We’re lucky in Greater Manchester that there are some incredible country walks right on our doorstep. Yet there’s one which stands out from the rest, especially at this time of year with Halloween fast approaching.
An hour’s drive from Manchester, Pendle Hill dominates the Lancashire countryside and can be seen from miles around. It’s more than just an impressive feature in the landscape though - it’s reputedly haunted.
The area is known for the Pendle witch trials in 1612, one of the most famous trials in England which saw ten people executed for witchcraft. Time Out magazine listed Pendle Hill among the ten most haunted places in the UK.
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The spirits of those who were killed are said to haunt the hill, and even if you don’t believe in the supernatural it certainly has a spooky atmosphere. Nearby villages have embraced the area’s history and there’s various witch-themed details to discover, including the statue of Alice Nutter in the village of Roughlee, one of those who was hanged for witchcraft.
Ghost hunters visited Pendle Hill in 2004 for the TV show Most Haunted. Presenter Yvette Fielding said that it was one of the places which stuck out for her, and had a particularly creepy supernatural experience there where she heard strange noises and saw screws coming loose from a table.
Ghostly goings-on aside, Pendle Hill offers breath-taking views from the summit and overlooks the stunning Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There’s a five mile circular walk which takes you from the village of Barley to the hill’s summit, passing reservoirs, grassy fields and moorland along the way.
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