Tales of the Dales: Burnsall and Elbolton Hill
Watch out for those fairies….
Burnsall and Elbolton Hill….
Our first double bill! Two tales, one walk (or two, if you fancy a shorter version!)
‘If you wander near Elbolton, watch out for the Fairy lights……. They might not be as fairytale friendly as you think, watch your step and keep your eyes on the path…..’
Elbolton Hill lies just outside the village of Thorpe near Linton and Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales. It is an isolated grassy mound, starkly contrasting to the moorland that surrounds it. The fact that is sticks out like a proverbial green grassy sore thumb, has resulted in it having a legend behind it.
And like all legends, it is intensely logical.
It is FULL of fairies. Oh yes. The reason that Elbolton Hill is so ‘moundy’ and grassy? It’s FULL of fairy folk.
BUT, although I stop at that part when I tell the kids this story, the legend is in fact all the more sinister. Far from spritely and helpful, these fairies strive to lead unwary travellers off the path with their ‘corpsie lights’. As their name suggests, if you see a ‘corpsie light’ you are taking the highway to certain doom!
The fairies of Elbolton Hill lure their prey off the path, and to their demise, possibly to disappear into the cave system, which was excavated under Elbolton Hill over 100 years ago and which was the final resting place for several prehistoric folk.
I’ll tell you why Elbolton Hill is DEFINITELY NOT exceptionally lush and ‘moundy’ though…..
It’s absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the hill is what remains of one of the ancient reef systems which used to lie under the tropical sea that once covered the Yorkshire Dales. And you know what? It’s definitely NOTHING to do with the fact that the limestone makes the ground particularly fertile, therefore extremely grass friendly……
Nope, It’s fairies. ALL fairies.
Want to go on a fairy hunt? Check out our kid friendly Elbolton Hill walk!
Want to find some fairies?
Course you do!
Time for the perfect pairing….
‘Fists firmly clenched in pockets, coat drawn up high and hood donned to shelter from the driving rain. The rattle of raindrops is punctuated by the trudge of heavy boots. You look up to see another lonely walker approaching, eyes dark, face pale in the dull grey light, as he passes wordlessly, disappearing into the rain….’
Ah Burnsall, classic Dales village, picturesque chocolate box style cottages, an historic pub, and an ancient packhorse bridge, said to be the favourite haunt (pardon the pun!) of a Thomas Denholme, who materialises as a lonely walker crossing the bridge, set apart from the usual hiking crew by his Victorian clothes and skeletal face…..
Not satisfied with a gaunt hiker? Why not head into the bar at the Red Lion in Burnsall where its resident ghost likes nothing more than to turn off the beer taps in the cellar. The cellars date back to the 12th Century, so who that meddlesome monster might be is anybody’s guess!
Want to go ghost hunting?
This walk from Burnsall to Thorpe, can be extended to also take in Elbolton Hill!