Thursday 23 September 2010

Schiehallion - The Fairy Hill of the Caledonians

There are many legends associated with this mysterious mountain in the centre of Scotland, but I was interested in finding a magical cave in its flank called 'Uamh Tom a'Mhor-fhir' which has much local folklore attached to it concerning the fairies:

"Of all the caves in the Parish, the most remarkable is that at Tom a Mhorair, on the south side of Glenmore, near the west shoulder of Schiehallion. It has a fairly wide opening which extends for three or four yards. It then contracts and slants into total darkness in the bowels of the earth. Some miles to the east of this there is another opening, which tradition holds to be the other end of the cave. According to the traditional accounts, this cave was regarded as an abode of fairies and other supernatural beings, rather than a hiding place of mortals. The only men who were supposed to have lived there were individuals who were believed to have been in league with supernatural powers."

"Two hump-backed men lived on either side of the mountain, one near Braes of Foss and the other near Tempar. One fine summer's eve, the man from Braes of Foss went to visit his friend, walking through Gleann Mor. As he approached the cave - Uamh Tom a'Mhor-fhir - he heard the singing and dancing of fairies. He was totally thrilled and joined in the song in a melodious voice, adding a new line. The fairies were delighted with the addition and gave him three gifts - that he would be tall and lose his hump, that he would be healthy and that he would have plenty until he died."

"There is a famous cave at the foot of Schiehallion where, tradition has it, fairies loved to dwell. There, it is said mortals from time to time dwelt among them, and interesting stories are told of the strange ways in which they were rescued from their power. Behind Schiehallion, again, on Creag Chionneachan, is one of the spots where the old Fingalian warriors were supposed to lie on their elbows awaiting the third blast of the horn that is to raise them to life again."

"…Schiehallion (3,547 feet)- i.e. the hill of the Daoine Shi or the Fairies' Hill. If all the tales one hears related by old natives of Rannoch could be fully relied on, Schiehallion in days of yore used to be a favourite resort of the fairy folks, and more especially once a year, when all the various tribes throughout Glenlyon, Rannoch, Strathtummel, etc. congregated. Here they used to assemble in large numbers and hold their annual convocation, presided over by the beautiful and accomplished Queen Mab, gorgeously arrayed in her favourite green silk robes, with her abundant crop of beautiful golden-yellow hair waving in long ringlets over her shoulder down to her waist. It is said that there are a long series of mysterious caves, extending from one side of the mountain to the other."

"There is a very remarkable cave near the south-west angle of Sith-chaillinn [Schiehallion], at the 'Shealing,' called Tom-a-mhorair, or the Earl's eminence. Some miles to the east, there is an opening in the face of a rock, which is believed to be the termination thereof. Several stories are told and believed by the credulous, relating to this cave; that the inside thereof is full of chambers or separate apartments, and that, as soon as a person advances a few yards, he comes to a door, which, the moment he enters, closes, as it opened, of its own accord, and prevents his returning."

Well it doesn't get any more intriguing than that! So I set off into the mountains and managed to find a very rocky 4x4 track that led up from Fortinghall almost to the base of Schiehallion.




After about 10 very bumpy kilometers I reached the end of the track and continued through the boggy ground on foot.


I then had to cross a small river to reach the old shielings where in times gone by the herders would have spent the summer with their sheep.


I performed a small ceremony by one of the shielings and was met by Faery Queen Mab dressed in her green robes with long flowing golden hair. She told me to spread the word and publicise my faery knowledge, not to keep it secret.

I always remembered what Queen Mab told me, but wasn't really sure how to proceed with it, and have always been worried that publicising these sites would ruin them somehow and take away their magic.


I spent the rest of the afternoon looking for the cave, but no matter how hard I tried I could not find it! This really was a magical cave, perhaps it was hiding itself from me!

After speaking with the gamekeeper I returned the next day to try to find the cave again, and again it eluded me! I remembered the tales about how upon entering the cave the doors will close behind you and you won't be able to get out again, so maybe I was being protected from finding it! Or maybe the fairies were just playing games with me?

I have read several accounts of people finding this cave, including the gamekeeper's own, but so far have not been able to find a single photo of it on the internet, despite its fame! Mysterious indeed! Maybe the time will be right for me to return someday...

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Rob Wildwood (Aurvandil) has now released a book containing hundreds of his own stunning full colour photos of many of the magical places he has visited in his travels. The images capture the magic and mystery of each place and are enhanced by extracts of local folklore that reveal the magical lore of each place and tempt deeper investigation. Every site listed has full directions and map grid references that can be checked online, so join Rob Wildwood as you discover Britain's magical places at www.themagicalplaces.com


Tuesday 21 September 2010

Merlindale

Merlindale is the place asscoiated with the story of "Merlin of the Woods". This is not the powerful wizard from the Arthurian tales, but a crazy wild man who lived like an animal in the woods near Drumelzier in Scotland.


The famous early medieval historian Geoffrey of Monmouth joined these two tales together, claiming that in his later years Merlin became a mad hermit and disappeared into the forests of Scotland.

I had come to Merlindale to attend a course to learn more about this Merlin and make some kind of spiritual connection.

During the course I had a vision of a white castle where I met with Merlin. He gave me a magical compass which I should use to find the correct locations to bring down energy. This energy would be a kind of life force which would beam down to Earth from an extra-terrestrial source to animate the land and the life here.

I had no idea then how significant this was to become, and did not pay much attention to it at the time.

After our meditations we then climbed the nearby hill, on top of which stood crumbled and blasted stone remains of Tinnis castle. We performed a ceremony up there and made offerings of gold to the dragon.


I could see the dragon sleeping beneath the hill, representing the powerful Earth energies there. Lines of power connecting him to other similar sites.

Earlier on I had made myself a wand made from hazel wood and carved with runes. I placed my wand on top of the hill and Merlin sent down a powerful column of white light, filling my wand with energy.

*****

The next day I returned alone to Tinnis castle. Legend has it that the castle was blasted apart by gunpowder but I saw something quite different as I looked into the past. A column of white light, like an enourmous lightning strike, crashing into the castle from above and blasting it apart... What the reason was for this I could not discern, but it seemed to have something to do with Merlin.

From the top of the castle I surveyed the landscape laid out before me. I could see the river winding its way through the valley bottom and in front of it I could just make out a standing stone, known as Merlin's standing stone.


I climbed down from the hill and in the stone wall of the farm opposite I found a gap which folklore has it was made to allow free passage for the fairies as it lies on a fairy pathway. I wondered if the fairy pathway led to the standing stone, as it seemed to be heading in that direction?


I then visited the standing stone and got a great view from there looking back to Tinnis castle. Could this be lying on a ley line?


I visited a couple more sites associated with Merlin of the Woods, including Merlin's grave by the river, which I couldn't find, and Merlin's altar stone, which to me felt like it had been used for animal sacrifice.


Merlin of the Woods was clearly a druid as in the tale he dies the classic druidic triple death: "Myrddin Wyllt prophesied his own death, which would happen by falling, stabbing, and drowning. This was fulfilled when a gang of jeering shepherds drove him off a cliff, where he was impaled on a stake left by fishermen, and died with his head below water."

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Rob Wildwood (Aurvandil) has now released a book containing hundreds of his own stunning full colour photos of many of the magical places he has visited in his travels. The images capture the magic and mystery of each place and are enhanced by extracts of local folklore that reveal the magical lore of each place and tempt deeper investigation. Every site listed has full directions and map grid references that can be checked online, so join Rob Wildwood as you discover Britain's magical places at www.themagicalplaces.com