Halloween is nearly here. the night where ghosts come alive and spooky ghouls lurk around every corner — if you believe in that sort of thing, of course. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, a walk through the forest at dusk might have you thinking maybe there’s something lurking in the shadows, especially if you take a wander through some of the UK’s most haunted woodlands.
Holiday letting specialist holidaycottages.co.uk has shared some of the eeriest trails around the UK this Halloween. From white-robed ladies to phantom carriages and even a figure of the ill-fated wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, these forest walks are sure to get the blood pumping.
Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire
This ancient forest was once a royal woodland, and its remote paths are littered with ghost stories dating back to the 1500s. One of the most famous is the legend of Amy Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who died in 1560 under mysterious circumstances. According to local myth, her ghost appeared to the Earl and cursed him to die within 10 days — and he did. Now, the forest is haunted by tales of phantom carriages being heard along the paths and mysterious hidden ruins tucked among the trees. If you’re feeling brave, you can take one of the many paths through the wood.
One is the Charlbury Circular (8.8 miles), which starts from Charlbury station and takes you through woodland and farmland. The Leafield Circular (5.5 miles) offers a quieter route through Blindwell Wood and the surrounding countryside.
Blickling Great Wood, Norfolk
This woodland is famously haunted by the ghost of Anne Boleyn. According to legend, she was born nearby at Blickling Hall before her untimely end at the hands of her husband. Centuries later, it’s said that every year on the anniversary of her execution (May 19), her ghostly form is drawn through the wood in a carriage pulled by headless horses. Her spectre sits primly with her severed head resting in her lap. Alongside this ghost, the woods are also said to be haunted by her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, who is cursed to ride through Norfolk for eternity as penance for his betrayal of her.
Visitors to this spooky forest can explore several walking trails that wind across the estate, including the Blickling Estate Walk (4.5 miles), which passes through the Great Wood and by landmarks like the Mausoleum, a striking stone pyramid deep in the trees.
Lydford Gorge, Devon
Not only is this the deepest gorge in the South West, but it’s also deeply mired in legend. Its shadowed woods and roaring river open it up to plenty of local folklore. One such legend is so famous that it’s even had a waterfall named for it. This is Whitelady Waterfall, named after the white robed figure often seen there. There’s also the Devil’s Cauldron, a swirling whirlpool where the Devil is said to lurk and drag his unsuspecting victims beneath the black water. The gorge also has a dark past; nearby Lydford village was once home to a harsh medieval prison known for its brutal treatment of inmates.
Paths on the trail are well-marked, and there are information boards along the way explaining both the natural features and the spooky legends tied to the area. If you want to walk the full gorge, the circular route is three miles and will take you past both the Devil’s Cauldron and Whitelady Waterfall.
