Random encounters with the unusual: Blue Bell Hill

Whist in Kent recently I took the opportunity to visit the local beauty spot of Blue Bell Hill, which is located on the Pilgrim’s Way footpath, just south of Chatham. This chalk hill forms part of the North Downs, and is regarded as a site of special scientific interest due to it being home to a number of rare species of plants. Even though Blue Bell Hill when viewed from the correct perspective is very picturesque it does lie next to the busy M2 motorway and the A229 dual carriage way. It is that latter road that gives Blue Bell Hill its renown amongst Forteans.

The A229 dual carriage way, which follows the course of an old Roman road past Blue Bell Hill, is the reported home of one of the UK's most famous road ghosts. Over the years the site has been linked to a number of occurrences where drivers have reported either: picking up a female hitchhiker who subsequently disappears from the car; or hitting a female pedestrian, whose body cannot be subsequently found.

The case that brought the ghost of Blue Bell Hill to national prominence occurred in July 1974 when a driver reported to the police that he had hit a girl who appeared in front of his car. The police attended the scene, but no casualty was ever found. Over the years further incidents were reported and somewhere along the line the ghostly apparitions were linked to one of three women who were killed on the A229 in a car crash in November 1965. The unfortunate accident apparently occurring the day before the woman's wedding.

Most readers will be familiar with the ghostly tales associated with Blue Bell Hill so I won't repeat the details here, but for those who want to know more I would recommend the very interesting "Road Ghosts" website.

The vicinity of Blue Bell Hill is also home to the remains of two neolithic long barrows named Kit's Coty House and Little Kit's Coty House, which I was not able to visit on this occasion, but which I will aim to visit and photograph next time I am in the area.