Explore countryside and woodland
Get closer to nature and explore hundreds of outdoor places. We've got miles of hillsides and woodland waiting to be discovered.
Haunted forests and scary woods
Cracking twigs, branches catching in your hair and creeping tendrils of mist swirling around your ankles – there’s no doubt that woods can be scary places sometimes. Feeling brave? Venture into the depths of the spookiest woods in our care to uncover historical horrors and spine-chilling legends.
- Blickling Great Wood, Norfolk
- The eeriest route through the woodlands at Blickling winds through the Great Wood to the Mausoleum, built in 1793 to commemorate the 2nd Earl of Buckingham. Blickling was the ancestral home of the Boleyn family, and Anne Boleyn's father, Sir Thomas, is said to haunt the woodlands and grounds. He's supposedly cursed for failing to stop Henry VIII from executing both Anne and her brother. Anne is reported to appear here every 19 May, on the anniversary of her execution.Visit Blickling's Great Wood
- Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punchbowl, Surrey
- A brutal murder took place at Hindhead Commons in 1786. On his journey from London to Portsmouth docks, a sailor was killed by three men he'd befriended in a local pub. Make your way through the woodland and up to the summit at Gibbet Hill, where you can find the stone that marks the spot of his untimely death.Visit Hindhead Commons
- Lydford Gorge, Devon
- Tucked away on the edge of Dartmoor, the ancient wooded Lydford gorge is full of myths and mysteries. Follow the path to Whitelady Waterfall, named for the ghostly figure that is said to appear nearby. If that's not scary enough, you can imagine that you're back in the 16th century when a notorious outlaw band called the Gubbins were alleged to have made their home here.Visit Lydford Gorge
- Rowallane Garden, County Down
- Become lost in time when you investigate the folklore in the old wood at Rowallane Garden. It's been suggested that fairies make their home among the trees, which is a familiar part of the local folklore here. Connect with nature and see if you can spot evidence of supernatural goings-on.Visit Rowallane Garden
- Wenlock Edge, Shropshire
- Creeping through the gnarled and twisted tree trunks at Wenlock Edge, it’s easy to imagine that you might come across the ghost of Ippikin, a 13th-century highwayman who made his home in the woods. Or maybe you’ll meet Major Smallman, who galloped his horse off the Edge to escape capture during the English Civil War. He survived the 200-foot drop, but his spirit is said to have returned here after he died.Visit Wenlock Edge
- St Mary's Vale, Monmouthshire
- Walk under the woodland canopy of St Mary’s Vale and you'll catch the occasional glimpse of Sugar Loaf mountain looming high above you. The whole place has an air of mystery about it, especially in autumn when the twisted tree trunks emerge out of the mist, and you'll only hear the Nant Iago stream and bare branches creaking. According to local legend, this is a frequent haunt of Jack O’Kent the Giant, so be careful how you go.Visit St Mary's Vale
- Maidenhead Thicket, Berkshire
- During the 17th and 18th centuries, the stretch of the Bath Road that ran through Maidenhead Thicket was notorious for the number of highwaymen who patrolled it. The vegetation allowed them to spring from the shadows, rob unwary travellers and then melt back into the darkness. One such highwayman who operated in the Thicket was Captain James Hind – among his many famous exploits was a failed robbery of Oliver Cromwell and his seven bodyguards.Visit Maidenhead Thicket
You might also be interested in
Article
Enchanted forests to visit with the family
Looking for magical days out with the family? Discover our best enchanted forests where children can let their imaginations roam.
Article
Visit our nature reserves
The National Trust looks after some of the UK's most important nature reserves, and in doing so cares for a rich and diverse array of wildlife and plantlife. Find out more about these special places and how to visit them.
Article
Places to find priest holes
Discover the Tudor places in our care where you'll find priest holes – spaces where priests could hide and stay safe during times of persecution.
Article
Places to walk inspired by myths and legends
Discover tales of treasure guarded by dragons and mischievous imps that lead travellers astray at these places you can go for a walk selected for their links to local myths and legends.
Activity
Activity
Top spots for stargazing
The open night skies in the countryside mean you’ll see thousands of sparkling stars and planets. Take a look at our top spots for stargazing.