Legend has it that a monk who resided at Dale Abbey, located on the Derbyshire border, ended his life in the nearby woodland, now known as Hermit’s Wood. According to locals, he has haunted the location ever since.
Nowadays, inside the Hermit's Wood, you’ll also find a creepy looking cave that was supposedly carved out by a Derby baker after being called by God to live and preach there in the early 10th century. By 1150, the baker moved down the hill and built a chapel with living accommodation, forming the first section of Dale Abbey. Before it was dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII in 1538, monks visited the abbey, which was deemed to be a place of pilgrimage. It’s assumed that this is where the monk, who later took his own life, had come from.
Local folklore details that he ended his life in the same woodland as the Hermitage (the caves), and now, a number of visitors claim to have witnessed a cloaked apparition wandering the forest. Many have also claimed to experience unusual encounters while visiting Hermit's Wood, such as an unusual change in atmosphere, hearing unexplained banging noises within close proximity, or the feeling of being watched by a strange, unwelcoming presence.
Would you dare to wander around these weird and wonderful woodlands? You can visit Dale Abbey and Hermit’s Wood for free, and perhaps explore the local countryside while you’re at it. For more spooky things to do, check out my spooky day guides by clicking here, or read more blogs like this by clicking here.