A travel memory turned mystery short story
✨ Childhood Fascinations
Ever since I was a child, the Fantasia version of Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain (by Disney) has cast a spell on me. The frenzied dance of spirits under a storm-split sky, followed by Schubert’s Ave Maria – so pure, so redemptive – was one of the first contrasts that enchanted me: good and devil, chaos and grace, night and dawn. Little did I know that years later, I’d find myself in the real-life setting of that same legend, Germany’s Harz Mountains, land of witches, whispering forests, and a brooding peak called the Brocken.
Exploring Quedlinburg: A Hidden Gem in Saxony 
We began our Harz adventure in Quedlinburg, a perfectly preserved town where half-timbered houses tilt and climb their way up to a medieval castle. I wrote in my travel diary:
“This is Quedlinburg, a small town in Saxony made entirely of half-timbered houses climbing toward the castle. Cobbled streets, colourful façades, and souvenir shops with just the right amount of kitsch. And so many cafés to catch our breath from the blistering sun.”
The castle museum promised tales of the abbesses who once ruled with iron rosaries—but it was a bit sparse. Luckily, the castle café (shockingly not a tourist trap) more than made up for it: Spätzle with local mushrooms, sweet-and-sour cabbage just how we like it, and an apple strudel that might still show up in my dreams.
“From the castle terrace, the rooftops of Quedlinburg looked like marzipan. The ivy-wrapped Rathaus, pastel-coloured facades, vivid doors… it really does feel like a gingerbread town.”
The Legend of Walpurgis Night (and Why It’s Celebrated in Germany) 
If you’re not familiar with Walpurgis Night, it falls on 30 April and is often described as the Halloween of Central Europe. It blends ancient pagan rites with Christian tradition and is named after Saint Walpurga, an English missionary who travelled to Germany in the 8th century. Her feast day (1 May) overlapped with springtime rituals involving fire, fertility, and the vanquishing of evil spirits. Over time, the two merged, giving us a night where witches fly to the Brocken, bonfires are lit, masks donned, and whole towns throw light-heartedly spooky parties.
Hiking the Harz: From Blankenburg to Forest Fairytales
We had planned to take the steam train up Brocken Mountain, the very spot where witches are said to meet, but it was too hot (over 35ºC), and we had Frodo with us. So instead, we embarked on a partly shaded hike starting at Blankenburg Castle, passing gardens and meadows, winding deeper into the Harz National Park.
“7km later, like any good fairy tale, we reached our happy ending: coffee and cake at the Hotel Ziekenkopf. Fatal mistake: we ordered two slices instead of one to share. Never underestimate German portion sizes!”
And as for the truly unforgettable part?
“Someone went for a swim in a pond that absolutely reeked of rotting algae and fermented mud. The scent will follow them for days. No, I’m not naming names.”
Why I Wrote a Mystery About Witches, Bonfires, and a Psychic on a Train
A crackling bonfire, the scent of toasted almonds, a half-laughed shiver as a costumed “witch” swooped past, Walpurgis Night in the Harz Mountains lodged itself in my mind long before I knew there would be a story.
Real and half-imagined memories – eerie folklore stitched to very solid landscapes, soot-smudged faces, and slabs of cake for courage – have never quite let go, even though we visited the Harz under August sunshine.
So, when it came time to send my two globe-trotting sleuths, golden girls Dora and Etta of The Homeswappers Mysteries, onto their next adventure, I bundled them aboard a rattling regional train, seated them opposite a nervous psychic, and aimed them straight at the Brocken on the most perilous night of the year. Cue dark premonitions, chocolate witches, and a climb lit only by bonfires and rumour.
Read “Witches Night on The Brocken”
✨ This (long) short story (about 60pages) will be exclusive to Kickstarter, as part of the Lake District Cottages and Corpses launch, you can follow the project here: Kickstarter Lake District Cottages and Corpses.
Heading to Germany in late April? Bring a jacket, a healthy respect for witchy folklore… and avoid murky water.
You’ve been warned!
