Pilsdon Pen, located in the charming English county of Dorset, holds a long and eerie legacy that reaches deep into the past. This site is known for its Iron Age fort and round barrows, large mounds of earth and stone raised above graves. Local folklore speaks of a curse that fell upon these ancient hills. It’s said that on each of the twelve nights preceding Christmas, the barrows open, and eerie spectral figures can be seen emerging from them. Locals believe these are the spirits of past inhabitants, cursed to forever haunt the place of their earthly demise. One of the most famous tales related to this curse involves a drunken villager who, after a merry night at the local inn, decided to test the legend. Disregarding the warnings of fellow villagers, the reckless man wandered to the haunted hills. As the surprised and terrified onlookers watched from a distance, the mounds opened and the apparitions emerged, hungrily reaching for the unfortunate man. His terrified screams echoed in the chill night air as people watched helplessly. The next day, the man was found wandering aimlessly. He lived the rest of his years as a silent and scared individual, forever marked by the curse of Pilsdon Pen. To this day, the residents of the surrounding villages, including Pilsdon and Broadoak, respectfully keep away from the mounds during the twelve nights before Christmas. The legend of this curse makes Pilsdon Pen one of the eeriest and most intriguing places in Fernworthy, Dorset.