Halloween returns to Quarry Bank with a brand-new after-dark adventure for all ages

WHETHER YOU'RE PLOTTING A HALF-TERM FAMILY OUTING, A GHOULISH GET-TOGETHER OR AN UNFORGETTABLE DATE, THE NATIONAL TRUST'S ILLUMINATED HALLOWEEN TRAIL AT QUARRY BANK OFFERS A FRESH CHAPTER OF FRIGHTS, FOLKLORE AND AFTER-DARK BEAUTY

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Prepare for some scares as you wander through the grounds at Quarry Bank (Image: National Trust)

(National Trust)

STEP into a world where the past stirs, the forest watches and the mill whispers its secrets after nightfall.

The historic venue of Quarry Bank at Wilmslow, Cheshire, will once again switch on the nighttime magic this October, unveiling an expanded illuminated Halloween trail that threads through the mill, gardens and woodland.

Running from October 23 to November 1, 2025, expect a richer storyline, bigger set pieces and a moodier atmosphere than ever before, making it perfect for half-term evenings with the kids, a spooky-yet-romantic date, or a memorable night out with friends.

By twilight, the former mill’s paths and terraces take on an otherworldly glow. Follow the route beside the water and keep your wits about you: the Headless Horseman is rumoured to be riding again, while a spectral lady roams on foot, slipping in and out of the darkness.

Inside the mill, a formidable Georgian Mill Owner greets intruders with a laugh that carries through the beams, a reminder that history lingers longest after hours.

• A cinematic pathway past 50 gravestones and 12 coffins

• Towering 3.5-metre skeletons with flickering red eyes

• Bones and skeletons by the mill wheel, wreathed in rising red mist