This morning I woke up in a panic, unable to escape the shreds of a nightmare which had terrified me, leaving me palpitating and afraid, still visualising an unspeakable scene.
I had been invited to take a trip to Saint Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall, to celebrate a friend’s birthday with several others. As I ate my breakfast I could feel my anxiety level rising, and I was tempted to ring and say I couldn’t make it, for fear that I may ruin the day, but I chose to be brave and go.
I was still nervous when I got into the car, but the instant we left the town I relaxed, enjoying lazy conversation, gazing out of the window at the familiar patchwork fields of the South West of England. We left my beloved Devon, passing the county border into Cornwall, and registered the subtle change somewhere; we couldn’t decide whether it was in the air or the surrounding countryside, but we didn’t care. We were there together, and that was what mattered.
Several miles past Boscastle we parked the car and started our walk. A country road led us to a woodland track by a stream where water gushed over stones, making a loud rushing sound. Dead trees lay where they fell, making bridges or rotting into the ground, birthing and feeding ferns, flowers and saplings. The path inclined and declined; we crossed a platform over the water, and crossed a second one to return to the original side. We climbed several sets of winding stone steps until we reached a pay station, shop and cafe at the top of a hill, then we stopped for cream tea.
When we all felt ready, we paid our entry fee, donned Wellingtons borrowed from the establishment, and began the final foray. An employee detailed the views we should see, explaining that our journey took us from the top of the waterfall to the base, by a pictureque route.
Our descent was beautiful, and I would describe it, but what I found at the bottom exceeded my expectations to such an extent that I have almost forgotten the rest.
I stood close to the pelting gash in the rock, feeling the spray hit my face, soak my hair and my clothes; drench me from head to toe. Gasping for air I gave silent thanks for the beauty of this planet, for its ability to stand fast against the ravages of man, and for the energy this pure water was driving into me.
All around were ribbons tied to trees, stones with names written upon them, all left as if out of respect, but it looked to me more like examples of human ego, and the need to for people to place a piece of themselves where only nature should be; to claim some small part of this valley, for all the world to see. That’s how it looked to me, like desecration of a natural place. Like so much litter.
Some speak of seeing fairies in the glen, of how some have seen them in their photographs. Myself, I neither believe or disbelieve, but this I will say; the real value of the place is in its beauty, and it’s reminder of the power of earth and air and water; to try to add supernatural activity shows disrespect for our natural world.
And so I stood, alone, dripping, cleansed, looking perhaps like a madwoman, while I felt like the sanest person there, although they would all agree that my troubles are greater.
When we left I ran up the steps, leaving the others behind. I was the oldest of our group; there were three who were half may age or less. I waited at the top, feeling my heartbeat and breathing slowing to a regular pace. I waited until they came. It took a while.
At the end of our journey home I was the least tired of the group. It is now well past midnight and I’m still alert. I feel like going for a walk; so those who search for something more interesting than the wonders of a crashing waterfall can keep their fairies and their ribbons, their tiny monuments to modern paganism, their rituals and their search for of spirituality in this sacred place. Nature is all I need, and it seems their religion does less for them than mine does for me.
The Daily Post #Value
To see images of Saint Nectan’s Glen, Click HERE.
©Jane Paterson Basil
Sounds like a very lovely day! Glad to hear you lived today above your fear!
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It was lovely – all those energising negative ions flying about made the world of difference to me. I’m going back to the gym today, and they’ll see I’m well enough to get back on the curcuit.
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Great!
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🙂
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Reads like it was a really good day. And yes, religion, the opium of the people. They get out of the humdrum regular religious routines only to fall back into the nebulous pseudo-paganism that was no better. Glad you had a great time, and appreciate your observations. I agree about that human litter.
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It’s sad – all those people looking for something that’s missing from their lives, not seeing the beauty in front of them.
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Looks spectacular ! So glad you had a serene day immersed in nature 🙂
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It was gorgeous – although there were a lot of visitors, I think I was the only one who understood the healing power of moving water. I soaked up the negative ions like there was no tomorrow, while others stood around taking photos, or tying nylon reminders of their presence to the noble trees.
I felt like a child again – the only child there – but believe I was one of the few adults.
St. Nectans Glen attracts a hodgepodge of people searching for something they pretend they have found. Those are the conspicuous ones. The others go there for the real beauty, and are hurt that it has been desecrated by litter.
We have forgotten the rule; leave beauty as you found it.
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And soak it in, like you did 🙂
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So healing… 🙂
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Nature is all WE need! I so wish people realise this one day and take better care of nature and go back to living in it…
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Yes! A couple of years ago I spent 6 months living in a tent in the woods. I was warden at a holiday campsite. there was no electricity so we cooked over a fire. Our guests gazed into the fire and claimed it was better than watching TV. But they didn’t mean it. They knew that in a few days they’d return to their luxury and be glad of it.
Most of us have gone to far to turn back through choice. Maybe that choice will soon be taken away from us, and we’ll becaome human again.
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I so much hope that too! Namaste!
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Deepest respect to you, friend.
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A beautiful spot. I haven’t been there for years, but I don’t remember any ribbons etc. having been left back then.
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I suspected it was a recent thing. 21st century pagans and pretentious new agers have little respect for the essence of beauty. They leave their pseudo-voodoo all over the place. Did you check out the link?
The shop above the valley is filled with fairies and tacky photo-shopped images of the waterfall. The water is all cleaned up and SMOOTH. It’s a revolting insult.
The woman in the shop showed photos taken of fairies in the glen. My excited friends said that the portal is opening. I assume that would be descendants of the Cottingley Fairies.
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I didn’t check the link, and after your description I’m not sure I should. In my memory, it’s beautiful. Maybe I should leave it like that.
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You’re right. I shouldn’t have tried to pass the anger on to you.
It’s nice that these places are open to visitors, rather than being a secret shared by a few, but why do they have to be so crass?
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At a wild and irresponsible guess, ’cause it makes money. But I didn’t think you were trying to pass on your anger to me. I heard it but didn’t feel pushed by it.
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It was a flippant remark.
There’s an aspect of financial gain to this, but I think the habit of leaving mementoes everywhere started with the death of Princess Diana, or possibly before – when James Bulgar was killed so horribly. Everybody wanted to prove part- ownership of the nation’s grief. Maybe this littering is a natural extension.
Am I being harsh? I don’t think so.
The world seems to have taken to building shrines; some to misery and others to witchcraft and false dreams, and I want to scream at them WHY DON’T YOU LOOK AT WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOUR SODDING FACE. If it’s good, soak it in. If it’s bad try to find a way to fucking deal with it. Peter Pan was irritating, but he had a useful tool.
I’ve finished. Probably. Possibly.
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Quote: ” Peter Pan was irritating, but he had a useful tool.” Hahahahahaha!
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I didn’t mean….
You’ve just made me laugh so hard it’s difficult to write 😀 😀 😀
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It looks beautiful, I love waterfalls. Human ego, yes I can see what you mean by that. It’s disrespectful to the natural surroundings.
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I’m glad you agree. It was heartbreaking and difficult to ignore, until I reached the waterfall. After that I could see nothing but the beauty, until I turned to leave.
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Sounds like a refreshing day.
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It was an incredible day. I don’t belong among tarmac and concrete. I think I should live in a cave 🙂
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Excellent reflections. I think we all undervalue nature. Me especially…
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You? I’m not sure I believe that.
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I am SO not an outside person!!!
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I didn’t know that!
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“Gasping for air I gave silent thanks for the beauty of this planet, for its ability to stand fast against the ravages of man, and for the energy this pure water was driving into me.” I loved that sentence because it sums up the beauty of your entire post so simply. I hope I can go their sometime and see it all for myself. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you – do, if you ever get a chance. We have quite a few lovely waterfalls in this country, but there’s something exceptional about this one – maybe because it’s possible to stand so close to the bottom of it, and feel the spray running down your face; not that anyone else seemed to wish to do so.
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Gorgeous write. I couldn’t agree more. We went up into the mountains this weekend and on the “tourist” stops you could see all the trees with names carved into them. It was so sad to see how others don’t respect the beauty of a place. Amazing write!
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Thank you. You understand exactly what I’m getting at, then.
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I get it Jane
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I’m glad. I belong to nature, and it hurts me to see it belittled and treated with such disrespect.
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I’m with you Jane…it breaks my heart to see what some of the tourists do to our beaches,,yet claim they love our island 😔
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xxx
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Wild Nature is a haven we must preserve to preserve ourselves. Before it’s too late. Thank you for reminding us.
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It was my pleasure – thank you for reading and commenting.
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