stories of the Scottish Rite, it was not my first time in the building- my mother was married there, but this was a completely different experience, the things we got to see, and where we were taken in the house- you cant find this on any other tour but this one. I absolutely would recommend, ages on the tour ranged from about 8-64.
Kevron Caines
21:15 22 Sep 17
There's so much going in oh my
Pyper Willoughby
20:54 18 Sep 17
Cherlyn Cochrane
17:14 19 Aug 16
I've been on many of the Ghost Walk tours, and they are amazing. The organiser and host of these tours is a fantastic story teller, and he is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Hamilton's rich and spooky history. My personal favourite is a tie between the Downtown tour and the Dark Trolley Tour. If you're looking for a way to learn some of the history of Hamilton or Niagara region, you can't go wrong with these guys.
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A focus on masterful storytelling at a reasonable price (with no hidden fees!) We’ve put special attention into respecting the ghost story. A dedication to traditional styles mixed with natural (and interesting) odd history. It’s been our specialty since 2003.
If you have a group of 8 or more people we may be able to provide a discount (depending on night and time of year). To find out Make Contact with us and mention the number of people and desired date of your group.
The Hermitage Ruins
The ruins of an old mansion exist in the historic town of Ancaster (now part of Hamilton). For generations countless thrill-seekers have visited in search of ghosts. Home to the paranormal but also dark ritual. Maybe that’s why the land is cursed!
Cursed Nature
You don’t need to be psychic to feel it.
When walking up the hill towards the ruins. A heaviness weighs down on you. Adults can push these dreadful feelings aside, say it doesn’t exist.
Animals are different, possessing a sixth sense we’ve lost with evolution. On conservation land, but animals stay away from the path and ruins.
The Legend of Lover’s Lane
Maybe it begins with a legend. Known in this region simply as “Lover’s Lane”. So famous, there’s a street named after it…
For the Legend and more, Read our Hermitage Ruins free article
If a time is missing from the Book Now form, it means that tour time is fully booked and unavailable. If the date is missing, it means the entire Ghost Walk is sold out.
Tours are capped at 16-18 people with social distancing and a strong recommendation for masks.
