On the Trail of the Wizard at Alderley Edge

Before writing some posts on the Isle of Wight Holiday a catch up post on a trip D and I made a few weeks ago.


Ever since D and I read "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" by Alan Garner we have wanted to visit Alderley Edge where the book is set. So recently I braved the horrors of the M6 North and we set off.

Rather foolishly I didn't set the satnav but relied on Google directions and, after leaving the motorway, we ended up hopelessly lost. Why does Google use road names rather than road numbers at times? The satnav which I had brought with me decided to throw its usual wobbly and lock up so we stopped in this road - the name of the village escapes me! and a very kind lady gave us directions - luckily we were only about 20 minutes away.

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We passed Jodrell Bank (a place I keep meaning to return to as we haven't been since D and E were little).

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Finally, we arrived (it took about half an hour longer than it should have done although I have to say the horrendous M6 has countless miles with roadworks and a "50" speed limit :( )

There were lots of different trails you could follow but

this was the one we wanted.

The Legend of Alderley Edge


Hidden deep underground on Alderley Edge is a secret cavern guarded by a wizard. Inside the cave waiting to awake when dire peril is imminent are many knights in silver armour deep in an enchanted sleep as are the white mares each for one knight. Many centuries ago one knight still needed a white mare and the wizard eventually spotted such a horse being taken to market by a farmer. He asked the farmer to sell him the horse but the farmer refused as he was hoping to get a better price at Macclesfield market. The wizard predicted that the farmer would not find a purchaser and so this came to pass. The wizard saw the farmer on his journey home and this time the farmer agreed to sell the horse. The wizard and farmer walked past the Seven Firs, Golden Stone and Stormy Point to the Iron Gates which is a magical entrance to tunnels beneath. The wizard showed the farmer a treasure-filled cave and told him to take whatever he wanted. Once back on the hillside the farmer, having picked his treasure, found the entrance to the cave had completely disappeared.

Geology

Millions of years ago Alderley Edge was part of a hot, sandy desert. Outlines of sand dunes can still be seen in the rocks today. Eventually traces of copper and other metal compounds seeped up into faults from rocks beneath the Cheshire Plain. These compounds became trapped between layers of clay eventually turning into metal ores.

Mining

Archaelogists have discovered evidence of Bronze Age mining on the edge along with evidence of tool making (ore from outside the region was also brought in to be processed and, therefore, Alderley Edge was an important Bronze Age mining centre). Romans also mined the area although on a much smaller scale and many centuries later mining began again in the 18th and 19th centuries.






Walking away from the car park there were already lovely views.

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The trail begins at the Wizard Restaurant. The legend was first published in 1805 as "The Iron Gates"

En route to Engine Mine

Engine Vein is one of many mineralised faults on the Edge. The fissure is 300 feet (100 metres) long and there are bowl-like open-cast pits where Bronze Age man mined the copper ores approximately 400 years ago. Patches of green malachite can still be seen in the rock.

Armada Beacon is the highest point and was used for signalling fires to warn of an imminent invasion in 1588. Beacon Hill is now protected as a Bronze Age burial mound.

At the side of the path which leads to Stormy Point is the Druids' Circle which was originally made up of 24 stones. This folly was created by the Stanleys (a landowning family) in the 18th century as a landscape feature.

A rare photo of me!

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Stormy Point - an area of bare rock with stunning views of the Cheshire Plain below.

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Near Stormy Point is the Devil's Grave. The cave drops into many ancient tunnels referred to in the legend. In January 1941 three local boys walking Stormy Point at dusk heard music coming from underground.

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Timothy was rather excited at the thought he might see the wizard.

More stunning views from another viewpoint

The first Gatekeeper of the year.

The Goldenstone - mentioned in the legend. This large sandstone rock at the edge of Dickens Wood has acted as a boundary marker or merestone for centuries.

Another stone nearby - can you see the face?

Time for lunch at The Wizard Inn

Timothy with a welcome pint and the book that inspired our visit.

For lunch we both had Cheshire Cheese and Onion Chutney Sandwich with chips and salad.

After lunch we retraced our steps and did the trail again (also making detours on some of the other paths) as we had missed some of the features on the trail the first time round.



The Satnav (finally working now!) took us home on a slightly different route and I spotted this superb church at Marton - googling when I got home I really should have stopped as it was open and sounds as though it is an interesting church. But we had left later than planned and I wanted to get off the M6 before the rush hour.

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We travelled through Congleton and saw signs for Little Moreton Hall - another place I would like to visit so I may brave the M6 again as it would only take just over an hour.



*D - Photos taken by my son with the Canon Sx50 bridge camera
All other photos taken by me with the Panasonic lumix FZ330 bridge camera



Reference - National Trust Wizard Trail leaflet and information boards at Alderley Edge.