Stories from the dark side of Milton Keynes
Everyone knows that Milton Keynes is made of concrete, right? Well, that's certainly what you'll hear from people who don't live here, and leaving aside the question of whether the reputation is deserved, the city's concrete certainly serves as a canvas for a lot of striking - graffiti? wanton vandalism? street art? I actually like... Continue Reading →
The old abandoned farm was still smouldering when I got there, and the fire crews were still in attendance. Devil's Den Farm - or, to give it the official name from its Grade II listing, Shenley Dens Farm, has been on my mind a lot this week after reading my story about it for the... Continue Reading →
This time, the abandoned destination was intentional. I'd spotted this derelict dealership from the road last time I was passing this way, and decided to go back and take a closer look. As it happened, I'd planned a more scenic walk but the weather was against me so I decided to take a detour over... Continue Reading →
I didn't have 'find an abandoned creepy farmhouse' on my to-do list for today, but that's what happened. I'd actually set out to find a local spring (reputed to have mystical properties) but I overestimated my navigation abilities and squelched off through a very muddy field in search of the right road to follow. When... Continue Reading →
My husband died* in October. One of the ways that I've been working through my grief has been spending time out walking: if you've been reading here for a while, you'll know that I'm one for wandering, and for years I've found solace and comfort in the steps that start at my front door and... Continue Reading →
I'm not sure if it's the claustrophobically low roof or the water that drips down from it that makes this such an unsetting space to pass through, but there's definitely something uneasy about the wooden bridge that passes through Tunnel 170 at Bradwell. It was closed recently for engineering works, but to me it looks exactly the same as it always has done... ancient, threatening and dark, with the river running underneath and trains thundering by overhead.Â
Researching for my creative writing course, I encountered something unexpected and frightening...
In a clearing at the edge of Shenley Wood, I found these deep slashes cut into the bark of a tree stump.
Christmas Eve, 2017 I don't think I've ever gone walking on Christmas Eve before - I'm usually up to my eyes in icing sugar and marzipan, putting the finishing touches to the Christmas cake or wrapping up the last few presents - but this year I felt a strong pull towards the outdoors, towards the... Continue Reading →
My first eerie encounter in this city...