We walked snow drop valley this week and when we got to the end my eldest son (twelve) said, this would be a great place for one of your storywalks Dad. I was quite taken aback, but then wondered, it is a unique place, and my wife's blog tales art play, wrote about it last week, little short in length for the walk itself but a worthy 'location' if ever there was one. I shall put it on the back burner so to speak and when I have a tale that does the place justice I may just do one.
After the park and ride out of the valley we had tea and cake at the village hall (big cake!) and looked at a little of the craft stalls. Also in the hall the village children had done a village map a few years ago, plotting all the buildings and referencing a few that had since gone. Funnily enough the community of Wheddon Cross has had a substantial eco build so has grown quite a bit in the past year. But again No 1 son pointed to the bottom right of the map, and said 'look at this Dad'
There was a little penned note with a small sketchy drawing about the Devil stone, or Quarme stone. It was allegedly thrown there by the devil who was up on Dunkery beacon at the time. I know of quite a few rocks and divots in the landscape all over Briton which are the devils work (!) but this one I was intrigued about as I had not heard of it. With a little deeper investigation when we got home it became obvious that it was not marked on any map either (apart from this one!) Not even the bible of the Ordinance Survey had a note on it.
I have not had a chance to find the Quarme stone as yet, but will endeavour to search it out, but in the mean time if you know of any folk lore surrounding it then please do get in touch. storywalks@toyahoy.co.uk
