.. stoned ag'in in Exmoor .. pt 2

Or there and back again

A circular(ish) walk starting at Halse Farm to Exmoor's other stone circle - located on the south and west facing flank of Withypool Hill.

barrow - Winsford Hill

Higher Knaplock

descending Watery Lane

fording the R. Barle

second breakfast (or lunch as it's known in these parts)

New boots, Old boots

circle stone containing crystals

stone circle details

within the circle

The stone circle - contains low lying stones - one of which contains white crystals - I think I've read somewhere that this placement is unique amongst UK stone circles? (I would welcome a comment below if this is incorrect).

Then there is the matter of the black crystal .. one of the circle stones has been recently struck and the corner is splintered - placed within this break is a black crystal. Whatever modern "magick" the perpetrator of this willful act of vandalism performed, whatever outcomes or wishes they hoped for does not justify the breaking of a stone which was placed in the landscape by our Neolithic or Bronze Age forbears.

The selfishness of this single act of destruction - is akin to that of an illegal metal detectorist cutting holes in the turf of an ancient site in the hope of discovering a secret artefact of personal worth Or a brick casually thrown against the stained glass window of a Church Or a Gargoyle chiselled from the exterior of a Cathedral to adorn a private garden.

Putting this unhelpful distraction aside - we continued to the barrow and cairn on the summit of the hill before descending into Withypool itself. At the local shop we bought a couple of bottles each of Exmoor Ales: Exmoor Stag and Exmoor Gold.

R.Barle from the bridge at Withypool

From the bridge we watched a grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) collecting food and flying to and fro a presumed nest site. We listened in hope of hearing the flight calls of an approaching dipper (Cinclus cinclus) - on Exmoor a relatively common aquatic passerine which - no punning irony intended - we were to dip on the entire long weekend.

Our return route initially took us back along the Two Moors Way before turning uphill and NE passing Great Bradley - and on to the open moor of Winsford Hill. Following the road past Wambarrows and stopping for that all important summit photo!

Wambarrows, Winsford Hill

Back at the campsite we raised a bottle or two of Exmoor's finest to celebrate the end of a successful weekend's exploration.

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