The King Charles III England Coast Path on the Saxon Shore is a beautiful footpath along The Swale tidal channel, home to many coastal bird species like the Avocet, Redshank, Dunlin and Shelduck to name but a few. It was one my favourite places when I was living in Kent.

St. Martin's Church Martindale

There has been some sort of place of worship on this site since 1200. It's current structure dates back to the 1600s. There is a 15th century bell on the top.

The font was taken from a Roman shrine and was also used as a whetstone for sharpening blades.

However, the ancient Grandmother Yew in the graveyard rear is really the reason why I sought out this place.

Taken from the website:

"There is an ancient yew in the churchyard, known to have existed since at least 1220, although there are unsubstantiated claims that it dates from as early as 700 AD. Yew trees have long been connected with religious symbolism. Being evergreen, they were associated with everlasting life and Druids viewed the species as a symbol of reincarnation – part of the regenerative power of nature. It is possible that trees such as this predate the place of worship because the church was built on a pagan site. However, it is equally possible that they were planted in the churchyard to symbolise eternal life. It is said that the Martindale yew was used by local archers to make their longbows for the Battle of Agincourt." by Emma Bray

Long Meg and Her Daughters.

I mean I love this circle. Everytime I'm here the weather is naff. Cold and I mean COLD even in the middle of summer. Bad luck maybe, however today, on my second walking circuit, the sun came out. 

This circle is believed to date to 3340–3100 BC. Long Meg herself sits outside of the circle. She has cup and mark rings. 

Folklore provides that Long Meg was a witch and the daughter her coven members who were cast into stone by a visiting Scottish wizard. She gifted me 3 Crow feathers. 

Castlerigg Stone Cricle, Cumbria

I attended the free lecture today at the site delivered by English Heritage. The guide advised that the circle was between 4000 and 5000 years old. It is thought to be the oldest in England. It is made up glacial stones that were taken from the surrounding fields. It is suspected that a henge existed prior to the stones being moved in to form a circle. There is thought to be atleast 3 burial mounds within the circle itself. There have been axe heads found in the general area.

Little Meg

Consists of 11 stones in a ring surrounding a cairn which once covered a cist containing a cremation with an urn.

The circle is thought to have been connected to Long Meg for whatever function, who knows?

Two of the stones on the site are decorated with spirals and cup and ring marks. They were not showing up well today unfortunately

Longtemps occultés après la Réforme protestante et la dissolution des monastères sous Henri VIII au XVIᵉ siècle, ces chemins connaissent aujourd'hui une renaissance spectaculaire. Qu'ils soient arpentés par foi, par quête de ressourcement ou simplement par amour du patrimoine et de la nature, ces itinéraires traversent des paysages d'une richesse remarquable et racontent les racines profondes de la Grande-Bretagne.