W

hen things go bump in the night, do you investigate rather than hide under the covers? If that’s the case then you’ll love the hair-raising thrills of a paranormal perambulation around Portsmouth’s old city.

Dark Encounters operate a guided tour around the seriously spooky Spice Island, mixing tidbits of local history with some bloodcurdlingly gruesome tales of murder and even 18th century terrorism.

The guides take you through 900 years of horrible history, making these walks as fascinating as they are frightening. You never know, a phantom sailor could stagger into your path in the ancient alleyways or a luminous figure hanging from the seaward side of the Round Tower may appear?

What makes the tour so special is the visit to the Round Tower, normally off limits to the public. As you walk around the fortification you can understand why - this place has an ambiance that is more than a little eerie. Built in around 1418 to defend Portsmouth Harbour from French ships (the city had been attacked too many times during the Hundred Years War), the Tower is packed full of history.

An evening with Dark Encounters is a great way to get an alternative perspective on the city’s maritime history and with figures lurking in the shadows, it’s a guaranteed fright night.