Hidden in the Wharfedale valley of the Yorkshire Dales lies Troller's Gill, a collapsed limestone ravine shrouded in folklore and rumoured to be haunted by a demonic hound known as the Barghest. This secret gem, virtually invisible from the roadside, offers a moderate 2.6 km walk that takes about an hour, with some scrambling required.
According to local legend, the Barghest is a massive hound with luminous eyes, and encountering it is a harbinger of death. Tales claim that those who cross its path are often crushed or torn apart. One story tells of John Lambert of Skirethorns, who boasted in a pub that he would give the beast a good thrashing, only to be fatally crushed by the dog on his way home.
The earliest documented account of the Barghest comes from a poem by John Henry Dixon of Grassington, published in William Hone's Table Book in 1827. The ballad describes a man who ventures into the Gill to summon the creature, ignoring warnings from the spirit of the stream. He draws a protective circle but is ultimately seized and dragged to his death by the growling hound.
The ravine's name itself hints at its supernatural associations. 'Troller's Gill' is believed to derive from 'Troll's Valley', rooted in Scandinavian languages, where 'troll' encompasses various supernatural beings, from giants to goblins. The term 'trolldom' refers to witchcraft, suggesting the valley is cursed or inhabited by otherworldly entities.
Visitors today can access the site via free parking on New Road, followed by a 15-minute walk to the disused Gill Heads Mine, which closed in the early 1980s. The mine entrance is gated and partially blocked by rockfall, and visitors are strongly advised not to enter due to hazards like potholes and collapse risks.
