Tuesday 26 January 2021

A day of magic

A few miles away from us on top of a hill is something marked on the map as ‘fort’. I was vaguely aware that it was something prehistoric but in all my forty years of living in this part of the world had never visited it. Frog hadn’t either and he loves things prehistoric. So yesterday, in line with our new policy of avoiding all beauty spots (and as per local Lockdown guidelines) and instead exploring Devon's unknown hinterland, we set off to climb it.

It was a short drive cross-country on icy back roads, so we took it carefully, only for me to nearly lose my footing on sheet ice as I climbed out of the car.
 

Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

 
Frog then spent a long time deciding where best to park so as to keep out of the way, eventually backing uphill on to a grassy verge opposite the church. 

Cadbury Church, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


He had to crawl into the passenger seat to get out of car, which he did head first, falling into the frosty grass, while the dog watched, puzzled. Parking is always a problem when you venture where others don’t.

There were only a few scattered houses – no village - but the church was huge.
 

Cadbury Church, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


We made our way down the lane to the start of the footpath, me hanging on to the dog lead and trying not to slip as Ellie surged forward, panting with excitement. It’s always surprising how strong she is.
 
Most of the path was uphill through trees where the mud was frozen into ruts and snow lingered. It was the first snow we’d seen as ours at home hadn’t settled. I began to feel excited. I love snow (unlike Frog).


Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


I’d done some research and discovered that ‘hill forts’ are Iron Age villages protected by ditches and banks, but I didn’t hold out much hope for this one as any I’d seen before were hidden in undergrowth and more imaginary than real.
 
We came out into the open. The sun blazed down, and ahead of us was the unmistakable outline of something.

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


As we came nearer, we could see massive banks and massive ditches.

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

 
We went through a massive opening . . .

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

 
. . . into an enormous arena whose ramparts were almost completely intact, stretching all the way round in a circle.


Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


It was extraordinary, perfect. Like Avebury without the stones. I was gobsmacked. How come I never knew?
 
The dog was, if anything, even more intoxicated by the place and the snow than I was. She threw herself on to her back and wriggled in ecstasy, pedalling her legs like an upturned beetle.

Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


She then sicked up her breakfast next to the sign board. Oh dear.

The views were 360 degree, with a snowy Dartmoor to the south-west and a snowy Exmoor to the north. It was stunning. There was no one there but us.
 
I followed Ellie to have a look at a snowperson someone had built, only to realise afterwards, when I downloaded the photo, that my shadow – and the snowperson - and the fort’s northern gateway - were in a line and that I’d probably taken the picture at about midday. Spooky. And I normally try not to have shadows in photos so how this one got there, I don't know. 

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


It made me wonder whether, like Avebury, the site dated back to the Stone Age when people erected stones in circles - and rows and singly - related to the movements of the sun and/or for spiritual purposes (or at least that's what we think they're for. We can never know for sure. I find that tantalising). That would make the site thousands of years older than the 500 BC to which the Iron Age village was said to date. It certainly felt like it. 
 
Frog needed his lunch, so we propped ourselves on a section of bank, Frog at the top in the wind and Ellie and me hunkered further down in shelter.

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021
 
I think that’s a fox earth next to us. I hope we didn’t disturb the occupant.

Incidentally, there should be a line of snowy hills on the horizon in most of these pictures, but it hasn't come out. Pity.
 
A family appeared in the circle and Ellie raced off to say hello to the child who squealed in terror. She wouldn’t come back when we called and we felt very bad although the child’s mother and grandmother told us not to worry.
 
We retreated to the snowy north ditch with the miscreant.

Cadbury Castle, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021


There was no round walk so we had to retrace our footsteps. Back at the car, while Frog changed his walking boots for shoes he could drive in, Ellie and I toured the graveyard with its snowdrops.

Graveyard with snowdrops, Cadbury Church, Devon. Photograph copyright © Belinda Whitworth 2021

Many of the stones bore the name of the family who owned the nearby historic house – somewhere else I’d never visited. Another day perhaps (not that I’m that keen on historic houses) as Frog wanted to go home. He’d had enough trauma for one day, what with the ice and the snow, the worry about where to leave the car, a new walk where we might have got lost, and the dog. He’d shouldered it all, while I’d had a day of magic. Thank you Frog.

10 comments:

  1. it is rather satisfying when you find a 'new to you' place right under your nose! Yesterday's walk yielded up two paths that I never knew existed, even though they're on a route I have walked since we moved here what feels like a hundred years ago!

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    1. It is, isn't - and one of the benefits of the lockdown - having the time to explore and having to explore close to home. Happy walking to you and Moss. x

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  2. What a wonderful private magical mystery tour and fabulous photos - love the one of your shadow aligning with the snow person and the ancient gateway. Robin used to love going off the beaten path and we nearly always found some joy at the end - even if it meant trekking through bush and mud ( not my favourite!) Your find is a real treasure trove - thanks for sharing your adventurous spirit and to Frog for getting you there on an icy winter's day! Xx

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  3. We could take you there one day - when we're allowed. x

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  4. Looks like a fabulous walk on a cold, but glorious day. I know what you mean about shadows ... they can sneak in at the most inopportune moments though, as you say, this one works out pretty well ... as if you’d planned it 😂

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    1. Good to hear from you. A walk for your next visit to Devon perhaps?? It felt like someone had planned the shadow, even if it wasn't me. What I meant to say in my comment on your blog is that I hope you didn't lose privacy when the tree was cut down (but I don't think I said it very clearly).

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    2. Hi there B ... I got what you meant about the privacy ... I did reply but it’s been a bit hectic over here the last couple of weeks so I’ve been a bit slow. I do try and reply to the majority of comments I get, but not sure if you get notified or whether you just have to pop back to have a look ... which is what I tend to do. Thanks for your comments ... I really do appreciate them 😃

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    3. No worries and thanks! I just thought I'd not made myself clear.

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  5. I think I can guess where this is - must go back up there. The Dragon flies between here and Dolbury every night, guarding her treasure....

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