The Forest of Legends, Cannock Chase (24 photos)
Cannock Chase, known to locals simply as the Chase, is located in Staffordshire, north of Birmingham, England. It is an area of stunning natural beauty. 
But this forest also has another, darker side. Many believe it serves as a gateway to another world, through which its supernatural inhabitants travel freely. 
This former royal forest dates back to the Triassic period. Its landscape is a bizarre mix of deciduous groves, coniferous plantings, moorland, and small lakes. Remnants of ancient industries, such as coal mining, can also be found here. Cannock Chase is popular with mountain bikers and hikers.
The forest is also ideal for family recreation. There is a large playground, several picnic areas, and wooden sculptures. Numerous marked and unmarked trails are available for leisurely strolls. 
On the northeastern edge of the forest lies Shugborough Hall, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Lichfield. This place is famous for its ghosts. Lady Harriet, who died in childbirth, still wanders the halls. And the ghost of a former housekeeper is said to haunt the kitchens. Staff claim to often hear the rustling of her skirts and see her silhouette in the windows. On the southern edge of the forest lie the ruins of Castle Ring, an ancient Iron Age fort built at an altitude of 242 meters. This is the highest point in Cannock Chase. 
There are several war memorials in the forest. One of them is dedicated to the victims of the Katyn massacre. In the 1940s, thousands of Soviet citizens were executed in the Katyn Forest west of Smolensk. This memorial was unveiled by Stefan Staniszewski, whose father, a Supreme Court judge, died during this tragedy. The Katyn Memorial is located in a pine forest between the villages of Gnezdovo and Katyn.
Its counterparts were erected here because Cannock Chase resembles Katyn Forest. Furthermore, the Chase is closely associated with both World Wars. Military cemeteries are also located within its grounds.
A Sinister Place 
In the late 1960s, the forest gained notoriety when the bodies of three little girls were discovered there. The Cannock Chase murders, also known as the A34 murders, instantly became headline news. The girls were aged between 5 and 7, and the crimes were committed between 1965 and 1967.
A man named Raymond Leslie Morris was arrested in 1968 while attempting to kidnap a fourth victim. He was linked to at least one of the three murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The "Cannock Chase Monster" died in prison in 2014 at the age of 84, after serving 45 years. 
Rumor has it that the Chase is a portal. Supernatural creatures have been seen here, including werewolves, demonic black dogs, UFOs, giant cats, and even Bigfoot. In the 1940s, a creepy pig-man was spotted here, and several people have reported encounters with a black-eyed girl. People claim to hear a child's scream, and when they rush to help, they see a girl of about ten years old. She seems perfectly normal. They say the child covers her eyes with her hands, but when she removes them, her eyes are completely black. She then giggles and disappears. The black-eyed girl has been seen for thirty years. 
Near the Iron Age hill fort of Castle Ring, a man saw a figure resembling Slenderman. As the tall, dark figure approached, he fled in terror. He later claimed the stranger had a long Victorian coat, red eyes, and a mouth full of sharp, razor-like teeth. Castle Ring has a sinister reputation. A Celtic tribe once lived here. It is believed that they performed macabre rituals and bloody sacrifices on this hill. 
Cannock Chase is also home to classic ghosts. Soldiers are seen running through the woods, especially near military cemeteries. The ghost of the first Marquess of Anglesey, for whom this forest was a favorite hunting ground, has been spotted several times. Another frequently encountered ghost is an old man with a cane and a wide-brimmed hat. A disheveled woman, a ghostly parachutist, and a phantom cyclist have also been reported. Another ghost is a young monk who appears lost in the forest.
Therefore, even while strolling along sunlit forest paths, it's worth looking back. After all, at that very moment, the ghostly shadow of a resident of another world might appear behind you. 
