hillfort – The Hedge Druid

Cloud sylphs love cities too

May 30, 2013May 29, 2013 Gwas No Comments

I was recently lucky enough to spend a long weekend in Barcelona. I’ve never been to the city before and was looking forward to it because people who had been have all said that it was a lovely place. I began to wonder what it was about the city that everyone “took to”. What was it that … Read More “Cloud sylphs love cities too” »

Spring Equinox 2013 – Day of the Crow Part 3

March 31, 2013March 31, 2013 Gwas No Comments

Ancient Sites, Dowsing, Hedge Druidry, Spirits, Trees, Wheel of the Year

In this third part of my Spring Equinox quest to link the four sites of a landscape sigil based on the elements we come to the Earth site – Caer Caradog. The snows that covered the hills on that day are still with us weeks later as we go into April, that’s how embedded this cold snap was. On the Spring Equinox I had to be quick at my work because this was no time to hang around enjoying the views!

Saying that, I was lucky to get to Caer Caradog at all. Although I had it pinned on a map as a specific location down to the smallest possible degree, that wasn’t the issue. I knew where it was – I just couldn’t get to it! As I came up through the slightly famous village of Cerrigydrudion (partly thanks to Julian Cope‘s song) I came across my first barrier – a diversion sign due to a roadworks on the tiny B5105 country road that led straight to the hillfort.

Two way to get to Caer Caradog - the hard and the harder way — Two way to get to Caer Caradog – the hard and the harder way

I circumvented the roadworks by going all the way around the hill and up the other side of it to arrive on the top and drive past the top of the hill whilst looking for s stopping point. Ah! The next barrier is parking. There isn’t any. I took my chances with the roadworks and parked up at pretty much the only space in the tiny road where two cars could pass safely. That was almost at the bottom of the slop, so that meant a long climb back up to get to the hill. *Sigh* – another climb today. I hope the universe is watching this display of dedication!

If you’re thinking of visiting yourself I’d have a read of the accounts on the Modern Antiquarian site. They give you a flavour of the ‘welcome’ you can expect – public rights of way ignored, new fences of barbed wire criss-crossing your path, and lots of mud on the way up. I fought all the barriers, all the methods intended to dissuade the casual visitor and trepidacious tourist – I am neither of those things – I had a mission to accomplish.

Imbolc 2013 Part 4 – The Maiden In Pink

February 16, 2013November 8, 2013 Gwas No Comments

Ancient Sites, Wheel of the Year

In the final part of our Imbolc excursion to Cumbria I will be showing you another new site for us – Maiden Castle – near the village of Wreay above the north end of Ullswater Lake. The story of how we found it is the real tale here, and the communion we had while there adds the final flourish to the whole episode.

Having already taken a wrong turn trying to find the narrow lane that led to the field in which the castle was supposed to be, according to the maps, we were somewhat exasperated already as we cruised along the hillside at slow speed trying to get a visual fix on any form of earthwork or stone cluster that might indicate a ‘castle’. Kal had been fully expecting a proper castle with turrets, flags and portcullis, but I assured him that we were looking form something far more mundane and far less spectacular!

The light was beginning to dim. The sun was descending behind the huge distant hills around Ullswater Lake. I had joked at the beginning of the day that we would probably arrive at the castle for sunset, and the joke was becoming a reality. Would we find the castle site before it got dark and too treacherous to locate?

We were about to give up. I stopped the car and insisted that Kal dowse whether we should continue looking or go to somewhere nearby like Castlerigg. I ditched the OS map and instead used the Viewranger pinpoint that I had preset the day before.

NOTE: Viewranger is superb for outdoor work of this kind such as finding sacred sites. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a complete lifesaver sometimes.

Go check them out if you like walking, running or discovering new places.

This was a precise fix on the castle and should allow us to home in on it. Kal returned – we had to find Maiden Castle, there were no alternatives! What now?

At that exact moment, sat in the car wondering whether to drive home or head out into the dim light in search of something we were both startled from our thoughts. A hawk burst out of a bush next to the car and flew across the bonnet. It swooped down into the vale below and disappeared again. Well – did we need any better sign? One glance was enough – we were decided – that was the sign we needed to venture forth. Then we noticed the footpath sign next to the car. Well, obviously, that would take us to the castle, right? Let’s hope so.

Ionian Equinox 6 – Dun Bhuirg and the Dark Ring

October 14, 2012 Gwas 8 Comments

Ancient Sites, Energy cleansing, Hedge Druidry, Natural Magick, Other Entities, Staff, Wheel of the Year

We walked away from Angel Hill. We probably had a discussion for the next ten minutes or more about the definitions of “alien”, “angel” and any energy that could be associated with the two. Although my quest had been to find the alien energy spot that corresponded to the one at Karnak Temple, this had not yet been located. Yes, I had felt the presence of something that may have been an “angel” form of energy, but the particular energy resident somewhere on the island had not yet been located.

Soon we turned our attentions away from arguing (sorry, debating) and our hearts and minds were captured by the rise and fall of the tide as it washed the western shores of Iona’s granite coastline. There were innumerable rocks that were “calling out to us” to pick them up as we walked along. I relented finally and picked on up. It was white speckled granite and I wondered how far it would make me carry it. We are, after all, merely transporters for rocks, you know? Didn’t you know that was our purpose here on Earth? 😉

Soon we were at a parting of the ways. I wanted to climb the incredibly steep slopes, but I realised that this would be impractical for Kal. He instead opted for the serene shores of the beautiful white beach that revealed itself to us as we stood on the promontary overlooking the scenery, assessing our next steps. On the skyline the imposing slope of Dun Bhuirg stood tall and proud against an increasingly blue canvas.

: Dun Bhuirg hillfort overlooks Iona’s best beach

Dun Bhuirg

Notice how the shape of Dun Bhuirg, seen from the west, looks the exact same shape as Angel Hill which is within sight of it, less than a mile away? Yet another coincidence. It’s the same shape as Oran’s Mound in the grounds of the Abbey too. Three sacred sites on a small island – three identical topographies.

I stopped staring at the beautiful beach and left Kal to his meditations. I made my way to the bottom of the “hillfort” and began the steep climb up the slippery slope, with its crossing streams, wet grass, and perpendicular rock face. It was such a treacherous climb with my staff in hand, and I was deeply concerned about how to get back down again – I was thinking I might need air-sea rescue or something!

The Berth and Death of Scorpius 2011

October 16, 2011September 12, 2026 Gwas 8 Comments

Ancient Sites

I sometimes find myself doing some very strange things without knowing why. This night was one of those strange evenings, and yet the strangeness would continue beyond this night and lead to an even stranger conclusion by the time I had finished unravelling all of the clues. I had decided that at some point in the week … Read More “The Berth and Death of Scorpius 2011” »

South Wales 2011 : Part 3 – The Samson Stone and the Stone Museum

September 26, 2011September 12, 2026 Gwas 2 Comments

Ancient Sites, Dowsing, Energy grid, Theory

In this third part of our South Wales trip I talk about our visit to a museum of stones, and then go on to discuss the amazing findings at the Samson Stone – a standing stone linked in to a very ancient network of energies related to the myths surrounding King Arthur. You can also watch a video of Kal dowsing the … Read More “South Wales 2011 : Part 3 – The Samson Stone and the Stone Museum” »

Ridgeway 2010 – The walk, the hawk and the chalk

September 20, 2010September 10, 2026 Gwas 2 Comments

Dowsing, Modern Druidry, Other reports

Saturday 28th August, 2010 – Ridgeway, Oxfordshire. I was lucky enough to get to walk for a day along The Ridgeway – a trackway that follows the prominent chalk ridge running through Oxfordshire and into Wiltshire. It is famous as an ancient trackway and pilgrimage route across England, and its modern version stretches from Ivinghoe Beacon … Read More “Ridgeway 2010 – The walk, the hawk and the chalk” »

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