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Beastly History
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Dartmoor’s Demon Dogs
It’s 1901. Writer Arthur Conan Doyle is on holiday when he first hears whispers of a chilling local legend - spectral hounds said to tear across the wilds of Dartmoor under cover of darkness.
A tale of an evil squire. A cursed family. And a pack of demonic dogs haunting the moors.
We’re delving into the story of how this eerie West Country folklore inspired one of the greatest gothic thrillers of all time: The Hound of the Baskervilles - and why its creation posed a huge dilemma for Doyle and his most famous character, Sherlock Holmes.
Joining Michelle is dark heritage expert Dr Romany Reagan to dig into folklore, fear, and the beasts that stalk our minds.
Get ready for a spine-tingling first ever episode of Beastly History!
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Introducing Beastly History
00:46|Welcome to Beastly History – the podcast where you’ll hear the most thrilling tales of people and the wild.Perilous polar expeditions. Unbelievable survival stories. The true origins of animal myths and legends. And natural history’s heroes, villains and oddballs.Join me, wildlife producer Michelle Douglass as we investigate the juicy, mysterious and gripping history of our planet and our place on it. The world is full of brilliantly beastly stories. Come and explore with Beastly History, landing 27 February 2026.Follow Beastly History wherever you get your podcastsAnd find me on Instagram @beastlyhistory