Kilminorth Woods / Ghosts / From This Haunted Land

The Investigation: We began our investigation in George's car, at the very top end of "The Millpool Carpark". There is a lay-by, overlooking a wide stretch of the West Looe River, which is popular with elder folk during the day, and late teens in the evening. All towns seem to have an area where these 'young adults' congregate in cars, and the relative darkness and seclusion means they can "make out", litter the verges, vandalise the car park furnishings and generally feel as if they are rebelling against the system. We spoke with a few members of this exclusive society, and they did have a few stories to tell:

Sticks and stones: A less brash teenager, lets call him 'Kevin', told us his car is often scratched after a night in the layby, and "the others" have heard stones hitting the roof of particular vehicles, and sticks have landed on the windscreens. I suggested it might be other groups of kids, but he was quite adamant that there's no-one brave enough to "mess with my motor". So, patient reader, I suggested to Kevin the overhanging trees may be the cause. I was told, in a matter of fact manner, it "wasn't the trees". Interesting stuff. I suppose.

Sadly, nothing else is worth repeating, as cheap Lambrusco and timidly smoked cannabis joints had done their job. By 23:00 the group departed in a blaze of bass driven musak, and glowing numberplates. When one of this group leave, they ALL seem to leave. It was quite amusing/interesting to observe the hierarchy on display.

It begins: So, that leaves myself, Matt and George sitting in the car alone, awaiting the "witching hour". I insisted it had to be midnight, not so much for technical reasons, but to add a little ghoulish fun to the proceedings. We were all in good, humorous moods (no alcohol was involved, sadly), and sat patiently chatting about previous investigations. Then, suddenly, at 23:45: "Thunk!". A lichen covered branch, approximately 40cms long, appeared on the windscreen. George, justifiably annoyed, got out of the car and yelled into the woods "Oi, do you want to try that again", in a voice which hid his shock to great effect. There was no answer from the woods. So, we decided to start there and then, and make our way through the gate and into the inky darkness of the Kilminorth Woods….

The rest of this investigation will be written as it occurred, with times as close to memory/recording as possible. It is hard to maintain a perfect record when you feel as if your very existence is threatened. Please read on.

23:54 - I announce to the Dictaphone the time, the 'investigators' present, the location and the weather conditions. Before I can finish Matt whispers "What was that?" in a voice which stopped all of us in our tracks. Peering into the gloom, we all heard the sound of someone walking away from us, in a pace which suggested no urgency. I shone the torch along the wide tarmac path, but nothing was visible. We continued in silence.

00:03- By this point, we had reached the midpoint along the tarmac path, and had relaxed into a blissful open-mindedness. I was aware of feeling watched, but there was nothing too threatening about the sensation. Matt stops to take in the atmosphere, so we all stop.

00:12 approx- I sensed George was not a happy bunny, so whispered an enquiry. He's wondering why we haven't mentioned the footsteps behind us. I had heard the occasional sounds behind us, but thought it may have been the wildlife. Shining the torch back along the path revealed nothing, and nerves were calmed again. This did not last for long. The sound of footsteps in the woods to our left side was alarming to say the least. I am not talking about the casual rustle of leaves made by a hedgehog, nocturnal dog walker or playful teenager. It was a rapid scampering made by something/someone who didn't seem to need a torch, or any light for that matter! This was when it first occurred to me that we may be making a mistake.

00:15- A dry sounding branch is snapped somewhere to the right of us, more than 20 metres away (approx). George has had enough, and wants to return to the car. Call it false bravado, but I was having none of it. We moved on, further along the path. Matt asks if "any of us saw the flickering blue light up ahead?". We hadn't. Our party moved onwards.

00:24- Something touched my face. It wasn't a cobweb (please!), or a stray vine. It was a definite touch, and I felt quite disgusted. I was alone in this sensation, and the others found it highly amusing. This was good for the mood, but I didn't feel any less nervy, but I kept quiet.

00:30 approx- a series of rapid and very audible footsteps directly behind us. Swinging round we prepared to criticise the prankster, only to find nobody there.

(I know what you are thinking, I would think the same, it's a dark night, in a woodland full of wildlife. Anything could be making footstep sounds. Well, I can only state that it wasn't a hippity skippity bunny. The footsteps were definite, loud and with purpose).

00:30 to 00:35- The torch failed, and we had to rely on the camera flash for illumination, hence the photographs which illustrate this page (200+ photographs were taken). With each blinding flash, we were all too aware of something lurking just out of view, and stalking us along the path. Our chilly silence is very obvious when listening back to the recording, made by the Dictaphone. It is at 00:34 that I can hear George mumble that he is feeling a little sick, which I didn't notice at the time. Or ignored, sorry George.

00:35- George and myself sit on a bench along the path. Matt stands with his back to us, and remains silent. A few moments later he is very cross with us for touching the back of his neck. We hadn't. All standing, we hear someone scramble up the bank to our right. It was so loud and definite that it seemed to bolster our courage. There IS something in the woods with us. Out of view, and most definitely playing with us. I would love to fib, and say it was exciting, but I too began to feel sick. We continued along the path. Matt is taking a photograph every few seconds, and George begins to talk to our invisible host, rather sarcastically.

00:40 approx - I give the now ignored torch a last go, and to much appreciation it beams into life. This will sound ridiculous, but the light felt almost like a weapon. Sadly, it proved to be rather useless, because at 00:41 another lichen covered branch lands on the path behind us.

00:42 - A hurried, and whispered conversation, has us all certain that something is attempting to lead us deeper into the woods, and dissuade us from retreating back to the car, and our normal lives. To confirm this very thought, a twin set of running footsteps can be heard both behind and ahead of us. By this point, my state was shameful. I can honestly say that I was terrified. Sorry mum.

00:45 to 01:00 - Matt has either 'had enough', or thinks there is nothing to lose, and begins stating facts to the darkness. "We aren’t going, so you can stop trying to scare us". (Trying!!!??) This is rewarded with the snap of a fallen branch somewhere to our right, down by the site of the old Boat Yard. "Thank you", says Matt, "Can you do that again? We want to make sure there is definitely someone there". A rustle of leaves to our left, beyond the wooden fence and down the earthy bank. "Do you have anything to say to us?". "Do you want us to know something?". Silence, except for nervous fidgeting from myself and George. After 3-4 minutes we all decide that whatever was playing with us, has lost interest, and we proceed down to the waters edge. The open area was strangely comforting, after the tree lined corridor of the path. We begin to swap notes.

01:10 approx - A truly disgusting moan is heard by all, coming from the path we have left behind. We must walk that path to return to the car. It is impossible to guess the sex of the source, but it was definitely human in origin. I say "human", but it had a curious quality I have not heard before, or since. Guttural, feral and nauseating.

01:25 approx - It becomes painfully obvious that we are delaying our return to the car through pure fear. It's time to make a move. Making our way across the open scrubland, we rejoin the foot of the path. In silence. 01:27 - The vocal sound again. This time it is further along the path, towards the entrance. It sounds like something attempting to speak, or communicate, but with no idea how to perform such a complex task. It was sickening and terrifying to hear, and lasted for a good 10 seconds. "Is that you making that sound?!" asks Matt. (He's braver than I am!). A branch is snapped, to our right, in the woods. A quick sweep of the torch reveals nothing. We proceed along the path.

01:34 - By this point, we have become almost used to the occasional twig snap, rustle of feet and guttural moan from the woods to our right. And then it all stops. Not just the noises, the atmosphere is gone. It could have lots to do with the fact that the bright lights of Looe are now visiable in the distance, but we all feel much better, and bolder. Matt continues his communication with the darkness. "Are you trying to talk to us. We mean you no harm, but are just curious, and scared shitless". (Dear, oh dear, Matt, has it really come to that?!).

01:38 - George freaks out. Honestly. Something has touched his mouth, and he is fed up with "being played with". He will not be comforted, so we make haste towards the carpark.

01:42 approx - Blue lights are more than obvious in the air behind us, back towards the waters edge. It took Matt a couple of beats to raise the camera and start snapping away. The torch failed, again, but we were dedicated to getting something on camera. It really felt like now or never. The sound of leaves being trodden is also audible at this point, as "orbs" are revealed by the flash of the digital camera.

	Name: Kilminorth Woods Location: West Looe to Watergate, South East Cornwall, England Weather: Clear, still winter night. Temp: 02°C approx. Investigators: Jonathan, Matt, George Map Ref: See Kilminorth Woods on the OS Map.