Ever wanted to be a ghost hunter? Well now’s your chance! Just come along to Lyme Park’s ‘Ghosts and Ghouls’ event on 25 and 26 October (12 noon – 4.30pm) – and you can decide for yourself if Lyme Hall is haunted!

Claire Reed, House Steward at Lyme says: “Lyme Hall is a very old house which has seen countless people come and go over the past 600 years.The Knight’s Bedroom is supposedly haunted as a skeleton was found buried in a void beneath the floor during the 19th century. More recently – in March 2009 – a visitor wrote in our visitor’s book that he had seen two ghosts: a man in the Knight’s Bedroom and a lady in the Tapestry Dressing Room – so keep an eye out – you never know what you might come across!”

Staying with strange goings on, make sure you go up to the Cage in the Park at Lyme on 27 October (1 – 3.30pm) where, inside this strange tower you can sit and listen to some unsettling spooky stories – and then head on down to the Timber Yard to make a spooky lantern to use on Halloween to light your way and keep unwelcome visitors at bay….

No Halloween is complete without pumpkins – and on 28 – 30 October you can join our ‘Halloween Happenings’ (11am – 1pm or 2 – 4pm) and have a go carving your own pumpkin to take home as well as trying some other spooky crafts and ghoulish activities!

Meanwhile, look out for a spooky book signing on 30 October (11am – 3pm) in Lyme shop, when author Stuart Webb, nominated for a teenage book prize, will be signing copies of his ghostly novel, ‘Lyme Hall’. The book is based on real history and folklore around the house and parkland, with one of the main storyline being about the Lady in White – said to follow a funeral cortege around the park!

Finally, after all those ghostly going ons, make sure you float in to the Timber Yard Coffee Shop where a slice of delicious cake or a hot chocolate will definitely banish the spooks and bring you back to earth!

Please note, ‘Spooky stories’ is for children aged 6 and over, and Halloween Happenings for 7 years plus. Both activities carry a charge of £4 per child and booking is essential for Spooky Stories – call 01663 762023. House admission applies to the ‘Ghosts and Ghouls’ event (free to National Trust members).

For further information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events or call 01663 762023.

Lyme Park house is open Fri – Tues until 31 October, 11am – 5pm (please note access is by guided tour only 11am – noon) and the garden daily, 11am- 5pm until 31 Oct. The park is open all year round (closed Christmas day). For details call 01663 762023 or e-mail lymepark@nationaltrust.org.uk Look out for our Halloween activities in Cheshire at Little Moreton Hall, Quarry Bank Mill and Dunham Massey – check out www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events or call properties direct.