Blurs

Deep in the countryside of County Donegal lies a strange geological formation known as the Pullans or Pullauns. Beneath the wooded landscape of Brownhall Demesne, near Ballintra, a river has carved its way through limestone, creating a curious network of ravines, caves and partially collapsed passages. It is a remarkable natural feature in its own right. But local folklore has given one part of the underground system a much darker name: the Piper's Hole. According to an old Donegal tradition, a piper entered the caves, his music echoing through the underground passages. He never came back out. And some versions of the story claim that his pipes can still be heard. A Cave Beneath Brownhall The Pullans are not simply a product of imagination. Geological Survey Ireland identifies the site as a County Geological Site in Brownhall Demesne, near Ballintra. It is an unusual near-surface river cave developed in Carboniferous limestone, containing sections that are open to the surface, part...

Deep in the folklore of West Cornwall lies a particularly sinister tale attached to a place that, today, is barely recognisable as anything extraordinary. At Higher Bodinar, near Newbridge between Penzance and St Just, an ancient underground structure known as a fogou was once feared as the dwelling place of a group of grotesque supernatural beings: the spriggans. These were not the playful piskies of Cornish folklore. The spriggans were something considerably darker — ugly, spiteful creatures believed to guard ancient treasures hidden beneath the earth. And at Higher Bodinar, tradition placed them directly beneath the feet of the living. The Giant’s Holt The underground structure at Higher Bodinar was traditionally known as the Giant’s Holt. It was one of Cornwall's fogous — mysterious subterranean chambers generally associated with Iron Age settlements. Fogous remain difficult to interpret with certainty. Suggestions for their purpose have included storage, refuge and ritual acti...

Few places in Britain are as steeped in myth, mystery and legend as Glastonbury. Nestled within the Somerset Levels, this small market town has become synonymous with stories of King Arthur, the Holy Grail, Joseph of Arimathea, ancient pagan gods, hidden realms and sacred landscapes.  For centuries, pilgrims, historians, occultists, archaeologists and curious travellers have all been drawn to Glastonbury in search of answers. Yet what makes Glastonbury truly fascinating is that its legends overlap and intertwine. Celtic mythology merges with Christian tradition. Medieval storytelling blends with genuine history. Ancient landscapes become sacred symbols. As a result, Glastonbury occupies a unique place in the British imagination – a location where folklore and faith seem impossible to separate. Whether viewed as the legendary Isle of Avalon, the resting place of King Arthur, or simply one of Britain's most enigmatic locations, Glastonbury remains a place where mystery thrives. The A...