Episode Five : The last leg to Avebury Henge
Welcome to 'The Song-line of the Ridgeway' a five day walkabout along Britain's Oldest Road terminating in Avebury Stone Circle for Summer Solstice.
'The Ridgeway' has been in use for thousands of years, by Mesolithic Hunter Gatherers, Neolithic farmers, Bronze Age herders, by Celts, Romans, Saxons and Danes. And by thousands of bloody ramblers each year today who all walk along it the wrong way.
So join me, Story Crow, my partner Tamsin and our dog Nero on a mythic Journey as we travel back in history, Myth and folklore into the spiritual heart of Albion; the great Sun Temple at Avebury.
We will camp out on the land, and immerse ourselves in its dreaming at this most magical time of the year. On our way, we will meet druids, pagans, hippies and fellow pilgrims on the road.
In this episode we visit Barbary Castle, a hillfort steeped in history, Myth and legend. Hackpen Hill, a burial mound associated with the fairy folk, and Avebury stone circle itself.
The Antiquarian William Stukeley called Avebury a Dragon Temple. If the head of the snake is Avebury Henge, then the Ridgeway itself is its Dreaming body : The Serpent in the Land.
To borrow a concept from Aboriginal Australian Spirituality - we are following the 'Songline of the Ridgeway'.
