There Is Something In The Woods

[Venkmans on the case]

When my family and I were members of the National Trust we regularly visited properties across the South. One of our favourite parts of the visits were the walks that you could go on in the grounds or surrounding land. We particularly enjoyed woodland walks. At Arlington Court in North Devon in the 1990's we embarked on the longest walk available at this NT property after having lunch. I always used to wander ahead of my family a little way in the hope of spotting some wildlife.
On the day of this woodland walk it was a fine summer day at the beginning of August. I was following the route map provided by the NT and arrived at a junction of three paths in a small clearing in the woods. While I was standing in the clearing working out which path to take I realized that the birdsong had stopped and it was completely silent. I was also overcome with an intense feeling of dread. The silence was broken by my Mum, Dad and Sister catching me up. "Which path do we take then?" my sister asked. "Well, the route map says we have to take the middle path directly through the woods for the longest route but we can't go that way" I replied. "Why can't we go that way? Are they doing some work along there?" my Dad asked me. "No, that is not the reason." I replied. "We must not go that way. Don't you feel that too?" I asked my family. "Feel what?" my Mum asked. "Dread. Something doesn't feel right about that path. Look into the darkness down that path. Something is not right. I am not going along that path" I replied. "Listen to the woods. The birds have stopped singing" I added. My Family just laughed at me but I refused to walk along the middle path so we took another one back to the starting point. I felt anxious and on edge for the rest of the day until I went to bed. I still have no explanation of why I suddenly felt like I did at that particular location. It is a feeling that I never want to encounter again.

 

[Fanari_Lloyd]

Just came across sone ‘haunted’ woods in the south of Wilts. I was looking for one I‘d read about much closer to where I live but I can’t remember the name as it was years ago. However, this one has witches, roman soldiers and general eeriness.

Grovely Woods

Quote from article.

“Since I love to walk with my dogs and it’s pretty near where I live, I have visited Grovely many times. There is a definite sense of foreboding in these woods, especially when the gloaming descends. My friend and I walked through here one evening from a nearby village.

We managed to get a bit lost on the way but ended up on the Roman road. There were pockets of the wood where we felt someone or something was following behind us. It was definitely an eerie feeling.

I try to be pragmatic about possible paranormal activity. However, while walking, we both noticed how we’d be quite happy, enjoying the beauty of the place, when suddenly the bird song would cease. The feeling of being followed or watched would come over us, causing me to turn around several times. The hairs on the back of my neck would rise and we’d both find ourselves speeding up our pace.

Then, the feeling would disappear, the bird noises restarted and a sense of lightness would return. This happened a couple of times. Both my friend and I agreed we weren’t too keen on the place that late in the evening.

A psychic friend of ours, who doesn’t let others know of her gift, feels there is a sinister presence in pockets of the woods. She refuses to go up there anymore, despite living nearby.“

 

[Eyespy]

Grovely used to have an annual ceremony involving the gathering of oak boughs and chanting. I will have look over weekend and see if its still happening.

 

[Spudrick68]

I have been binge watching a series of the same name on Discovery plus. It features lots of men banging bits of wood on tree trunks, amongst other stuff.

 

[Eyespy]

https://wshc.org.uk/blog/item/oak-apple-day.html

I took part in one of the ceremonies as a youth. IIRC correctly the chant is " Grovely, Grovely and all Grovely" and you strike an Oak bough.

I've not been to the woods for a long time ,remember it as being quite dense and dark.

 

[Marwood]

Just came across sone ‘haunted’ woods in the south of Wilts. I was looking for one I‘d read about much closer to where I live but I can’t remember the name as it was years ago. However, this one has witches, roman soldiers and general eeriness.

Grovely Woods

Quote from article.

We're about half a mile from Grovely woods and it does have it's spooky moments.
When we moved here 11 years ago I discovered the stories about the ghostly poacher and the four sisters. My first walk up to Grovely was a weekday lunchtime in the summer, nobody about just me. There was a breeze and the noise it created through the leaves on the trees was quite loud and that was a little weird to me. I'm no stranger to woods and forests but the atmosphere that day was quite unwelcoming.
Since then I've got used to it and cycled about up there and got lost, heard strange music and just generally enjoyed the place...there was one time I was cycling along the Roman road and could see a figure walking towards my direction some distance away, I saw this figure for a minute or so. I must've looked away for a few seconds and looked for the person again but they were gone... probably a simple explanation but felt spooky at the time.
Great place to visit for a walk or cycle, love that fact that people leave offerings at one of the four sisters (the gnarly trees that apparently grew from where the sisters were buried )

 

[Paul_Exeter]

When my family and I were members of the National Trust we regularly visited properties across the South. One of our favourite parts of the visits were the walks that you could go on in the grounds or surrounding land. We particularly enjoyed woodland walks. At Arlington Court in North Devon in the 1990's we embarked on the longest walk available at this NT property after having lunch. I always used to wander ahead of my family a little way in the hope of spotting some wildlife.
On the day of this woodland walk it was a fine summer day at the beginning of August. I was following the route map provided by the NT and arrived at a junction of three paths in a small clearing in the woods. While I was standing in the clearing working out which path to take I realized that the birdsong had stopped and it was completely silent. I was also overcome with an intense feeling of dread. The silence was broken by my Mum, Dad and Sister catching me up. "Which path do we take then?" my sister asked. "Well, the route map says we have to take the middle path directly through the woods for the longest route but we can't go that way" I replied. "Why can't we go that way? Are they doing some work along there?" my Dad asked me. "No, that is not the reason." I replied. "We must not go that way. Don't you feel that too?" I asked my family. "Feel what?" my Mum asked. "Dread. Something doesn't feel right about that path. Look into the darkness down that path. Something is not right. I am not going along that path" I replied. "Listen to the woods. The birds have stopped singing" I added. My Family just laughed at me but I refused to walk along the middle path so we took another one back to the starting point. I felt anxious and on edge for the rest of the day until I went to bed. I still have no explanation of why I suddenly felt like I did at that particular location. It is a feeling that I never want to encounter again.

Found an Arlington Court woods ghost sighting on another forum:

"I was out on a walk with my wife and three young children last summer. This is at the old lake which is on the 1.5 mile circular walk away from the house. I was looking at the children when I momentarily glanced away towards the lake. I then in a split second saw a young woman, early 20s with blonde hair wearing a long pale blue dress looking out over the lake. Then she was gone. I looked back towards my wife who had a strange, surprised expression on her face. I said "wow, did you see that?" To which she replied "yes"."

Full story here:

https://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=23446

 

[Venkmans on the case]

Found an Arlington Court woods ghost sighting on another forum:

"I was out on a walk with my wife and three young children last summer. This is at the old lake which is on the 1.5 mile circular walk away from the house. I was looking at the children when I momentarily glanced away towards the lake. I then in a split second saw a young woman, early 20s with blonde hair wearing a long pale blue dress looking out over the lake. Then she was gone. I looked back towards my wife who had a strange, surprised expression on her face. I said "wow, did you see that?" To which she replied "yes"."

Full story here:

https://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=23446

Great find. Definitely something about the place that made me feel uneasy.