Another “help me find this childhood book title” request

[MangoSeason]

I read this book in the late 1980s. It was about a group of children battling a witch. I can only remember vignettes-

1. A child having to walk though a dark railway tunnel but was protected from evil by dragging a rowen stick along the tunnel wall
2. The witch transforming into or projecting the image of a distressed kitten floating down a river on debris
3. The children running to escape but being constantly stopped by trees in their path. They realise it is an illusion and start running straight through the trees.

That’s about all I remember, aside from really enjoying it! I seem to have only read it once, so it was maybe a book at someone’s house I was visiting. I always re-read books voraciously so it was not one of mine or a library book that I could re-borrow.

The Haunted Cove?

No I don’t think so Mrs Grumpy. I just had a read of that description and it is a US book. This one was set in the English countryside and I don’t think it was near the seaside at all. That one looks fun though! I’m trying to expand my kids’ reading outside The Wimpy Kid books.

Well met by Witchlight?

Sounds good!!!

@Sargass0

Well met by Witchlight?

I don’t think so. The witch in my story was malevolent.

The Frightened Forest by Ann Turnbull

I'm sorry I have no idea what book it is but the memories you described are like something straight out of my dreams!

This has intrigued me! Could it be Nigel Hinton's Beaver Tower's The Witches Revenge?

It sounds vaguely familiar. I think I’ve read it and I want to again after reading your description!

Not Hounds of the Morrigan is it? I vaguely remember something about a river but it’s Irish rather than English.

Oh I loved The Hounds of the Morrigan! Had entirely forgotten that book.

Linnets and Valerians? I can’t remember well enough whether it really fits your description but it’s not a million miles away.

I loved it too ChameleonClara. I bought it with my pocket money from our local bookshop and was very bitter when it was lost in a house move.

I’m having fun looking up all of these and ordering them for DD1.

Not Linnets and Valerians.

I did wonder whether it was Beaver Towers as I think the Witch did turn into things, but the OP said children and there's only Philip (Flipip) and Baby Beaver.

Could it be one of the Alan Garner books?

“When Gillian takes up cousin Paul's dare and walks through the abandoned railway tunnel alone, feeling her way with a rowan branch, she drives an old witch out of her longtime captivity.”

@MooseBeTimeForSummer

The Frightened Forest by Ann Turnbull

That’s it! Thank you so much. Off to order a second hand copy now.