THE BLACK HORSE
For fearless friends …
We could not write a Halloween guide to Kent without mentioning the village of Pluckley . Reputed to be the most haunted place in the UK , Pluckley is featured in the Guiness Book of World Records for being home to the most ghosts and sightings of ghosts . With characterful spirits of all kinds , from a gypsy woman who drowned in the stream at The Pinnock to a highwayman that haunts the woods waiting to startle passers by , a trip to Pluckley this October is sure to be an exciting one for lovers of the supernatural . After a country stroll brimming with intrigue and incredible stories , visit The Black Horse ( www . theblackhorsepluckley . com ) a traditional inn for over 300 years with parts of the current building dating back to the 15th century . The Black Horse boasts beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces , which at this time of year are always lit and dressed with pumpkins . The Black Horse offers a fine dining experience using the freshest locally sourced ingredients to create outstanding dishes that are as easy on the eye as they are sensational on the tongue . This season , chefs have come up with an amazing autumnal menu that includes locally sourced game and sticky toffee pudding . The food is complemented by a wide range of fine wines , choice of wonderful aperitifs and digestifs , and
an extensive gin menu making it a place for a truly memorable meal with friends .
A major coastal landmark in Kent which will never fail to capture the eye and imagination of those from miles around is Reculver Towers ( www . english-heritage . org . uk / visit / places / reculvertowers-and-roman-fort ). Dominating the skyline of Herne Bay and still acting as a navigation marker for ships at sea , Reculver Towers marks the site of one of the earliest Roman forts built to protect against Saxon raids , before later becoming the site of an Anglo-Saxon Monastery and then St Mary ’ s Church . With so much history that seeps through its various rebirths over time , many haunting tales are whispered about the towers and their dark past . The most famous and spine chilling being that of the ‘ wailing baby ’ whose cries are said to be heard by visitors on stormy nights when the wind whips round the towers and the waves crash against the rocks . During excavation work , the remains of ten Roman infants were found buried on site , and sadly , due to the nature of the burials , it is widely assumed that they were used as ritual sacrifices to the Roman Gods . This dark reputation of the towers has turned it into a favourite for ghost hunters , some claiming to have seen two hooded spectres pacing the ruins in the moonlight .
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