11/08/24 - The Druid Arms, Stanton Drew

Don't Dance on a Sunday

The Summer Section of the Weird Walks book and I am introduced to Stanton Drew. The folklore;

The Stanton Drew stone circles in Somerset, England, are steeped in legend and mystery. According to local folklore, these ancient stones were once a lively wedding party. The tale tells of a joyous celebration that continued into the Sabbath, with the Devil himself disguised as a fiddler, providing the music. As punishment for their revelry on a holy day, the wedding guests were turned to stone, forever frozen in their dance. Today, these Neolithic monuments stand as a haunting reminder of the consequences of defying sacred traditions, adding a mystical allure to the landscape.

The stones are spread quite wide over the village. Surely the best is The Cove. Three stones, standing in the beer garden of the Druids Arms. The church providing a contrasting spiritual backdrop.

C17th painting, shows this standing - so not for sacrifices

Two standing stones - beer benches off picture and to the left

The first architectural object of interest is found on the approach into the village. A former tollbooth. A charming hexagonal turret like building, complete with hares on a thatched roof.

Click YouTube to see inside.

Its from here we access the countryside. A straightforward climb to the Maes Knoll Hillfort across agricultural land, passing through the two Norton Hamlets, Hawkfield and Malreward. The views from the top are quite something. Bristol to the West, Somerset to the South.

Bristol demands graffiti 

From the flanks of Maes Knoll

After losing the gained height, a pleasant stretch along the River Chew.  Arrival timed to reach the pub with 2 minutes to spare before our 1:30pm booking.

From the road

Something for everyone here - excellent Sunday lunches for the tourists and ramblers. Butcombe and Tribute for the card playing old boys taking advantage of the sunshine. Very friendly service.

Mrs M decides to stay at the Cove, whilst I am forced to investigate the rest of the stones solo. Her rationale? Full of the finest pork belly and Korev, she can always google them later.

The North East Stone Circle.

Walk Details

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 14

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, September 23, Walk 3

23/06/24 - The Cerne Abbas Giant

Dorset Fertility Folklore

This is the blog that possibly gets me a suspension. 

A new book - Weird Walk - is organised in chapters based on the seasons. We may have slipped into Summer but I've only just got around to the first route - Cerne Abbas, Dorset.

High on the hillside, a strange figure is carved into the chalk. Photo's really need to be from the air to do it justice.

Couldn't work out how to blur a photo

Weird Walk's Description;

His feet twist to the left in the manner of Egyptian figures, while his enormous manhood is flanked by stark ribs and topped with slightly wonky nipples.  An elongated arm runs to the right while the other bears a formidable 121ft club. The face is curiously framed, with eyebrows and mouth producing a slightly startled expression, as though you have interrupted the colossal geoglyph in a particularly arousing, yet private, cudgel-wielding session

It certainly holds appeal to tourists. A coach load of Poles taking group selfies stopped me from getting into the last space in Giant's View car park.

The walk is a simple circuit. Through Up Cerne and Minterne Parva before skirting under the Giant and through the Abbey Grounds.

Looking down over Dorset on the Wessex Ridgeway

The best view - apart from by hot air balloon - already experienced

The origins of the Giant are lost in time, but folklore dictates that it is a fertility symbol. Couples who want to conceive encouraged to get busy within the appendage, presumably performing for an audience looking on from the A352. And there's more. Inside the Abbey Graveyard is Silver Well. Its iron rich waters also said to aid conception. All this, and the finding of a 3ft eel in the well, are recounted in the Adventure Lab Cache.

Silver Well - Eel Free today

The final stage of the ALC is simply labelled "Pubs". That will do for me. Cerne Abbas was once a brewery town, supporting 17 pubs. Three remain, along with the Cerne Abbas brewery tap. Alas, not open of a Sunday, otherwise I am sure to have brought back presents.

It's a stunning, timeless village. The sort of place that would encourage Eastern Europeans to travel for days on a bus.

One of the first buildings encountered.

The Royal Oak simply couldn't be ignored. Free standing, ivy clad and with a sign saying "built 1540". Reportedly from materials stolen from the abbey after dissolution.  

Bench to the right had my name on it

Perfect for all seasons - outside seating for the warmer months - low ceiling, stone flagged floors for atmospheric cooler nights. The Cerne Abbas brewery wares are found.

A half of legless jester

Over the road is the Giant Inn - a must tick.

The Good Beer Guide may prove a lifetime challenge too big but at least I can say I have 100% of the UK's pubs where the sign contains an erect member.

Contained a half of Cerne Abbas Blonde

Art

Walk Details

Distance - 4 Miles

Geocaches - 2 and an ALC

Walk Inspiration - AA Pocket Walks of Britain, Walk 3 and Weird Walks