The Storyteller: Sharing stories on my Witches Triangle walk

Last year, I met Helen and Tom, from the DPA (Dartmoor Preservation Association), whilst at a networking event at Two Bridges Hotel on Dartmoor.

I went wearing my Storyteller’s outfit, and they recognised me straightaway...sometimes it pays to adopt a style, it helps with the advertising!

They approached me with a couple of requests. Firstly, as it was nearly Halloween, they wanted me to contribute a couple of my stories, to their upcoming publication, for their subscribers. I was more than happy to oblige. Secondly, they wanted me to lead a walk, as part of their year-long season of partnership activities, encouraging people to get on to the moor, and enjoy everything it has to offer. I suggested my Witches Triangle walk, and they liked that idea, so much so, that they thought it would make a suitable pre-Halloween event for this year...and the other weekend, it happened.

I was joined by nineteen guests, and Helen, who was acting as my backstop, resplendent in her yellow, hi-vis jacket, in the car park, below Hound Tor. We were lucky that the coffee cart was also present, and several of the group took advantage of its services...even though I warned them that there were no toilet facilities along the route...

Having gathered everyone together, and given them my introduction, we set off to our first stop, just around the corner, and the intriguing looking, Swallerton Gate Cottage. Here, I explained to them, how a friend of mine, who was a psychic artist, once spent the night there, along with another local medium, at the behest of a TV production company, to see if they could find any otherworldly links to Jay’s Grave, just up the lane.

Sure enough, she drew two pictures, which may have a connection to the tragic figure’s story, as, over the years, similar figures to those drawn have been sighted in the vicinity. These were of an old, haggard woman, and an old-fashioned priest, with ribbons on his dog collar...

Moving along the lane, towards the grave, I was joined at the front of our little procession, by a lady who lives in Torquay, who had some very interesting experiences to share, from her time working in a particular school in the Torbay area...

She was once in a part of this school, after hours, with a colleague, not far from the music room, where instruments were stored. Suddenly, they both heard the sound of something being run across the strings of a guitar, the way a bored child might run its hand over it in passing...only there were no children present at that time.

Her colleague, who also heard it, couldn’t wait to get out of there! On other occasions, she heard the sound of chairs being moved, and children running and laughing, in part of the building, where she knew she was alone. Another time, again when she knew she had the building all to herself, preparing for the start of a new term, she saw a figure in black walking across the playground...when she knew the outer gates were locked. Talking to another colleague, later, about what she had seen, she was told it must have been the school priest, doing some preparation too...but then they realised, he didn’t have his own key...

The most intriguing incident she shared, concerned a time when she, and a colleague, were trying to placate a distressed child. They weren’t really getting anywhere, when, suddenly, out of nowhere, they heard a female voice utter a word of Russian. Neither teacher spoke Russian, but the child did. Apparently, it meant calm down, which is exactly what that child needed to hear, at that precise moment.

Arriving at the grave, I regaled my audience with the tragic tale, including the reported sightings of ghosts that allegedly haunt the spot. I then moved on to my theory that this place is possibly sacred to the goddess Hecate, who looks after crossroads and the dead, and who might be worshipped there. My idea that witchcraft might be practiced at this location, is why I’ve included it as part of my Witches Triangle. 

Dragging ourselves away, we headed towards the tip of my triangle, which we could see in the distance, Easdon Hill, with, what I believe to be, Granny Mann’s Altar at the foot of it.

Granny Mann was a white witch, or wise woman, who lived in North Bovey, in the shadow of Easdon Hill, and whenever people came to her asking for a potion, or a spell casting, she always told them she had to consult her “friend” first. This “friend” took the shape of a human skull, strapped to a red pentagram, on a metal tripod, which she used in her rituals, that she carried out on Easdon Hill, where she kept said “friend” hidden. In those days, having the trappings of witchcraft on display in your home, wouldn’t have been a good idea!

The other year, I went in search of Granny Mann’s altar, on the hillside, and I believe I’ve found it, and it’s that which I wanted to show off to my guests. The area is known as Boodown Rocks, which consists of an outcrop with a canopy, a rocky ledge, perfect to place the skull and candles on, and a niche to hide it all in when not in use. From there, she gets an excellent view of the Full Moon, rising in the direction of Haytor.

As we approached my find, it became apparent that the spot was a tad overgrown with gorse, since my last visit, but we all persevered, and pushed through the pain of prickly bushes, to reach the spot, and admired the view that Granny Mann obviously enjoyed too.

Her ‘friend” is now on display in Boscastle’s Witchcraft Museum, where I’ve seen it many times, over the years. When I announced this to the group, another lady stepped forward, and shared with me the fact that her father is also featured in the museum...something I found most intriguing, leaving me with the desire to check him out, the next time we visit. I later found out that this same lady is a friend of a friend of mine, and neither of us knew she was attending the walk...the coincidences just kept stacking up!

Descending the hill, we returned to the lanes, and made our way to Manaton, for a lunch stop, and a look inside the church, where we viewed the blatant vandalism that the blinkered puritans had inflicted on the beautiful rood screen, back in the day.

Then it was time to make the climb up to the final point of my triangle, the Bowerman’s Nose, an iconic granite stack that dominates the skyline in that area. An image of which has graced the logo of the DPA since its inception. So an apt place to stop, and tell his story, since he stands for all to see, as a lesson not to disrespect your local coven.

Tale told, and view admired, it was time to make our way back to our starting point. Along the way, I was approached by another lady, who had a question to ask. Had I ever experienced or was I aware of anything odd, about Lustleigh Cleeve? I know that Hunters Tor, which stands at one end of the ridge above, is haunted by a group of knights, on their horses, that allegedly took part in the original Perambulation of Dartmoor Forest, back in 1240, at the behest of Henry III.

No, it was nothing to do with that. She then explained that, whenever she walks through the Cleeve, following the course of the River Bovey, far below the ridge, she invariably senses a presence behind her, that doesn’t want her there. She daren’t look back, and goes with the feeling that she has to get away from that area as quickly as possible. Weirdly, she never has that experience when walking with friends, as though this is just aimed at her. I suggested it might be some sort of spirit of the place, or an elemental water energy...in either case, next time she’s walking there, and begins to sense it, turn and face it...I for one would be intrigued to know what she sees...maybe I need to pay a visit there myself?

Finally, back at the cars, it was time to say our goodbyes, everyone thanking me for such a wonderful walk, and all my interesting tales. This sentiment has been continued in all the messages, and Facebook reviews that I’ve received since. It really was a special experience, with a special bunch of people, and I hope to repeat it again, with other interested parties in the future. In the meantime...

Happy Halloween Everyone!