A journey into the lights
surrounding haunted woodland near Chepstow. Each area has multiple scare zones with zombies and night creatures, plus a 700 metre death slide and a giant hangman’s swing out over the dark quarry. There’s also a live show from the Circus of Horrors. BBQs, hog roast and undead cocktails are all on-site. And there are wooden wigwam cabins for anyone who is too scared to go home. Packages from £34.99. See fearfest-evil.co.uk. 26 – 29 OCTOBER The Talyllyn Railway is a very popular narrow-gauge preserved steam line that runs up through the e SEE the northern lights in the Norwegian sky on an adults-only voyageyg with Iglu Cruise. It has a 14 night full-board h holiday on board Cruise a and Maritime’s Magellan, s starting fromom £675pp s sailing fromm Tilbury in beautiful Fathew valley. It was constructed originally to carry slate the seven miles from the hillside quarries down to Cardigan Bay. For Halloween, there will be a special evening train ride from Tywyn Wharf Station to the haunted woods at Dolgoch with a two course Halloween feast served back at King’s Cafe in Tywyn afterwards. Fancy dress welcome, and all children get a spooky goody bag with activities and treats. Adults £17, including the meal. See talyllyn.co.uk. 27 – 31 OCTOBER Edinburgh’sEd Old Town is one of the most creepycr cities in the UK when darkness falls.fa TV series Rebus and Taggart are justjus two of many to use it as a haunting backdrop.back For Halloween, Mercat Tours are Essex on October 30.The trip includes stop-offs in Amsterdam, Olden, Kristiansund, Alta, Tromso, Trondheim, Andalsnes and Bergen. Get more details at iglucruise.com or call 020 3733 5557. offering a Midnight Hour walk starting at 11pm from the Mercat Cross on the Royal Mile and heading off into the darkest corners of the Old Town and down through the Blair Street Underground Vaults. It takes nerve to keep your cool in the gloom. Mercat also do softer walks and talks but still with gory stories and creepy characters galore. Tickets from £15. See mercattours.com. 26 OCTOBER Scotland’s National Orchestra performs the score to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho while the film plays on the screen behind. The Bates Motel, that strange young man... Shower curtains will never look the same. From £19. See rsno.org.uk/film. DO like seeing the leaves change colour in autumn and wanted to organise a weekend away. Where would you suggest going for the best views? THERE are plenty of options, depending on where you are based. Westonbirt Arboretum, in Gloucs, is a world-renowned autumn destination with more than 2,000 Japanese maples creating a sensational picture. Also Grizedale Forest, in the heart of the Lake District, is one of the top ten spots to see the changing colours, according to the Forestry Commission. For more about walking trails, secret spots and other woods activities, see www. forestry.gov.uk/autumntop10.