Burial Grounds return for Scarefest 2025… but what can you expect from this chilling free-walkthrough attraction? If you’re heading to Alton Towers Scarefest 2025, this is one eerie experience you won’t want to miss.
🌙 A Free Attraction Next to the Wicker Man
Burial Grounds is a free attraction during Scarefest located right beside the legendary Wicker Man. The zone is themed around the pagan-inspired ride, taking you deep into the mysterious culture of the Beornen and their unsettling ritual rites. As with the Wicker Man, expect towering wooden structures and cloth flags adorned with the ancient Beornen language, fluttering like ominous whispers in the wind.
This scare zone isn’t just a quick walkthrough—it’s a long, immersive trail that winds through shadowed paths and flickering firelight. Best of all? You don’t need to pay extra—it’s completely free with your park entry.
🔥 A Nod to The Welcoming – With a Fiery Twist
Longtime Scarefest fans will love that Burial Grounds is a welcome nod back to The Welcoming—a fan-favourite maze from years past. For many, The Welcoming was their first taste of true terror at Alton Towers, and Burial Grounds captures that same primal energy but with new surprises.
You’ll encounter live actors known as the “Unchosen”, rejectors of modern society who’ve embraced terrifying primal instincts. Their performances are so convincing that some visitors claim the scares here rival those in the premium mazes.
And yes—there’s real fire, an element that instantly elevates the atmosphere and makes the rituals feel dangerously real.
🧟 What Makes Burial Grounds So Unique
- Live Actors: The scare zone’s open pathways are filled with live actors for unexpected jump scares.
- A free-flowing design: Unlike a traditional maze, you can linger—or rush—through as you please, making each visit unique.
- Perfect timing: We went through as the sun set, but after dark? The flickering flames and shadows make Burial Grounds feel like an entirely different world.
- Photo opportunities: Between the flags, torches, and Wicker Man looming nearby, this is an Instagram-worthy stop—if you dare pull out your phone!
👻 Pro Tips for Braving Burial Grounds
- Visit twice—once at dusk and once after nightfall. The vibe transforms completely when darkness cloaks the trees.
- Stick close to your friends—the Unchosen love to isolate their prey.
- Don’t underestimate the scares—even though it’s free, Burial Grounds easily competes with the paid mazes in terms of actor energy and atmosphere.
- Soak in the details—look for hidden Beornen symbols and relics that tie the lore back to the Wicker Man ride.
🎃 Final Thoughts
Burial Grounds at Alton Towers Scarefest 2025 is more than a scare zone—it’s a living, breathing extension of Wicker Man’s mythos. It’s free, it’s fiery, and it’s dripping with lore that will thrill hardcore Scarefest fans and first-timers alike.
Whether you’re a long-time visitor who remembers The Welcoming or a newcomer seeking a hauntingly good time, Burial Grounds proves that the best scares don’t always come with an upcharge. Step beyond the torches, meet the Unchosen, and discover why this pagan world refuses to stay buried.
Buy your Alton Towers Scarefest Tickets today on the official Alton Towers Website
