Despite streaming hay-fever all day and being the fodder of choice for the local community of horse flies, the sun shone its blessings upon our trail, as we hunted out the source of the River Tone, up on Exmoor near Raleigh’s Cross. The ridge road towards Dulverton was closed at the Chapel turning to Wheddon Cross, with road blocks all the way from Elworthy cross, so it was unusually quiet and traffic free. One could be forgiven for thinking, one had been transported into an Enid Blyton tale.
After picnicking on cucumber sandwiches (a shared lunch of veggie and free from comestibles) and lashings of ginger beer (elderflower cordial and water), we donned our knapsacks, grabbed our staffs, with hats on heads and map in hand set off from the Raleigh’s Cross Inn.
We meandered down country lanes and bridle paths, chatted with the local sheep and young cows, before the footpath took us across a meadow of inquisitive bullocks, to the Huish Champflower Barrows. They usually get less than a fleeting glance as we hurtle passed on our way to somewhere, other than here. But are in fact one of a suite of barrows and tumuli that can be found following a perfect line along the top of the hill, overlooking the Severn Estuary, Wales, Watchet Harbour, Dunster Castle and Minehead.
Taking time now to stop and connect in with the ancestral landscape, we sat under a wizened goat willow, gave our respect and gratitude with some sacred offerings. This was a perfect opportunity to pull a rune to guide us with the dark moon’s work for the month ahead and a rune for the week, which I will share in a separate post.
Continuing on, past the ruins of the old mineral line under the watchful eye of a hunting buzzard, the walk was quite surreal as we were now in the road closure area and had the main road all to ourselves.
Finally we reached Beverton Ponds, where the River Tone rises up from the underground aquifer and collects as boggy ground before slowly seeping down the valley to be dammed at Clatworthy. The white salted, sunbaked basin, surrounded by olive tree look alike goat willows, gave the scene and altogether Mediterranean feel. Finding the first trickles of the river as she leaves her birthing place, we gave blessings, healing and gratitude to the waters.
A most enjoyable Waking the Water Pilgrimage. If you would like to join us or do something similar in your local area please feel free to message me or comment below for more information.
Leave a Reply