From Neolithic Tomb To Saxon Forge | The Story Of Wayland's Smithy

[@Maxley..]

I walked the Ridgeway with my dog a few years ago. It was beyond magnificent. I got a tattoo of the White Horse afterwards, because it's beautiful.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Ahh, that's lovely! Great idea for a tattoo.

[@heartaloft]

So pleased that you mention the heavy, somewhat oppressive feeling at Wayland's Smithy. l experienced this every time l visited, even on bright, cheerful summer days there was a palpable tinge of (what l could only describe as) sadness. Whenever l lingered until dusk the feeling would become more pronounced accompanied by a kind of urging to "leave, leave, leave..." l found these dark feelings to be in stark contrast to the sheer joyfulness to be experienced when up on White Horse Hill. Driving past at night l would always slow down, wind down the windows, and breathe in the contrasting 'feels' as l passed both sites.

[@walkingthewyrd]

You've summed up my feelings on this perfectly! It certainly felt like I wasn't welcome there, even though I was there with respect. Quite agree about how different it felt at the White Horse! A magical place.

[@talitek]

For me it was an intense enough feeling to inspire me to write poetry! It's truly a unique place and I hope it remains cared for for many years to come.

[@Simonize41]

Hey Nic. I’ve been to see the Uffington white horse a few times, and of the white horses I have witnessed she definitely remains the most impressive and beautiful. The white horse of Kilburn, near Thirsk (not too far from where I am from) enchanted me as a young lad and I often nagged mum & dad to pay visit to Kilburn, often before or after day trips to Scarborough or Whitby during the long days of summer. Happy times. When I worked on the railway in Woking, as a train guard/conductor I often worked passenger and freight trains to Westbury, where I would see the White Horse of Bratton from those trains. Me and a few friends travelled to see her on a Saturday when I wasn’t working one July weekend. 1987 or 1988 I honestly forget when (yes, I am old). All I remember is that we had a great time and we felt and connected with its history, the history of the time (King Alfred), which is often refuted and contested I might add. But like I said it was a fun and enlightening day… local Cider probably helped.😇😅😆 Oh my, the memories and smile on my face right now… haha. Wonderful! History is just the best. Thanks Nic!🤘🏻🖤 (Love the small Mjollnir pendant.)

[@walkingthewyrd]

Hi Simon! Hope you're doing well. This was so lovely to read! It sounds like you've had some wonderful personal experiences of these chalk hill figures! They are quite something, and I think enchanting is the perfect description that you've used! I love that this video has invoked some happy memories for you. Thank you as always for watching and taking the time to comment ☺️

[@Simonize41]

@@walkingthewyrd Good morning Nic. I’m good thanks, back on the 4:15am get ups (5:30 am starts) for 8 days straight. Deep joy. Not.😉😂 I hope you’re well, too, and staying dry! Yes, you brought back some happy memories indeed. Gives me ideas for the summer.😃Always a pleasure to watch your videos. Take care Nic.🙂👍🏻

[@bladed.i.6547]

I had the great good fortune to visit Wayland's Smithie back in 1996, and to me it felt very welcoming and peaceful! As to Uffington, I have often wondered whether that particular, oddly-shaped "white horse" was actually intended to be the dragon .....?

[@daisysunshine1324]

Forgot how beautiful it is there. ❤

[@walkingthewyrd]

It was absolutely wonderful, in so many ways. A really special place.

[@paulus894]

What a beautiful landscape and such a clear sky, it looks like the aurora borealis, the northern lights during the day time. Too bad about the dragon, but fortunately there is still Nessie, the only monster we have in the Netherlands is Mark Rutte. What beautiful folklore stories and those big heavy stones, absolutely fantastic, the UK seems to be a large open-air museum, awesome !!! 💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked this one. It's a beautiful part of the country with lots to see. Appreciate your support once again!

[@Dead-Cold]

Brilliant... loved it... cracking 👏🏻 Even in fantasy lore the Elvin Blacksmiths craft weapons and armour like none other. Great job Nic 👍🏻

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thanks so much, Mark! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@jodimusicherself]

Such a gorgeous walk! Loved hearing the Smithy legends. Thank you for all the work you put in to bring us to these magical places! 💕

[@walkingthewyrd]

Ahhh Jodi! Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy coming along with me! 😊

[@sarahhobbs6314]

Absolutely loved this, great job Nick keep it up 👏👏👏❤️

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you! Will do! ☺️

[@david_v2.1]

Fantastic Nicola...I visited the White Horse and Wayland's Smithy back in 2017, glad to see you got a much sunnier day than I did! The gods are smiling on you!

[@walkingthewyrd]

Hi David! I hope you enjoyed your visit as much as I enjoyed mine. Wayland's Smithy had a really interesting vibe about it, in my opinion. Hard to describe. What did you think?

[@david_v2.1]

I didn't feel any kind of oppressive atmosphere at the site, only the sheer excitement of being at a tomb I had wanted to see for a long time....sat under the capstone for 15 minutes sheltering from the rain, and even the wet weather didn't dampen my enjoyment of being there...but I have read before that some people who visit this site do get a weird sense of an ominous presence, definitely like someone or something is not happy with people being around...so you're not alone in that experience 👻☠

[@walkingthewyrd]

@david_v2.1 that actually sounds amazing! Maybe Wayland approved of your company! A grey day tends to add to the atmosphere of these places I find. It chucked it down when I was at West Kennet and kinda made it feel more primal. I think a return to Waylands in the winter months may be on the cards! Thanks, David! 🙂

[@alienbiker5036]

beautiful footage of the oxfordhire landscape thankyou nicola its on my bucket list to visit waylands smithy

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thanks so much for watching! I hope you enjoy your visit when you get there!

[@DontScareClaire]

I've always wanted to visit the Uffington white horse, and still haven't made it down there yet! Like you say Nic, it is a shame but understandable that you can't stand on the horse's eye any more, I could think of a wish or two I'd like granted!

[@walkingthewyrd]

It's definitely worth a visit if you ever do head down that way. Wayland's Smithy is also very magical. Thank you for watching my lovely 🖤☺️

[@SrSpookfest]

Love seeing these places 👋👏thank you 👀

[@walkingthewyrd]

Glad you enjoyed it, SrSpookfest! ☺️

[@jayadee6721]

I’m loving your content , been binge watching all day !! Love the history the stories & the amazing locations & scenery 😍 Happy I’ve found your fabulous channel 👍😊

[@walkingthewyrd]

Hi Jaya! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch. I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! ☺️🩷

[@katep23]

Gorgeous time of year in the countryside! Thank you for another fascinating walk.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you, Kate! It's my favourite time of the year for a walk - so much new life everywhere 🙂

[@PanakaNL]

Beautiful walk, great video. so much history. Thank you Nic, for all you hard work, long walks ❤

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you so much, Panaka! I'm glad you enjoyed the walk! ☺️

[@DaveFord]

Another splendid video Nic. That Smithy looks like a fascinating place to visit!

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thanks, Dave! Bit of a drive from our neck of the woods, but definitely worth it!

[@Lee-St]

I love your videos, and narrative, I look forward to many more. ❤

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you so much, Lee! I really appreciate it! ☺️

[@iainmelville9411]

Really great video. Stay safe and well. Many Blessings,❤,😊.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thanks so much, Iain! Blessings to you, too. ☺️

[@marcomolinero5877]

The White Horse of Uffington is a very unique abstract work of art. There is only one other horse made in the same style, to the point where you could even say that it could have been done by the same artist, that I have seen anywhere else. This one is carved into a rock along with many other petroglyphs found in Armenia. Have you seen any such similar styles anywhere else?

[@jameswalksinhistory3848]

I totally enjoyed this and have subscribed-Thank you

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you so much, and welcome! Your channel looks right up my street, too. I shall check it out!

[@jameswalksinhistory3848]

@@walkingthewyrd Thank you

[@pwhitewick]

...and what a lovely day you had for it too!

[@walkingthewyrd]

NO WAY have you just watched one of my little videos!! I've watched your channel for ages, back when you had your partner with you, and learnt so much from your content! 🤯 Thanks for stopping by!

[@pwhitewick]

@@walkingthewyrd watched a few now! Always enjoy finding like minded creators.

[@walkingthewyrd]

I really appreciate it! Thank you!

[@barneschitown]

Nice to see you in my neck of the woods! the last few times i've been there this year. someones left what looks like ashes in the head of the chamber. othertimes some type of flower.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Oh, that's interesting. I couldn't see any offerings on my trip. I did have a look about. Maybe the National Trust have recently been in for a tidy up! Thanks for watching!

[@iainroberts4051]

'Look at those lovely views!' cuts scene before camera pans towards Swindon

[@walkingthewyrd]

Oops 😆

[@philipshewry8886]

Well done, you finally got there!. I've grown up with these sites and have done several rituals at both. including a quite intense one at Waylands last year with the local Goddess Group which was featured in a short film just released on KZbin. You are right about the strange atmosphere there, which is even more intense at night..

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you kindly, Philip! If the footage of the ritual you did with the Goddess Group is available to the public, I'd love to see it!

[@philipshewry8886]

@@walkingthewyrd HI Nic, I haven't a clue how to post links, but if you put 'Unbridled Women' in Search and select the one marked 'Jackie Singer' that should find it for you. It's a very short but powerful film which covers three parts of the project, so there isn't much footage at Waylands, and they worked in the corner away from the monument. This is the only part I was involved in, and as it was a women's ritual I didn't join the Circle but acted as a sort of 'Spiritual Gatekeeper', going in ahead to prepare the site, helping to drum them in, then standing guard as they did the ritual, as the release of emotion did require them to make themselves vunerable .As you said it doesn't always feel welcoming, though I think that's down to the enclosed nature and the feeling of being watched, so you need to mind your manners. there! They chose Beltane because although it's associated with the start of Summer, it also marks the end of the Dark Time, and is linked to Rhiannon, the 'Bridled Goddess' and also a Horse Goddess. They were also seeking to invoke the Blacksmith God Wayland to 'unmake' the forged device they were trying to symbolically destroy.

[@walkingthewyrd]

This is fantastic, Philip! What an experience to be a part of! I shall have a search through KZbin and try and find it. Thank you!

[@mrbadgermedia2711]

Never went to WS when I lived in the south. Didn't realise how far it went back

[@walkingthewyrd]

It's a really interesting place and definitely worth a visit. Thank you for watching!

[@robertbartender591]

Hi Nic, found you through Paul's channel, just watching the Uffington White Horse video thought you might have visited the Blowing Stone at Kingstone Lilse while you were in the area.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Ooh I definitely need to return to check that out! Thanks for watching the video 🙂

[@robertbartender591]

The Tithe Barn at Great Coxwell is worth a visit if you are in the area, not sure if you know that you can only view the whole of the White Horse from above.

[@buzsalmon]

I see a few call you Nic. Since I don't have Facebook or anything but Utube and have started to watch you i wonder what your name is and more about you. I really enjoy your travels! And eagerly have begun to watch you. Also recently saying how beautiful you are however maybe I should not if you are married etc. Anyway both are true. Your work is beautiful and so are you. Thank you for all your work! This was a particularly interesting video as was Portchester.

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you for your kind comments, and thank you for watching my content. I do indeed prefer to be called Nic 🙂

[@Rom3_29]

Fascinating episode. Europe has a rich past. Our modern mind refuses to believe anything unnatural. Because it doesn’t fit the predetermined evolutionary mindset we’ve learn in history and science classes. But why would our ancestors spend better part of their lives, building a massive stone structure? If they didn’t get anything return? Yet same legends and lores are repeated around the world. That involves some cryptic animal, or people. Thanks to internet these archeology sites are better known, but are ignored by mainline scientists because it doesn’t fit the modern worldview.

[@walkingthewyrd]

They were clearly important to our ancestors in ways we probably will never fully understand. Thank you for watching.

[@openmicfraternity1946]

Virtually all other chalk figures are most likely post 16th century created by rich landowners as follies, or by the military such as the ones west of Salisbury.

[@carolescutt2257]

Hey 😊 new sub here your great really good stuff ❤

[@walkingthewyrd]

Thank you for the sub! Much appreciated ☺️

[@Nick-zp3ub]

The reason Weyland sought revenge was because the king crippled his legs. In some stories he also fed the king his sons' flesh

[@spacewater7]

Wait, so I can suppose that the wicked king's sons bones were made of steel or something? Were they tin men? In other words robots? Sounds like a good plot for a historical fiction legendary fantasy sci-fi story. I'll have to start writing. Tomorrow.

[@emmateawitch]

I still think its a draagon not a horse. There is coin ub the roman museum in Cirencester with the uffington white horse on it. the story i was told of Waylans smitthy was that he was the best at shoeing horses so the kning asked to shoe the kings horses then after wayland had finished the king refused to pay so wayland stole the kings horses and set them free. as punishment wayland was tied to that area and could never leave.

[@walkingthewyrd]

I agree about the possibility of the horse being a dragon. The mouth is particularly dragon-like! I've not come across that story of Wayland - very interesting! Thanks for sharing it.

[@discostu2246]

So those larger upright stones.. I found witches knots placed inside the small indentations.. evidence of supernatural malarky 😂

[@walkingthewyrd]

Oh, we do love a bit of supernatural malarky! 😄 That's really awesome, though. I love things like that! Thanks for watching!

[@Andy-co6pn]

Waylands Smithy featured in the fictitious BBC children's series "Moon Stallion" shown in the early80s