The Storyteller: Join me on a spine-chilling week

The new school term has only just started, and I am already looking forward to the February half-term holiday, as I am planning a whole week's worth of my ghost walks for both locals and visitors alike. I’m even in discussions to run one of my Moors Tours with my colleague, who has an 8-seater vehicle for his Dartmoor Taxi company, so that less able-bodied customers won’t feel they are missing out on visiting the beautiful moorland. Obviously, this will be a bit more expensive than the walks, but you do get a whole day out, and you experience more than the walkers. If this is of interest, then please get in touch for more details. We can accommodate up to six people; the fuller the car, the cheaper per person, and if the demand is there, we might offer more dates.

As for the walks, I will be showcasing everything in my repertoire, from Monday to Friday, starting with Bovey Tracey on Monday, 17th February. Hopefully this walk won’t be snowed off, like the one I had planned the other week, to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Bovey Heath. Two years running now, I’ve planned on visiting the battlefield, as it is said that re-enactments of the fighting can be experienced if you are in the right place at the right time. Both times it has snowed, just like it did on the actual day of the battle, back in 1646... which has left me wondering if a replication of the prevailing weather conditions is all part of the re-enactment and something you have to persevere with in order to experience anything else. I would be very interested to know how many times it has snowed on January 8th and 9th since then. Let us see what next year brings...

A visit to the battle site isn’t part of the walk, as it is too far out of town, off the Bovey Straight, and nearer to Heathfield. There is already plenty to talk about as we roam the streets; however, if anyone does want to see where it took place, I’m always happy to arrange a visit; just get in touch.

I’m meeting my ghost walkers at the slightly earlier time of 6.30pm, largely because it’s already quite dark and spooky at this time of year, but also, with an earlier finish, more people might accept my invitation of a visit to a local pub to continue our story sharing there and partake of some refreshments.

Above: An offering for Mary Whiddon on her memorial stone

On Tuesday the 18th, I’m attempting something different by hosting two walks in one day and calling it The Sydney Godolphin Trail. At 2pm I will be in Chagford, home to a couple of the more famous Dartmoor ghosts, namely Sydney, the Cavalier poet, who died in the porch of The Three Crowns, and Mary Whiddon, the tragic bride, murdered on her wedding day, at the church opposite. The idea of holding this walk in daylight, is so we get a chance to go inside the church, and visit Mary’s memorial. Since her death, other brides have been encouraged to leave a flower from their bouquets as a tribute to the poor girl, so I always like to check out the chancel to see if this tradition has been carried out recently.

On the Tuesday evening, again from 6.30pm, my plan is to walk around Okehampton, following the trail of Sydney, who was taken from the scene of his death in Chagford, to All Saints Church, where he was buried by the altar, not in Chagford, which would have been more convenient, nor in Helston, Cornwall, where his family home was, but in Okehampton, where an aunt of his had previously been buried. Sadly, the church was destroyed by fire in 1842, and, during rebuilding work, it was decided that all burials inside the church were to be moved. What we don’t know, is if that meant just moving the memorials, or the actual bodies as well. Sadly, no records of these moves were kept, so my quest to find where the remains of Sydney now lie, continues...but I have my theories...

Above: Inside All Saints Church in Okehampton showing the chancel where Sydney Godolphin was originally interred 

As last year, Pete, the church warden at All Saints, has agreed to give us access as part of my walk. So this means, we will be able to see the preserved memorial to Benjamin Geare, which is in the vestry, that was the subject of last week’s article...

Moving on to Wednesday 19th, this will be my next Brixham Ghost Walk, following on from the success of the one the other week, that commemorated the death of John Slater, the ghost that haunts the theatre. I was joined by ten lovers of spooky stories, who enjoyed what I had to say so much, that they all joined me in the Conservative Club afterwards, for a drink or two, plus more stories. We were very warmly welcomed by Rik, the manager, who I had just met, by chance, that very afternoon, whilst I was making enquiries about any possible hauntings they have there, and he gave me a guided tour, including their snooker room, which I’m particularly interested in, as it might be relevant to other stories I’m aware of...

It was very cold that day, and he invited me to begin and end the walk inside, in the warm, something we were all extremely grateful for, and he has extended that kind offer to all my future Brixham walks...thank you Rik! It goes to show that a 6.30pm start might benefit everybody...

The walk on Thursday 20th, is a return to Ashburton, scene of my Halloween triumph with local writer, Stephanie Austin. Sadly, Stephanie won’t be joining us this time, but I will mention her work, particularly as I’ve nearly finished reading all eight books, to date, especially the one that references Cutty Dyer, a folkloric water ogre, who resides in the town’s river, and who Stephanie tries to frame as a murderer...

I will also be armed with the results of the investigation that we carried out at The Old Exeter Inn, last November. Sadly, the pub might still be closed for refurbishment that night, but part of our findings included a trail, that one of our mediums was taken on, by a character called Elijah, who led her to the scene of a possible murder, and we will most certainly be following in his footsteps...

The final walk of the week, on Friday 21st, means a return to the place where I was inspired to set all these walks up in the first place, after a conversation with Chelsie, of Dewerstone in Princetown. Thank you, Chelsie. We walk the full length of the village, from The Duchy Hotel (now Visitor Centre), to the church, and as far as the infamous Dartmoor Prison, before heading back to the second highest pub on the moor, and the oldest building in the village, The Plume of Feathers. Whilst I’ve been hosting these walks, the prison has been evacuated, due to the potentially dangerous levels of Radon gas, that have been detected inside its granite walls. So I’m now a little bit intrigued, as to why its lights burn brighter than ever. If it is empty, what are they still protecting, apart from, possibly, the resident ghosts? If its days as a prison are over, I’m hoping they might consider allowing teams of paranormal investigators inside, to give it the once over, like they do in other ex-prisons, before letting it over to other uses...I asked first!

Any proposed vehicle-based tour, as I mentioned at the top of the article, might take place on Saturday 22nd, but nothing has been finalised as yet.

If you like the sound of what I’m offering, see the attached poster for further details, and how to book, or contact me direct, via my email address davidtiptrips@gmail.com, and I look forward to, hopefully, meeting some of you in February.