Just a short train ride from Charing Cross or an hour’s drive from south east London in Kent lies the quaint village of Pluckley.
The village was previously named as “the most haunted village in England” by Guinness World Records in 1989, with an alleged twelve resident ghosts.
The village was previously named as “the most haunted village in England” by Guinness World Records in 1989.(Image: Peter Smythe/Flickr)
Among them is the ghost of the Highwayman of Fright Corner, which legend says was ambushed and run through with a sword, who is said to appear by moonlight around the Pinnock.
Another ghostly sighting is that of Lady of Rose Court, who poisoned herself over a tragic love affair and has been sighted wandering the village.
But one of the village’s most famous haunted sights is the Screaming Woods at Dering, where ghostly cries are said to echo through the trees after dark.
Visitors to the village have also reported a phantom coach rattling down the lanes, a spectral schoolmaster swinging in Dicky Buss’s Lane, and a mysterious white dog in the churchyard of St Nicholas’ Church.
But some of Pluckley’s local pubs – The Black Horse Inn and The Dering Arms – are also believed to be haunted, with the first being a 15th-century hostelry that has long been a focal point for ghost stories, and the latter being a former Victorian hunting lodge where the spirit of a 19th century woman is said to haunt the pub.
But even if you’re not a believer of the paranormal, Pluckley is still well worth a visit no matter what time of year, with its history and charming houses, and it famously made an appearance in the ITV series The Darling Buds of May.
Set within the Wealden countryside, the village is also within a prime location to explore the surrounding countryside and take in the rolling views.
One of the most notable is the Greensand Way, a long-distance path that passes through the village on its way from Pluckley to Ashford if you want to explore more of the countryside.
At just over 10 miles, this scenic route begins in pastures near the village before joining the main trail, leading walkers through Little Chart and past wooded commons, and the grand Godinton Park Estate before finishing in the centre of Ashford.
For a shorter and more relaxed outing, the Pluckley Circular Walk is a good option for a more gentle route made famous by author H.E. Bates.
