From ghoulish goings-on to creepy haunted places, Halloween is a time to immerse yourself in tales of the paranormal. It’s also a chance to ponder strange and unexplained happenings – such as UFO sightings.
Probably more associated with the USA and Area 51, you may be surprised to hear that there’s a village just 90 minutes away from Greater Manchester which has been a hotspot for UFOs. On the edge of the Peak District near Matlock, the village of Bonsall appears quiet and unassuming at first glance.
With quaint stone cottages nestled among green rolling hills, it seems like any other pretty village in this part of the country. Yet it’s developed quite the reputation when it comes to other-worldly activities.
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The most famous account is that of resident Sharon Rowlands, who filmed a ‘disk-like object’ in the sky in the early 2000s which she saw flying above the village. NASA officials were even reportedly asked to investigate it as it’s said the object was similar to one seen on the STS-75 Columbia Space Shuttle mission in early 1996.
(Image: Andrew Hill / geograph.org.uk)
From October 2000 there were 19 sightings of UFOs in the area. A former pub landlord is said to have even taken tourists on UFO-spotting tours of the surrounding moorland.
In 2016, alanw276 wrote in a review of The Barley Mow pub that he saw a UFO flying above it. He said: “I saw a UFO fly over the pub!! This pub is now my favourite.
“The customers are friendly, the staff are good and the landlord and landlady are great. We were outside on a Friday night and a UFO WENT OVER THE PUB.
“I asked about it and other customers said that this had happened before several times over the years. We are definitely going back with a camera.”
(Image: Richard Vince / geograph.org.uk)
Whether you believe in the idea of life from another planet, or haven’t even seen the film E.T., the village is still a lovely place to visit on an autumn day. The gorgeous landscape of the Peak District is right on its doorstep and there are dozens of hikes to do nearby.
Bonsall is home to two cosy pubs which are perfect for a post-hike meal and a pint. There’s the aforementioned Barley Mow with visitors praising its roasts and live music. One reviewer on TripAdvisor even called it “the best pub in the country…probably the world.”
The quirky pub is also home to Bonsall’s annual hen races which are held in August. It’s a bizarre but much-loved tradition which sees hens racing across a thirty-foot course, with the winning team receiving a trophy.
Meanwhile The Kings Head dates back to the 1677 and occupies a gorgeous building with a hidden beer garden at the back. A reviewer described it as a “gorgeous little village pub” which is “absolutely perfect.”
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