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Odd things that have happened at dusk in the UK.

272 replies

rewilded · 13/09/2024 23:00

I was driving back to my campsite from Lizard's Point to St Ives at dusk, and my sat nav kept directing me onto narrow B roads. One particular turn felt wrong from the start. We were quite high up, and the lane grew narrower and more rugged as we went further down. The road eventually turned into a rubbly track, with steep banks on both sides, dense undergrowth, and trees leaning over, giving it an eerie atmosphere. I grew anxious, worried that another car might come from the opposite direction since reversing would have been impossible. I was also convinced that one side was either a cliff edge or a steep drop. The thought of being ambushed crossed my mind, especially since I had my teenage daughter with me.

Suddenly, the sat nav cut out, and we found ourselves at a dead end with a fjord at the bottom. The road ended abruptly, swallowed by thick undergrowth and forest on the other side. An overwhelming sense of dread washed over me—an indescribable feeling of pure evil. I was terrified.

It took everything I had to reverse back up the hill, and it felt almost impossible to make it out. When I finally reached the top and got back onto the road, I stopped for a moment to compose myself. Just then, a car emerged from that very lane and sped off. I’ve never gotten onto an A road so quickly in my life.

OP posts:
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pictoosh · 14/09/2024 08:03

SockQueen · 13/09/2024 23:07

Do we have fjords in the UK??

She means a ford. And we do.

AgnesX · 14/09/2024 08:05

It's not Halloween yet....what's with all the woo posts.

Jennyathemall · 14/09/2024 08:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Electric cars would likely get stuck less in fords as they don’t need air to feed into the engine. The electrics and batteries are all well sealed so going through the water shouldn’t be a problem. Regular combustion engine vehicles get stuck in fords all the time when the water washes over the front and cuts off the air intake and the engine stalls. That’s why is always best to go slow and steady rather than gun it to prevent the wash over.

Ladyritacircumference · 14/09/2024 08:09

SockQueen · 13/09/2024 23:07

Do we have fjords in the UK??

Yes we have a few. For example Loch Seaforth on the Isle of Harris. In Wales there is a couple.Non in the West Country though.

Lolatusernamesuggestions · 14/09/2024 08:09

PickAChew · 13/09/2024 23:11

My ex washed the dishes, once.

🤣

Jamfirstest · 14/09/2024 08:11

From lizard point it would be the main road back to helston then down the back road to hayle then along from Caribs bay into st Ives. Once you get to helston there's no really tiny roads you need to drive on.
However if you actually meant lands end to st ives then the road over zen or and the eagles nest is quite small and winds around and is quite rough terrain.

OldTinHat · 14/09/2024 08:15

Where I live, we call roads with passing paces and are tarmacked, motorways!

BreatheAndFocus · 14/09/2024 08:18

rewilded · 13/09/2024 23:54

No turns. Steep drop one side and dense wall and thickets the other side trees etc dry stone walls. I was looking for a turning as I wanted to turn and get the hell out of there!

Lol! 😆 You just need to get used to single rack roads and Cornish hedges (that’s what made you feel ‘closed in’). You also need to check a map rather than use satnav. Satnav doesn’t seem to differentiate between normal roads and rarely used tracks.

There are whole websites devoted to visitors to Cornwall who blindly followed their satnav and got stuck 😀

Trainerstrainers · 14/09/2024 08:19

@LochKatrine agree re Satnav but just don’t think I would get used to it. As you say it’s the lack of light, headlights, & close woodland.

LochKatrine · 14/09/2024 08:20

Trainerstrainers · 14/09/2024 08:19

@LochKatrine agree re Satnav but just don’t think I would get used to it. As you say it’s the lack of light, headlights, & close woodland.

Yes, the close woodland - it can look spooky with just headlights!

Miffylou · 14/09/2024 08:22

Is this your homework for a creative writing class?

Trainerstrainers · 14/09/2024 08:29

I did recently see a badger driving (as a passenger) at night in the countryside. Was very excited!

Sharptonguedwoman · 14/09/2024 08:29

rewilded · 13/09/2024 23:06

This happened.

I believe you. DP and I have both beet to Cornwall on many occasions. We took a detour once through a village, just to see what was there but were both profoundly uncomfortable and I'm the biggest sceptic there ever was. The weather was very grey and gloomy which didn't help but even so. Not been back.

sashh · 14/09/2024 08:32

ssd · 14/09/2024 08:02

Why is cornwall mysterious??

You need to ask?

A place with no motorways, their own language, refer to everywhere else as 'up country' whether it is Devon or Aberdeen.

You need to respect the mystery when travelling there.

Fescue · 14/09/2024 08:34

CormorantStrikesBack · 13/09/2024 23:24

I’ve been down that very lane near St Ives, there’s a tunnel under the Ford. You must have missed it. 😁

I saw what you did there. 😀

LochKatrine · 14/09/2024 08:34

Trainerstrainers · 14/09/2024 08:29

I did recently see a badger driving (as a passenger) at night in the countryside. Was very excited!

A badger was driving as a passenger? That's so dangerous, it really ought to have been in the driver's seat for secure control.

Fescue · 14/09/2024 08:35

Jamfirstest · 14/09/2024 08:11

From lizard point it would be the main road back to helston then down the back road to hayle then along from Caribs bay into st Ives. Once you get to helston there's no really tiny roads you need to drive on.
However if you actually meant lands end to st ives then the road over zen or and the eagles nest is quite small and winds around and is quite rough terrain.

But where are the fords there?

Trainerstrainers · 14/09/2024 08:38

@LochKatrine oops! 😆😆😆 you can understand why I was so excited though!

Squirrelsnut · 14/09/2024 08:39

I believe you, OP. Your stress translated into fear of an unfamiliar and uncanny situation. God knows about the other car, though.

Ghosttofu99 · 14/09/2024 08:40

The car probably just came from the other side of the Ford. I used to live near one and you’d be surprised how regularly people would drive through it in all types of cars including in flooding. Occasionally cars would float off. Council would put up barriers etc but people would just move them and drive anyway.

LeontineFrance · 14/09/2024 08:48

This happened to us twice in Cornwall - once ending up in a farm yard and the other on a foot path. Also, another car emerging was perhaps a couple up to 'how's your father' (old fashioned word for hanky panky), they saw or heard your car and decided it wasn't safe to stay there! All explainable.

Duckinglunacy · 14/09/2024 08:49

Jamfirstest · 14/09/2024 08:11

From lizard point it would be the main road back to helston then down the back road to hayle then along from Caribs bay into st Ives. Once you get to helston there's no really tiny roads you need to drive on.
However if you actually meant lands end to st ives then the road over zen or and the eagles nest is quite small and winds around and is quite rough terrain.

Could be - but if the route went from Helston towards Marazion then fords over towards the red river is possible. Sounds like the most likely spot, or even the river Hayle if headed up across country that way. The Helston > Hayle road is a good option but is a B road compared with the Helston > Marazion A road, so satnav could have suggested either.

AbbeyGrange · 14/09/2024 08:50

SockQueen · 13/09/2024 23:07

Do we have fjords in the UK??

The OP meant these

Odd things that have happened at dusk in the UK.
BigDahliaFan · 14/09/2024 08:56

crackofdoom · 13/09/2024 23:14

To be fair, this is not dissimilar to the accounts of first time visitors who have used their satnav to get to my village.

Grin
justasking111 · 14/09/2024 08:58

crackofdoom · 13/09/2024 23:14

To be fair, this is not dissimilar to the accounts of first time visitors who have used their satnav to get to my village.

Ours too in Wales. Sat nav glitches in our village which has two small campsites, we've often had a knock on the door because folks have been misdirected. We also have dead end narrow tracks.