There is a country, under the countries.
“The Ghosts of the Forest – The Lost Mythology of the North” is my new book about legends, and the lost land that gave birth to them. The southernmost third of Scotland the northernmost third of England once formed one country, a place called Yr Hen Ogledd – ‘The Old North’. It was a Celtic land, whose beliefs and way of life left a profound mark on the folk cultures of the region – and which shaped the course of European civilisation in ways we are only beginning to understand.
This book aims to bring that lost world back to life. It explores its landscapes, and its physical remains; journeying into the remote moors and forests of the Border region in search of the ancient hillforts, sacred stones and holy wells where traces of the lost culture still linger. Many of the sites described are as yet unexplored by archaeology – and some have been entirely lost for centuries.
Alongside these physical expeditions, the book also journeys into the legends the Old North left behind – vivid tales, brimming with the magical, dark and enigmatic content for which Celtic mythology is famous. The stories delivered include new takes on some well-known narratives, such as those of Merlin and Thomas the Rhymer, alongside a series of little-known tales that deserve a far wider audience. By interpreting these legends in the light of the latest archaeological evidence, this book is able to pinpoint some exciting new possibilities in the Dark Age & medieval history of Britain – discoveries that in no small measure have the potential to reshape our understanding of this island’s history.
The Kindle ebook edition is available throughout the world from Amazon for £8.99 (USD $11.51 at time of writing) – click this text to purchase.
If you’re in the UK or US, you can purchase the paperback edition directly through this website for £11.99 + postage ($15.35 + postage at time of writing) by clicking this link to go to the webshop.
If you have any questions, do by all means get in touch through the comments below. Many thanks for giving this project your attention.
Just received this, thank you.
Looking forward to reading what looks like a substantial and valuable source of investigations into the links between Celtic lore and landscape.
Thanks Greg – I hope you enjoy it! I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, when you’re done.
Totally agree with your points, well said.
Hi, this look like a good read adding very much to the landscape.
I like to your idea in latest BFT issue of a Wild Heart Way: good luck with that.
Yours aye,
D
Cheers Will! The trail idea seems to have caught the imagination of a few of the organisations best placed to make it happen, so fingers crossed it may become a reality in due course. Whether it ever becomes an ‘official’ trail or not, though, I’ll certainly be walking it more than once myself!
I Look forward to the trail and to a greener and restored upland Scotland in the landscape of the Hen Ogledd.
What is cost for shipping to the US?
I could buy it through UK Amazon as a Kindle edition , but I would much rather have a hard copy.
Thanx in advance for your time ,
Beverly K.
US shipping costs £10.99.
Hi William – Just got your book after reading the review today in Bella Caledonia. Really looking forward to it!!! Wish I had it last June when I was on a bit of a pilgrimage to my ancestral territories, one of which was southern Scotland – at least, Stirling down to Newcastle – was able to find two homes built by my great-grandfather in Corbridge. Next time I’m in Edinburg, I’ll look you up. Let me know if you want to do any hiking on Vancouver Island! Aye, Scott
May I order your book sent to Norway, please?
Hi! Unfortunately it is only available in ebook in Norway at the moment. EEA tax rules make it very complicated to send print books to most European countries, and I have not yet worked out what’s necessary to do so for Norway. I do hope to remedy this at some point, but don’t know when this will be.