When it comes to hills and mountains in the British Isles, perhaps one hill feels more mystical than many others…and that’s Glastonbury Tor. Standing some 158 m high, it’s said to be a fairy hill, one of those curiously hollow hills in which fairies made them home. Not just any fairies lived inside Glastonbury Tor…

This month, I’ve got the joy of introducing you to Dr Angela Puca, who holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in philosophy. In 2021, The University of Leeds awarded her a PhD in Religious Studies, which will soon be published with Brill. Her research focuses on magic, witchcraft, Paganism, esotericism, shamanism, and related currents. …

If we head to the Siebengeberge uplands in Germany, we’ll find a hill named the Drachenfels near Königswinter. It stands at 321 m and the name translates as Dragon’s Rock, named after a dragon that allegedly lived on its slopes. Given we’re in the Folklore of Mountains and Hills Month, let’s investigate two legends associated…

We’re off to the gorgeous surroundings of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) this week for the Folklore of Mountains and Hills.  According to Marie Trevelyan, so it’s unclear how common this belief was, dragons and flying serpents could be found among the Bannau Brycheiniog. But legends of fairies are more common in these parts, so…

There’s something both primal and ancient about mountains. Beautiful and remote, they can provide a harsh and unforgiving environment for those who venture into their territory. Sometimes linked with sleeping giants, mountains are also a reminder of the Earth’s formation, with rock contorted into fantastic shapes by immense geological pressures. The Cheviot Hills run from…