Merry Maiden Stone Circle

This part of England has the most concentrated amount of tors, barrrows and stone circles.

Its not actually clear if its because they were not disturbed and destroyed over the years like they were in other parts of the UK, or if there was more pagan activity here.

We searched out a few circles - which are just sitting in the middle of fields.. well of course they are.. where else would they be? We were so lucky with the weather - it poured down as we drove up and down little goat tracks, and just as we found another circle, the clouds would part allowing us enough sunshine to rush over and take photos or walk round them.

The Merry Maidens are the most complete circle in the area. Experts have no idea why they are here or what significance they a have, as they don't have a specific alignment with solar or lunar patterns.  They were named such after a myth of a handful of girls who slipped out to dance in the moonlight - naked of course - and then they were discovered and turned to stone for their wickedness.

The circle felt safe and acred as I walked around the edges. It have a beautiful calm feeling as I was invited inside. Just as I stood in the centre, the sun came out from behind a cloud and I was bated in golden light.  A special moment as I had several questions I had been posing and pondering.

Minack Theatre

The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre - literally - clinging to the clifface over the crashing sea in Cornwall. It was largely constructed by an extremely determined lady, who , well into her 80s was still climbing the steep staircase to the beach and mixing cement by hand.  The theatre is at Porthcurno,  which is only a few Km from  Land's End in Cornwall and surprisingly can hold over 700 people.

The photo above is halfway down - so its pretty steep seating.

Its all carved stone - and in some places where she ran out of money - cement.

A mad keen theatre goer, Miss Cade wanted to bring some culture and the old world charm of ancient Greece to her area. Most seats are carved with a production name and the year it was performed in the theatre.

It was an amazing feeling to stand in the centre stage. The energy, even on a windswept day, was incredible. I can only imagine what it must be like to perform ( or even see a performance) of a Shakespearian play like The Tempest here.. ( had a little moment thinking about that.....)

The arches are permanently there - and form a gorgeous backdrop over the cliffs..

Truro Cathedral

Its difficult to believe that this Gothic styled Cathedral was actually built in the late 1800s.. And Victorian instead! Though a church  has stood here since the 1200s, it was only ever a tiny and up till the 1800s, pretty insignificant.

It certainly gives tribute to the restoration efforts of other , older churches and to the skills of the stonemasons in the Victorian age.

I 'm always drawn to the tiny chapels and the macabre sculptures.

A little reminder to the masses that death comes for us all.. And is the equaliser in the end..

I'm a big fan of the beauty in rose windows . So many stories held in each section.

This must have been quite a rich area to have afforded so many stained glass windows.