Alderley Edge

Take a walk to the mystical woodland at Alderley Edge - a large sandstone outcrop on the edge of the Peak District National Park. The area has been extensively mined for copper and lead from as early as the Bronze Age, and there are loads of things to see of historical interest. Unfortunately, I couldn't fit everything into the video, but I would recommend a visit if you are ever in the area.
Many myths and legends are associated with the Edge - and the area was used as the inspiration for Alan Garner's "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen".
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[@qlnbd]

Such a gorgeous place. My English teacher introduced me to the moon of gomrath many moons ago and i only read the weirdstone of brisingamen after it - unfortunately. Just read weirdstone again and just starting moon again. Still wonderful books so thanks for showing me some of those amazing locations.

[@lucritiadarke5025]

I used to live in Winslow and work in Alderley Edge, this area is beautiful, well worth a visit. The village is great with lots of restaurants and pubs and some cute little artisan shops. The books by Alan garner knocked my socks off when I was a little girl especially with the location being so close, can't recommend the books or the place enough. Thanks for this video, brought back some great memories.

[@arthadasawyer3692]

Thank you so much for this video. Alan Garner's "Weirdstone of Brisingamen" and "Moon of Gomrath" had a profound affect on me when I read them nearly 40 years ago as a child growing up in far away Oregon, and Alderley Edge and its landscape and lore have never left my heart and imagination. It is a dream of mine to travel there one day. Also, as a person who works in archaeology, your discussion was very informative. Cheers!

[@davepowell1661]

I really enjoyed the book too,but coming from Devon had thought it bigger(I was 11 or 12).Enjoyed your comment,a moment of euphoric recall on reading the title.

[@alancumming6407]

They were important books for me too as a 10 year old in the 60's. I read both of them again recently and they have lost none of their impact. Thank you for this video which has enhanced the books in my memory. I'll have to visit the area someday.

[@Gealaiche]

Mate! the weirdstone of brisingamen was one of my favorite books when i was a kid. such a kick to see so many places from the story. thanks man.

[@silverchunk]

Wow. Thanks for this. I read The Wierdstone of Brisingamen and it’s sequel The Moon of Gomrath soon after they were first published. I too have explored the area on foot finding all the places mentioned in the map that was provided in the first book. I even went down the mines some years later. I doubt I would fit those narrow passages now many decades later! On one visit I planted a sequoia seed in the wood. I often wonder if it survived. If it did it must be pretty big now after twenty years or so. This video brought back so many memories. Thanks again.

[@RichardB1983]

Some of the mine passages are huge - the Main Chamber of West Mine is something like 15 metres wide and 20 metres tall in places.

[@paulbangash4317]

As teenagers from Manchester , we often went up to the edge . Yes , we did walk three times anti clockwise round the devils grave !! Being curious , we also went down the old mines...

[@calllercalls8767]

love the video and the ghostbusters costume!

[@BleysAlbion]

Being a fan of the books for the last 40-some years, it was nice to walk in the steps of Colin and Susan. Thanks very much for showing me the place where I lost quite a lot of time, dreaming of wizards, goblins, witches and sleeping knights.

[@talja777]

Thank you for video! Garner was able to describe all beauty and romance of this magic place! It is really worth a visit! Alan Garner books were translated in Russian! I've read them 20 years ago! Fantastic!

[@ridesrambles8903]

I spent much of my childhood (70's and 80's) on the edge as my grandparents lived down in the village, I rarely go back (now live in Devon) but lovely to revisit some of those well known places, and still bare a scar where I took a tumble down the devils grave when I was about 10. Thanks for sharing.

[@intheblinkofmyeye7252]

Wonderful video. Just started reading the book and this is a great companion.

[@roddersfiftynine]

Excellent, infomative Video. Brought back memories of my childhood, reading Alan Garner`s Wierdstone of Brisingamen then spending Sunday afternoons exploring the Edge.

[@Gealaiche]

you lucky bugger! that's like my dream lol

[@elainechubb971]

Thank you for this very interesting video. I liked hearing about the history as well as the legends. I visited Alderley Edge once as a small child during WW II on a day's tour in the area from our then home in the Manchester suburbs when my father had the use of a company car and some scarce petrol, or gas, to visit clients. So he took my mother and me along and it was a very brief holiday when leisure travel was so difficult! Our time at the Edge was rather brief, but I remember the views over the Cheshire plain and hearing the legends about King Arthur and his knights, sleeping beneath the Edge until they would be awakened to aid Britain in its hour of greatest need. As an adult, I read Alan Garner's fantasy novels for young people, set in this area. I'm so glad KZbin popped this video up in their suggestions list!!

[@_wood]

Someone else may have also commented this. The carved poem at the "wizards well" was carved by Alan Garner's father (Colin Garner) I think, in the 1920's and included a now well worn depiction of the wizard above it, beard and eyes still visible. All the mines are linked at a lower level by the Hough level which contained a tramway external rails can still be seen at the lowest point on the "donkey trail" walk sign posted from the car park.

[@garyhughes1664]

Fabulous video. Hw you seem to have left out the carving of the wizard in the rock. Would appreciate if you could show us a map of the area where all these features can be found. Thx for sharing.

[@ValiantEast]

I have been watching almost all of your "Out and About" videos...they are all interesting, well researched and original. Great job, excellent quality and nice music. Please keep on uploading.

[@michaelcoker3197]

Fascinating! Well done.

[@a.jmanning4567]

Loving your Out and About videos, due to illness I can know longer go for walks in our beautiful countryside and watching your videos gives me a chance to see places I would love to visit. I read Alan Garners book "The weird stone of Brisingamen" as a teenager and have never forgotten it, I am going to order a copy of it to read again as it is a wonderfully magical book. As you are walking around Alderley Edge it shows so clearly where the inspiration for the book came from. Thanks Richard, would love to see more of Alderley Edge if possible, great work thanks again.

[@MegaTerrymc]

This is excellent. I spent many happy hours on the Edge with my (now grown-up) sons. The one place you missed out is Saddlebole. But ne'mind it's a good video. Thank you.

[@JeremiahBurns]

Fantastic video. I know where my next walking day will be.

[@juniorvieira3033]

Muito obrigado pela caminhada, sou do Brazil e agradeço demais pelo video. Foi uma passeio muito bom. Fiquei interessado nas lendas de Alderley então fui pesquisar mais. Assim mesmo de muito longe pude ter um vislumbre do lugar, graças ao seu vídeo. Um abraço enorme e muitas bênçãos!

[@salfordmediacity]

Great job young man. Keep up the good work.

[@RobCharles1981]

Nice Video Richard - will look at that site for the music too :-)

[@abislife9744]

thanks for this. were going next week as the kids want to visit all the places in the story "The Wierdstone of Brisingamen"

[@BallDear]

Well done! I plan to go there one day.

[@TheJacksparrow666]

Good work Richard, for bringing Alderley edge to me, A BIG Thankyou all the way from Australia. CHeers, keep up the good work

[@tutekohe1361]

Very informative and well made video.

[@blvckAveli]

I was here last week... Saw the leaf, The tradition still lives on

[@RichardB1983]

Cheers. Glad you liked it!

[@RichardB1983]

So have I! Yes, that's the mine I think that most often gets used in group tours. I've been down it several times from when I was a scout. It's not the only one in the area. Ian's (henllan) video which is posted as a vid response goes into the Engine Vein mine, and there's another adit much lower down the hill for the Hough Level.

[@Henllan]

I do like these videos AND you have touched on the underworld. The copper mines below your feet actually connect in places and the mine is very extensive ... I'll put up a video response of the mine underneath if youtube hasn't blocked the music :o)

[@scottandrea10]

great video,loved it!!

[@riverbender9898]

Thanks for that most enjoyable ramble. Your narrative was excellent. May I humbly suggest that, during your stops, the music be diminished so that it is easier not to miss a word of dialog. Even so, the music was a nice accompaniment. Very nice video. Cheers.

[@JarlGrimmToys]

@RichardB1983 Speaking as a member of the pagan community and an amateur historian. Alderley Edge is of great interest to the metaphysical community. It is a very spiritual place. Alex Sanders the founder of Alexandrian Wicca practiced there at times also.

[@katelouise6404]

I've been here and it's an amazing place. I also have the book the weirdstone of brisingamen :)

[@JUPITERDRIVE]

Great Vid. Cheers.

[@RichardB1983]

@Astra3LxBS9 I'm not sure how much interest, but over the years I've heard of pagan gatherings on the Edge. Apparently a lot of people gather up there on Hallowe'en as well. I'm not sure about the origins of the legends, but when I went up to do my filming, there was already a Rhododendron leaf in the fissure when I arrived - proving that it's not just me who has heard of it! Rhododendrons are very common in the area now, but before the woodland was planted, might not have been.

[@RichardB1983]

@riverbender Thanks for the comment. I did reduce the volume of the music during speaking parts - perhaps not quite enough. If some bits are difficult to hear, full subtitles are available by pressing the "CC" button.

[@yessillyyes1734]

I've been there and my dad found copper ore and led ore next to a mine cart rail

[@alexrobertbrian]

good vid, remember going here in school such an interesting place, he forgot to mention the witches tho!

[@mboverlord20]

IVE BEEN in that very forest we went at standon bowers

[@BiscoffツEditz]

Great video , thank you . Do you have any knowledge of what is in farmland near the old Mill ? 53.3399838, -2.2498061 on google maps sattelite ? .. I have looked online with my knowledge, of which isn't much and found nothing .. I did take a picture of it but it isn't clear .. ty

[@RichardB1983]

Hi. That's interesting. I've not noticed it before. Looking at Quarry Bank Mill's website, it says it's an old obelisk that was due south of an observatory that used to stand near to the Mill's gardens. The mill owner used it to set the mill clocks. Presumably they could observe when the Sun was directly over the obelisk and set that as 12-noon. Both the obelisk and observatory are marked on the 1872 map of the area.

[@BiscoffツEditz]

@@RichardB1983 ,very interesting . Thank you so much for the information , I knew I could count on you .. I didn't know where too start . Keep up the amazing work 🙏 we all love to watch your videos in my home .

[@mboverlord20]

8:42 been through that very door

[@kobialdridge5685]

I live near there

[@paultrilly6488]

are u not trespassing?

[@RichardB1983]

No, the whole area is open to the public 24 hours a day.

[@paultrilly6488]

Except on the night of halloween, where the Police stop people entering or try to

[@davepowell1661]

Enjoyed video but the narrative was competing with Foreground music so turned it down then unfortunately.?.Off

[@stickemuppunkitsthefunlovi4733]

I woke the devil this morning. Made her a cup of tea and she turned back into an angel.

[@johnb365]

most interesting video of a favorite place , but the music is dreadful man. soz.

[@gweflj]

One of the best edges in the UK. Right up there with U2’s guitarist.