St Catherine’s Island, a small tidal island off the coast of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales, has a rich history dating back centuries. The island’s most prominent feature is the 19th-century Palmerston Fort, built in the 1870s as part of Britain’s coastal defenses. The fort served various purposes over the years, including as a private residence and a zoo, before falling into disrepair.

The island’s isolated nature and abandoned structures have given rise to numerous ghost stories and reported paranormal encounters. Visitors and former staff members have described experiencing unexplained phenomena within the fort’s dark corridors and chambers. Some have reported hearing disembodied footsteps echoing through the empty rooms, while others claim to have seen shadowy figures moving in their peripheral vision.

One of the most frequently reported apparitions is that of a Victorian-era soldier, believed to be a sentry who once guarded the fort. Witnesses describe seeing him patrolling the ramparts or standing at attention near the entrance. Another commonly reported ghostly presence is that of a young woman in period dress, often seen gazing out to sea from the fort’s upper levels.

Several visitors have reported feeling sudden cold spots and experiencing an overwhelming sense of unease in certain areas of the fort, particularly in the underground tunnels and storage rooms. Some have even claimed to hear muffled voices and whispers when no one else was present. The island’s rich history of military use, combined with its periods of abandonment, has contributed to its reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity.