Discover the legendary locations of Dragons and other Magical Creatures:
Derbyshire's Peak District Dragon Village - Wormhill
Anglo-Saxon 'Dragon Hill' (Wyrma's Hill) - the hill where the dragon may have been said to have lived can be seen on the road to Miller's Dale, were the coils in the ground surrounding this small hill created by the dragon's tail?
Wormhill's church is dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch who had links to dragons, was the dedication to protect this Derbyshire village from the dragon?
Find Wormhill the Dragon Village on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Wormhill
Wormhill's church is dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch who had links to dragons, was the dedication to protect this Derbyshire village from the dragon?
Find Wormhill the Dragon Village on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Wormhill
The 'Essex Serpent' - The Henham Dragon
Sightings of a dragon at Henham-on-the-Mount were reported in a pamphlet of 1669 - "The Flying Serpent or Strange news out of Essex".
Numerous locals were said to have attested to the sighting and further sightings continued after the pamphlet.
Find Henham home of the 'Essex Serpent' on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Dragon_of_Henham
Numerous locals were said to have attested to the sighting and further sightings continued after the pamphlet.
Find Henham home of the 'Essex Serpent' on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Dragon_of_Henham
The 'Slingsby Serpent' of North Yorkshire
Slingsby, in North Yorkshire, has a tradition of a serpent living in a great hole outside the village, that would prey upon travellers.
In the church is the effigy of the knight Sir William Wyvill who with his dog is said to have killed the serpent, and to have been fatally wounded in the fight.
Find the Slingsby Serpent on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Slingsby_Serpent
In the church is the effigy of the knight Sir William Wyvill who with his dog is said to have killed the serpent, and to have been fatally wounded in the fight.
Find the Slingsby Serpent on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Slingsby_Serpent
The Drake Stone - Dragon Stone
THE DRAGON STONE OF HARBOTTLE, NORTHUMBERLAND:
The Drake Stone, near Harbottle in Northumberland, from the Anglo-Saxon Draag for Dragon, and so the Dragon Stone.
Traditions tell of how it was used by the ancient druids in their ceremonies, and was believed to have supernatural healing powers, so the druids would pass children over the stone to heal them.
The stone is a huge erratic made of sandstone deposited by a glacier in the Ice Age.
Find the Dragon Stone on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Drake_Stone_-_Dragon _Stone
The Drake Stone, near Harbottle in Northumberland, from the Anglo-Saxon Draag for Dragon, and so the Dragon Stone.
Traditions tell of how it was used by the ancient druids in their ceremonies, and was believed to have supernatural healing powers, so the druids would pass children over the stone to heal them.
The stone is a huge erratic made of sandstone deposited by a glacier in the Ice Age.
Find the Dragon Stone on the Map-Olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Drake_Stone_-_Dragon _Stone
The Isle of Islay Dragon
ISLE OF ISLAY DRAGON - EMERACONART, ISLAY
At Emeraconart a dragon had its lair, and at the hillfort of Dun Guaidhre King Godred of the white hand, set out to slay the dragon.
Godred had fought with the Norwegian King Harald Hardraada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 against the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson prior to the Battle of Hastings. Godred survived and took shelter in the Viking possessions of the Hebrides.
The Emeraconart Dragon was killing the cattle and the locals that had set out to kill it had perished. Godred planned his capture of the dragon meticulously, floating barrels with spikes through them in the sea at Loch Indaal, and having horses placed from Emeraconart to Loch Indaal. Godred travelled from Dun Guaidrhre to the dragon's lair at Emeraconart, entering its cave and throwing a spear at the dragon.
Enraged, the dragon chased Godred, and Godred jumped onto the waiting horse, as the horse tired Godred got on another, the chasing dragon only stopping to devour the tired horses.
On the shore of Loch Indaal Godred dismounted, stode into the sea amidst the mass of barrels, and swam to his waiting longship. The dragon lunged towards Godred into the sea, only to be impailed upon the spikes that Godred had set into the floating barrels.
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Isle_of_Islay_Dragon
At Emeraconart a dragon had its lair, and at the hillfort of Dun Guaidhre King Godred of the white hand, set out to slay the dragon.
Godred had fought with the Norwegian King Harald Hardraada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 against the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson prior to the Battle of Hastings. Godred survived and took shelter in the Viking possessions of the Hebrides.
The Emeraconart Dragon was killing the cattle and the locals that had set out to kill it had perished. Godred planned his capture of the dragon meticulously, floating barrels with spikes through them in the sea at Loch Indaal, and having horses placed from Emeraconart to Loch Indaal. Godred travelled from Dun Guaidrhre to the dragon's lair at Emeraconart, entering its cave and throwing a spear at the dragon.
Enraged, the dragon chased Godred, and Godred jumped onto the waiting horse, as the horse tired Godred got on another, the chasing dragon only stopping to devour the tired horses.
On the shore of Loch Indaal Godred dismounted, stode into the sea amidst the mass of barrels, and swam to his waiting longship. The dragon lunged towards Godred into the sea, only to be impailed upon the spikes that Godred had set into the floating barrels.
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Isle_of_Islay_Dragon
The Dragon of Carhampton, Somerset, & King Arthur
ARTHUR, ST. CARANTOC AND THE DRAGON OF CARHAMPTON
Carhampton, Somerset, is linked to King Arthur and St. Carantoc a Welsh Saint and a Dragon.
In his youth King Arthur ruled the lands around Dunster in alliance with King Cado. St. Carantoc crossed the Bristol Channel looking for his portable altar, Arthur had found it, and hid it under leaves.
Meeting St. Carantoc, Arthur said the altar would only be returned if the Saint could deal with the local dragon.
St. Carantoc used his faith and the dragon climbed out of the local swamp and walked up to St. Carantoc as if it was his pet, a changed and tamed beast.
Arthur returned the altar to the Saint and also gave him lands in Carhampton on which to found a monastery.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Arthur,_St._Carantoc,_and_the_Dragon
Carhampton, Somerset, is linked to King Arthur and St. Carantoc a Welsh Saint and a Dragon.
In his youth King Arthur ruled the lands around Dunster in alliance with King Cado. St. Carantoc crossed the Bristol Channel looking for his portable altar, Arthur had found it, and hid it under leaves.
Meeting St. Carantoc, Arthur said the altar would only be returned if the Saint could deal with the local dragon.
St. Carantoc used his faith and the dragon climbed out of the local swamp and walked up to St. Carantoc as if it was his pet, a changed and tamed beast.
Arthur returned the altar to the Saint and also gave him lands in Carhampton on which to found a monastery.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Arthur,_St._Carantoc,_and_the_Dragon
The Linton Serpent, the Scottish Borders
THE LINTON SERPENT
In the 12th Century the people of Linton were being attacked by a dragon, the Linton Worm, 'Wyrm' being Anglo-Saxon for a dragon or serpent.
A Laird of the Somerville family set out to slay the beast in the Linton bog, and did so by spearing the creature with a lance through its throat. Somerville had noted that the beast would remain still if approached by something too big to eat, with its mouth open.
So he got the local blacksmith to attach a wheel to the end of his lance, upon which Somerville attached peat and set it alight.
He approached the dragon on his horse, so that he was too big to eat, and thrust the flaming lance down the dragon's throat.
The arms of the Somerville included a wyvern - heraldic dragon and a wheel.
The event is recalled in a panel above the door to the church. It was also noted by Walter Scott in his writings.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Linton_Serpent
In the 12th Century the people of Linton were being attacked by a dragon, the Linton Worm, 'Wyrm' being Anglo-Saxon for a dragon or serpent.
A Laird of the Somerville family set out to slay the beast in the Linton bog, and did so by spearing the creature with a lance through its throat. Somerville had noted that the beast would remain still if approached by something too big to eat, with its mouth open.
So he got the local blacksmith to attach a wheel to the end of his lance, upon which Somerville attached peat and set it alight.
He approached the dragon on his horse, so that he was too big to eat, and thrust the flaming lance down the dragon's throat.
The arms of the Somerville included a wyvern - heraldic dragon and a wheel.
The event is recalled in a panel above the door to the church. It was also noted by Walter Scott in his writings.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The_Linton_Serpent
Mermaids
THE MERMAID OF SANDWOOD BAY, HIGHLANDS:
Claims of Mermaid sightings have been made at Sandwood Bay, with Alexander Gunn claiming a sighting of a mermaid basking on a rock in 1900 and never changing his account throughout his life.
The area was also known as a stopping over point for Viking longships on their ocean voyages, with the longships being dragged across the bay into Sandwood Loch. It is claimed that beneath the sands of Sandwood Bay can be found the remains of buried Viking longships.
With Cape Wrath to the North numerous shipwrecks occurred in the area prior to the building of the Cape Wrath lighthouse, Sandwood Bay is also claimed to be the resting place of a Spanish Galleon and all its treasures!
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Mermaids,_Longships_and_Galleons_at_Sandwood_Bay
THE NUNTON MERMAID, BENBECULA:
In the 1830s crofters cutting seaweed near Grimnis spotted a small mermaid just off the shore.
It evaded capture when men went into the water to catch it, but a disappeared beneath the waves when a boy threw a stone and hit it in the back.
It was found washed up on the shore at Culla Bay near Nunton, several days later. It was buried, though some say at the church with a Christian burial, others say it was buried amongst the dunes.
In the 1990s a stone marker was investigated as a possible marker for the Mermaid's Grave, but it wasn't thought to have been put there as a grave marker.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The-Nunton_Mermaid
TWO GIANTS AND THE MERMAID OF UNST
Two giants one called Herma and Saxa lived at the north of Unst in the Shetland Isles, one at Hernaness and the other at Saxa Vord, and they threw rocks at each other across the Burra Firth.
The two of them fell in love with a mermaid who swam in the seas below their clifftop homes.
The mermaid promised she would marry the first giant to follow her and swim to her home at the North Pole. Both giants marched into the sea to follow the mermaid - and they were never seen again.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Two_Giants_and_a_Mermaid_of_Unst
Claims of Mermaid sightings have been made at Sandwood Bay, with Alexander Gunn claiming a sighting of a mermaid basking on a rock in 1900 and never changing his account throughout his life.
The area was also known as a stopping over point for Viking longships on their ocean voyages, with the longships being dragged across the bay into Sandwood Loch. It is claimed that beneath the sands of Sandwood Bay can be found the remains of buried Viking longships.
With Cape Wrath to the North numerous shipwrecks occurred in the area prior to the building of the Cape Wrath lighthouse, Sandwood Bay is also claimed to be the resting place of a Spanish Galleon and all its treasures!
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Mermaids,_Longships_and_Galleons_at_Sandwood_Bay
THE NUNTON MERMAID, BENBECULA:
In the 1830s crofters cutting seaweed near Grimnis spotted a small mermaid just off the shore.
It evaded capture when men went into the water to catch it, but a disappeared beneath the waves when a boy threw a stone and hit it in the back.
It was found washed up on the shore at Culla Bay near Nunton, several days later. It was buried, though some say at the church with a Christian burial, others say it was buried amongst the dunes.
In the 1990s a stone marker was investigated as a possible marker for the Mermaid's Grave, but it wasn't thought to have been put there as a grave marker.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=The-Nunton_Mermaid
TWO GIANTS AND THE MERMAID OF UNST
Two giants one called Herma and Saxa lived at the north of Unst in the Shetland Isles, one at Hernaness and the other at Saxa Vord, and they threw rocks at each other across the Burra Firth.
The two of them fell in love with a mermaid who swam in the seas below their clifftop homes.
The mermaid promised she would marry the first giant to follow her and swim to her home at the North Pole. Both giants marched into the sea to follow the mermaid - and they were never seen again.
See on the Map-olah map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Two_Giants_and_a_Mermaid_of_Unst
Pixies
THE CORNISH PIXIES OF ST. ALLEN
A boy from the village of St. Allen just north of Truro is said to have recounted meeting the Cornish Piskies / Pixies.
The boy wandered off to collect flowers in a small valley, lost the villagers couldn't find him for three days. When he was found, he wasn't aware that days had passed, unharmed he spoke of how he had followed a singing bird into the forest, where night fell and he thought he saw stars all around him.
The boy then realised that the shining lights around him were the piskies, who led him down to a cave full of riches, gave him honey and sang him to sleep. On waking the boy was back in the valley.
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Cornish_Pixies_of_St._Allen
A boy from the village of St. Allen just north of Truro is said to have recounted meeting the Cornish Piskies / Pixies.
The boy wandered off to collect flowers in a small valley, lost the villagers couldn't find him for three days. When he was found, he wasn't aware that days had passed, unharmed he spoke of how he had followed a singing bird into the forest, where night fell and he thought he saw stars all around him.
The boy then realised that the shining lights around him were the piskies, who led him down to a cave full of riches, gave him honey and sang him to sleep. On waking the boy was back in the valley.
See on the Map-olah Map:
https://www.zeemaps.com/view?group=2653234&item=Cornish_Pixies_of_St._Allen