Is It Worth Visiting The Location Of The Rendlesham Forest Incident?

So, driving through the rain with the leaves blowing off the trees across the darkening countryside of East Anglia, listening to Danny Robins 'Uncanny' podcast episode about Rendlesham playing on the car stereo as part of our research, the scene was set as we attempted to gain some insight into what happened here back in 1980.

Laurie very much of the opinion that aliens haven't visited the earth, ghosts aren't real, and if anything weird happens to you, it will have a rational explanation. He tells me all of his school friends feel the same way, and I can't blame him. The media he's been brought up with hasn't been full of paranormal films, TV shows and news reports in the same way mine was in the 70s and 80s. From 'Close Encounters' through to crop circles, there was always something unexplained happening in the news when I was growing up. I'd first heard about Rendlesham many years ago and had been on my list of places to visit for a long time.

The way RAF Woodbridge is placed, the airbase was originally constructed in world war two by clearing a section Rendlesham Forest, means you're not just looking at trees all the time. You have this critically important piece of Cold War infrastructure jutting into an area of woodland. It puts the trees into stark contrast with the runway and airbase fencing.

The woodland here is owned by Forestry England, the body which manages publicly owned woodland in England. They've created a parking area with toilets, play area, walking trails, a campsite etc, so it means you've got facilities to help you explore the area at your leisure.

There was a very decent food van there when we visited. The man running it told us he's served people this year from across the world who have made a pilgrimage to Rendlesham as UFO fans. But on the rainy day we were there, it was families walking dogs, bike riders and the odd cross-country runner tearing about the place, rather than visitors from another world.

One of the best things Forestry England have done to help UFO fans is produce this leaflet which acts as a map and guide to the key locations in Rendlesham Forest – taking you on a UFO trail through the trees.

The route is about three miles, and is reasonably accessible – there are no gates or stiles blocking your path. So if you have a child in a buggy or someone with you in a wheelchair which is capable of travelling on grassy/woody ground, you should have no trouble getting around.

The food van man told us that having grown up in the area, he'd heard about the Rendlesham Incident since he was a young child. So do all the locals believe a UFO actually landed here in 1980? "Well, I wouldn't go that far. I'd say opinion locally is divided, some believe, but not everyone."

So with his open minded comment ringing in our ears, the caffeine buzz from a delicious flat white powering through our veins, and the free Rendlesham Forest UFO trail leaflet in our hands, we headed off into the woods, feeling a bit like we were in an episode of 'The X Files'.

We found a couple of drawings carved into the sand of the path depicting a flying saucer and an alien. Whilst not evidence of alien life, they did show that on that rainy October day, we were not alone... in following the UFO trail through the woods.

He got to tell me about his burgeoning interest in horror films, but as for alien visits? He remains 100% convinced that whatever happened here was nothing to do with aliens. But that did open up a discussion around what other reasons might have caused the reports made, and to cover the wider context of the location.

By context I mean both the immediate physical landscape in which we find Rendlesham, but also what was happening in society at the time. A Cold War airbase must have been an incredibly exciting and dynamic location. Planes designed to takeoff and fight a war against Russian armour crossing the plains of Germany should the forces of the Warsaw Pact decided that enough was enough and they were going to invade.

So this was already a highly protected and secretive place, access would be prohibited. What's more, Rendlesham is only a few miles from Orford Ness, a coastal area where military research was carried out. From early radar experiments and A-Bomb research through to highly experimental over the horizon 'Cobra-Mist' Cold War radar research. Whether it was inquisitive aliens, enemy spies or strange lights from the coast, all of this is part of trying to form a picture of what happened in Rendlesham in 1980.

And what about further back in time? Rendlesham is only a few miles from Sutton Hoo, site of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time, the Anglo-Saxon burial site of a high-status individual, possibly a king of East Anglia.

If you fancy alleged devil dogs, then East Anglian folklore has it that a demonic dog known as Black Shuck left his claw marks in the door of Blythburgh church, which is only about 25 mins drive away.

There's no shortage of other places to explore nearby, which might act as some kind of influence on events at Rendlesham.

Handily, on the sister station to RAF Woodbridge, a few minutes drive away, is a small but perfectly formed museum to give you an insight into what was happening on these RAF bases at the time. Although originally set up as RAF stations, for many decades these bases were to all intents and purposes little islands of the USA floating in the East Anglian farmland. The largest of which had their own supermarkets, bowling alleys and US car dealerships. Growing up in East Anglia in the 1980s meant an almost daily chance to see state-of-the-art military hardware flying about the skies as NATO air forces practised for what everyone hoped wouldn't happen – war with the Warsaw Pact. At Bentwaters, the museum is housed in the former hardened command post, a concrete bunker designed to protect those running the base from nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional attack. Outside the bunker are a few aircraft, including an A-10 tankbuster, a Harrier and a Phantom, cold war classics all.

The museum is full of equipment, models and more that help you understand what was happening here at the time of the Rendlesham Incident. The museum too is fully aware of the alleged alien visitors the area has had. As you enter the cold war bunker, don't forget to turn to your left. Tucked behind a blast door, is an alien autopsy room, featuring an 'alien' body, well, a model. The wall next to it is covered with the newspaper headlines related to the events in Rendlesham Forest.

Check museum opening times before visiting as it is only open on certain dates of the year.

You can't help but think that if Rendlesham was in the US, they'd be a load more activity about the place. It's a very British experience, almost like we're embarrassed these American servicemen made all this fuss about seeing aliens a few decades ago. There are no shops selling alien themed toys and sweets, or 'I saw the aliens in Rendlesham Forest' t-shirts. Which highlights the fact for most people it is just somewhere to go for a walk or a ride.

Having said that, as someone who first heard about the story in the 1980s, it's long been an ambition of mine to visit. To spend a couple of hours walking the ground, talking about different reasons why someone might think they've seen an alien spaceship, and to get an insight into what life was like on the airbases at the time was seen as time well spent by both of us. The leaflet really interesting, very well designed and easy to follow, and I feel the walk really helps you understand the geography of the incident.

I think if you're interested in the paranormal and UFO sightings then Rendlesham is definitely worth a detour.