Saddleback Fell, better known as Blencathra Mountain, is a prominent feature in the English Lake District, with a rich folklore history. One of the most famed tales from this area concerns the supernatural; the haunting of Blencathra by a figure known as the ‘Cursed Phantom’. This chilling ghost story dates back to the 1500s and has been whispered from generation to generation. According to the tale, the Cursed Phantom was once a shepherd named Thomas, who lived in a humble dwelling at the foot of the mountain. He was a kind-hearted soul, but extremely lonely. Desperate for companionship, Thomas made a pact with a strange dark figure he met on the lonely fell one stormy night, selling his soul for the promise of a wife.However, his new bride was a malevolent spirit. She dominated him, causing misery and misfortune to anyone who crossed their path. Eventually, their neighbouring villagers, scarred by relentless misfortunes, discovered the unnatural nature of Thomas’s wife and her origins. They exorcised the spirit, but as vengeance, she cursed Thomas, transforming him into an unsettled phantom, forced to wander the fells for eternity.To this day, it is said that when the mist hangs heavily over Blencathra and the wind moans through its crags, the forlorn figure of the ‘Cursed Phantom’ can be seen wandering forlornly. Although mournful and tragic, the phantom is said to cause no harm. His endless wandering is a rueful reminder of desperate loneliness and the dangers of bargaining with the supernatural. The story serves as a warning and adds an eeriness to the already stunning and dramatic landscape of Blencathra Mountain.So, whenever you are anywhere near Saddleback Fell, keep an eye out. You might just catch a glimpse of the ghostly shepherd, still doomed to wander the fell endless centuries after he made his disastrous deal.