Back to Events
Herne the Hunter
A ghostly huntsman with antlers growing from his head. He leads a spectral hunt through Windsor Forest on winter nights. Shakespeare wrote of him. Some say he's an ancient god; others, a hanged gamekeeper.
Ancient - Present
Windsor Forest, England
500+ witnesses
Herne the Hunter is a ghost from English folklore, associated with Windsor Forest and the Wild Hunt.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
Herne the Hunter:
- Haunts Windsor Forest
- Has antlers on his head
- Leads a phantom hunt
- Appears on winter nights
- An ancient and powerful spirit
Appearance
Herne appears as:
- A spectral huntsman
- Stag antlers growing from head
- Chains rattling
- Riding a black horse
- Leading spectral hounds
Origin Stories
Two main theories:
- A gamekeeper who hanged himself
- After losing royal favor
- Or an ancient Celtic god
- Cernunnos the horned one
- Christianized into a ghost
Shakespeare’s Account
In The Merry Wives of Windsor:
- “There is an old tale goes that Herne the Hunter”
- “Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest”
- “Doth all the wintertime, at still midnight”
- “Walk round about an oak, with great ragged horns”
Herne’s Oak
A specific tree:
- Where Herne appears
- In Windsor Great Park
- Several oaks have claimed the title
- The original long gone
- Replacements planted
Modern Sightings
Still reported:
- Hunters hear the horn
- Spectral hounds seen
- Antlered figure glimpsed
- In Windsor Great Park
- On stormy winter nights