Walk of the Month: Pluckley Village

As October draws to a close, it’s time for another instalment of Walk of the Month. For October’s walk we’re heading to the picturesque village of Pluckley in Kent. This sleepy village is full of wonderful autumn colours and cosy English pubs but there is another reason visitors flock to the village during October – ghosts! Pluckley is commonly known as the most haunted village in England and has sparked our attention for a Halloween themed Walk of the Month.

Image of Pluckley Church by Julian P Guffogg – CC 2.0

Home to a minimum of 15 ghosts, Pluckley is perfect for a spooky walk at this time of year. Explore the area and folklore during the day with the family or head back during the evening for a frightful walk through the village’s more notorious spots. As well as the outlined route below, make sure to spend some time exploring St Nicolas’ Church which is home to the White Lady and Red Lady ghosts, and Fright corner where you could find The Highwayman re-enacting his death.

The Walk:

October’s route is three miles long and should take around two and a half hours to complete. This is an easy track that follows orchard tracks, footpaths and field margins with 17 stiles in-between. Children will enjoy this walk during the day and this is also a great walk for dogs, as long as they are kept on the lead.

The Route:

Start the walk from St Nicholas Church, from here turn right and head up the main road walking uphill. Turn right at the Black Horse car park sign towards a gate. Go through the gate and cut across the playing fields towards a gap in the hedge that leads into the orchard.

Walk straight through the orchard keeping the windbreak to your right-hand side. When you reach the metalled track by Sheerland Farm, maintain your direction and then continue through the orchard to the road.

Image of Oast house at Elvey Farm near Pluckley by Marathon – CC 2.0

At the road bear left before joining a footpath by a brick wall. Follow the footpath until you reach the stile, climb over the stile and follow the fence line on your left before crossing two more stiles at the bottom.

Continue your route by going through a gap in the wall up towards another orchard and over another stile. After the stile turn left and follow the track keeping the windbreaker to your left-hand side. Bear right and head over another stile before walking towards a brick wall.

At the wall turn right and walk through the orchard towards the church. Turn left, walking past the picture postcard village green of Little Char Forstal. You’ll see a stile on your right, go over this and walk down the right-hand side of the field climbing over two more stiles to reach the road by the riding centre.

Turn right at the road and take the first road on the left past the farm and follow it to Rooting Manor. When the road bends left, cross the stile by some gates before turning left and walking along the top of the field.

As you pass through the windbreak, turn right and walk up the track. Follow this track as it leads you left and go through the orchard, eventually bearing right and up to Surrenden.

Follow the track to your right and cross a stile on the left. Walk up the right-hand side of the field to join the track and nip over the stile to continue to the road.

Cross the road and walk through the orchard before crossing the playing fields. Turn left and return to the church where you started.

To view the full route map, please click here.

Book a holiday cottage in Kent.

With a ghost lurking around every corner, you’re going to need more than one night to explore all of Pluckley’s most haunted spots. By booking a stay in one of these Kent cottages you’ll be able to spend your evening ghost hunting in Pluckley and your days exploring The Garden of England. From Dover Castle to Canterbury Cathedral, Kent is full of must-see attractions and things to do for the whole family.