Fearless families visiting Alton Towers this
season will be able to brave a
visit to the Haunted Hollow, if they dare to take the short-cut to
Gloomy Wood. Following the root of the
old Park Railway that closed in 1996,
the hollow is located in an area of Alton Towers’ ancient and
wild woodland.
Entering the Haunted Hollow from Mutiny
Bay, unwary guests are greeted with the Earl's Tomb, a reputedly
haunted memorial to one of the park's previous owners. The years
have not been kind to this old monument and the cracks along it's
sides bare testimony to this, perhaps allowing foolhardy guests to
take a peak inside.
Following the path along from here, visitors may be able to hear the
ghostly quacking of the multitude of ducks which have lived and died
at the park over the years, but this is soon drowned out by the
guffawing of two of the park's friendlier spirits. These are Bernard
Grumblebum and Edwin Mutterson, whose tombs can be found along the
route, and who even beyond the grave enjoy a good bit of banter.
You may choose to stay a while and
listen in on these giggling ghouls, though the braver amongst
you might venture on until you come across an abandoned hearse.
Whilst you might wonder what has become of the driver, the much more
pressing question is the whereabouts of his passenger, as the coffin
inside lies empty for all to see. Perhaps the driver heard the call
of the maiden and has taken shelter in her chamber just over
the way? Dare you follow him?
Not far beyond the hearse you will
emerge into a lakeside clearing, which houses the tombs of several
of the musicians who have brought music into the estate over the
centuries. Some say that if you stand at the foot of their graves
you can sometimes still hear their ghostly music floating up from
the ground below.
From here it is just a short walk up the
hill before you can escape from the Haunted Hollow and into the
relative normality of Gloomy Wood, however first you must pass
between the monuments of those who have served within the Towers
over the years. Tread quietly and they may just pass on a message
from beyond the grave.
