KENTSTAYCATION
HALLOWEEN HIDEAWAYS CONT .
For those with older children , Fort Amherst ( www . fortamherst . com ) in Chatham are hosting their annual Halloween Horrors event ( www . halloweenhorrors . co . uk ) as well as their year-round ‘ Spooky Tours ’. Britain ’ s biggest Napoleonic fortress , originally built to defend Medway from a land-based attack , Fort Amherst is still equipped with nearly two miles of ramparts , barracks , gun positions and underground works which made it a formidable obstacle to any threatening invaders . Standing the test of time with the help of restoration work , visitors can discover the gripping history of the fort which is free to visit . With thousands of feet walking its grounds for almost 300 years : ‘ birth , death and the dread of war ; love , laughter and health ; illness , fear and sorrow : all have left their imprint through the ages .’ Fascinated individuals can book a Spooky Fort Tour complete with an experienced guide and ghost-hunting equipment , and those wanting a more theatrical experience can test their courage at the Halloween Horrors event , which offers three scare experiences to entice the brave .
All ages can enjoy a mysterious day out in the ancient market town of Faversham . Quirky beamed houses bulge out into the pretty streets that echo with stories begging to be told and today , with the help of Visit Swale , they can be . The Faversham Mystery Treasure Trail ( www . visit-swale . co . uk / attractions / the-faversham-mystery-treasure-trail ) is a captivating challenge that combines mindtwisting clues and fascinating stories for anyone with a sense of adventure . Crack the clues along the two-mile self-guided trail to unlock incredible stories from the past and solve the mystery at the end . This includes the shocking tale of Thomas Arden ( 1508 – 1550 ) who was Mayor of Faversham . He was murdered by his wife , Alice , and her lover , Richard Moseby , which later inspired the Elizabethan play , Arden of Faversham . Visitors to the town can still see the house in which he lived , and died , standing in the main street with a plaque to document the event .
Another Kent favourite for families is Leeds Castle ( www . leeds-castle . com ) where spooky adventures also await this October half-term . With hair-raising and eerily exciting activities for you and your little ones throughout the grounds , Leeds Castle promises a magical Halloween day out for families this year . After a day full of fantastic frights and admiring the castle ’ s mesmerising moat and beautiful architecture , visit the nearby Ringlestone Inn ( www . theringlestone . co . uk ), a beautiful Grade II listed building dating back to 1533 originally used as a hospice for monks . Now a country pub and restaurant offering seasonal menus crafted using artisan methods of whole carcass butchery , dry curing , smoking and preserving , a visit to the Ringlestone will be just as delicious as it is interesting . The inn ' s long-history has resulted in a number of reports of supposed paranormal and supernatural activity , which includes sightings of apparitions disappearing through bricked-up doorways , an elderly couple drinking near the inglenook fireplace and even a spectre throwing his boots down the cellar stairs .
LEEDS CASTLE
FAVERSHAM
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