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The Story-Keeper's Kit for a Haunted Inn: Cozy & Whimsigoth Essentials
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items A curated collection of cozy and slightly spooky treasures for a weekend spent in a place where the woodlands whisper and legends live on. This guide gathers all the essentials for the perfect haunted hotel stay or whimsigoth getaway, from wearable g...
Sections
6
The Guardian's Wardrobe (Cozy & Protective Attire)
Provisions for the Gloaming (Warmth & Comfort)
The Story-Keeper's Toolkit (Atmosphere & Investigation)
Charms of the Hearth & Hedgerow (Folklore & Protection)
Whispers from the Library (Required Reading & Listening)
The Wanderer's Map (Legendary Haunts to Visit & Stay)
The Guardian's Wardrobe (Cozy & Protective Attire)
To keep you warm and protected, even when the floorboards creak and the night grows cold. These are our essentials for staying cozy, body and soul.
You can't always trust the inn's throw blanket. I always bring my own proper, heirloom-quality wool blanket. It’s perfect for building a cozy reading nook by the fire or for wrapping around your shoulders when you’re telling ghost stories. This one h...
Shadow Plaid Wool Throw
This is the ultimate guardian for a haunted weekend. In our folklore, the Annwfn Warden isn't a spirit to be feared; he is the great protector of the path between worlds, a 'guardian of the final peace'. He's the perfect companion to wear when you're...
The Annwfn Warden: Woodland Goth Bear Unisex T-Shirt
A haunted inn weekend is not the time for thin socks. I live in these merino wool socks. They are unbelievably warm and thick, perfect for padding down a chilly hallway for a midnight investigation or for wearing under boots while exploring the local...
Everyday Cozy Cabin Games Crew Socks
Provisions for the Gloaming (Warmth & Comfort)
Because every ghost hunt is made better with a hot drink in hand. A gathering of comforting brews and the vessels to carry them in.
The perfect vessel for your hot cider. This reminds me of the classic plaid thermoses my dad had. It’s a piece of cozy nostalgia, and it’s essential for keeping your brew steaming hot as you wander the inn's grounds at twilight, looking for... well, ...
Revival Stainless Steel Flask Plaid 500ml
For when it's too late for cider and you need something to calm your nerves before bed. This 'Moondrop Dreams' blend from British tea makers Bird & Blend is my favourite. It's a gentle, sleepy herbal tea that feels perfectly suited for a night of...
Moondrop Dreams Tea
You can't have a thermos of hot cider without the scent of a proper brew. I love these artisanal mulling kits—they're pre-packaged with whole spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Just simmer with cider (or apple juice!) and the entire inn ro...
Spiced Cider Mulling Spice Kit
If you prefer to make your own mulling blend, this is my go-to simple recipe. It's all about the whole spices, a bit of citrus peel, and letting it simmer low and slow. A non-negotiable for a spooky, cozy weekend.
Crisp Fall Days Call for Mulled Apple Cider
The Story-Keeper's Toolkit (Atmosphere & Investigation)
The essential tools for the curious wanderer. For documenting your findings, lighting the way, and staying safe.
Every story-keeper needs a place to record their tales. This hand-bound leather journal feels like it's already full of secrets. It’s perfect for pressing flowers from the garden, sketching the inn's architecture, or, you know, noting down every time...
Mission Leather Notebook Cover
Way more stylish (and often brighter!) than your phone's camera light. A solid brass flashlight just feels more appropriate for a midnight excursion to the library. This one from Olight has a great weight to it and develops a beautiful, antiqued pati...
i18 Brass USB-C Rechargeable EDC Keychain Torch
You'll need a mug for your morning-after tea. This one features our 'Loyal Familiar.' In the Englandbear folklore, his legend is a protective one—he's the 'Warden Against the Wild Hunt,' a steadfast guardian who creates a powerful protective ward aga...
Loyal Familiar Dog Mug | Wild Hunt Folklore Coffee Cup
A guide to Ghost Hunting for curious story keepers
Ghost Hunting Tips: Expert Guide to Paranormal Investigation
This is the most important item in the kit. Our brand ethos is 'Tread lightly, live gently,' and that applies to all inhabitants, seen and unseen. We're guests in their space. This is a wonderful guide on how to be a thoughtful, respectful, and gentl...
Respectful Ghost Hunting: Insights into the Paranormal | Powell's Books
Charms of the Hearth & Hedgerow (Folklore & Protection)
A little bundle of ancient folk magic, drawn from the British hedgerows. Small, powerful charms to ward off malevolent spirits and ensure a peaceful night's sleep.
Black salt is a powerful tool in folk magic used for protection, banishing, and warding off negative energies. The traditional use is to sprinkle a tiny, discreet line across the threshold of your inn door—it's said to prevent any... unwelcome... spi...
Black Salt, Witches Salt, Sal Negra | For Protection
A small charm like this, handmade with real rowan, was traditionally hung by a door or sewn into a coat lining to ward off any malevolent spirits. A must-have.
House Protection - Rowan Crosses — Cailleach's Cottage
If the rowan is for witches, 'cold iron' is for everything else. In folklore, fairies and ghosts cannot stand the touch of iron. A simple, hand-forged iron charm, like a little key or a "Troll Cross," was seen as a powerful amulet.
Hand-Forged Iron Troll Cross Pendant | Viking Norse Amulet
Don't have any fancy black salt? Don't worry. Simple table salt is one of the oldest protective charms in the book. Just grab a pinch from the dining room! In folklore, it's just as effective at driving off unwanted fae or spirits.
Fairies and Salt
Whispers from the Library (Required Reading & Listening)
No haunted weekend is complete without the right atmosphere. Here are our favourite ghost stories and folklore podcasts to listen to on the drive or read by the fire.
For the true 'dark academia' experience, you have to go to the masters. This collection is full of the stories that started it all—think spooky scholars, haunted artifacts, and a delicious sense of unease. Perfect for reading by candlelight.
The Oxford Book of Victorian Ghost Stories by Michael Cox, R. A. Gilbert | Waterstones
This is, for me, the most perfect English ghost story. It’s all atmosphere—fog, salt marshes, and a creeping sense of dread. It’s the ideal read to get you in the mood, and it will make you very glad you're not staying at Eel Marsh House.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill | Waterstones
A collection of tales from the haunted forests of Britain. It reminds us that the magic of the woods isn't always gentle; sometimes it's ancient, wild, and deeply spooky.
Weird Woods by John Miller | Waterstones
My absolute favourite podcast for a deep, academic, and fascinating dive into folklore. It’s not 'spooky'; it’s just incredibly well-researched. The perfect listen for the drive to the inn.
Podcast recommendations - Tales of Britain and Ireland
If you want your folklore in shorter, 15-minute bursts with a slightly more 'whimsigoth' feel, Icy's podcast is a joy. She covers everything from protective plants to haunted castles.
Podcast: Fabulous Folklore with Icy
The classic. If you're new to the world of folklore podcasts, this is the place to start. Each episode is a beautifully told, atmospheric micro-story. Just be warned: you might not want to listen to it alone in the dark.
Lore
The Wanderer's Map (Legendary Haunts to Visit & Stay)
You've gathered your kit, your charms are in your pocket, and your journal is ready. But where to go? Here are a few legendary locations in the UK, steeped in stories and waiting to be respectfully explored.
Hailed as one of the most haunted inns in the UK, this Grade II listed building dates back to the 12th century. You can still stay here today. It’s a place of secret passages and smuggling legends (the infamous Hawkhurst Gang used it as a stronghold)...
For the Classic Tale: The Mermaid Inn
If a cozy inn isn't grand enough, why not a 13th-century fortress? Often called Britain's most haunted historic castle, Chillingham is a place of battle and legend. You can stay overnight in one of their eight apartments and, for the truly brave, joi...
For the Gothic Adventure: Britain’s Most Haunted historic castle - Chillingham Castle
Reputed to be one of the most haunted buildings in the world, it's said to be built on an ancient pagan burial ground. The stories here are intense, involving monks, witches, and demonic entities. You can't book a room here for a simple B&B, but ...
For the Brave of Heart: The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire