the Merlin, or the Wizard Tea Room to mention just a few.
All derived, of course, from the Legend of Alderley, retold here. Though what made the story famous to a much wider audience was its use as the inspiration for Alan Garner's classic first novel, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen. For those who don't know the novel, a brief summary here: for those who do there's a lovely, brief interview with Garner talking about his writing and the Edge here.
I first read 'the Weirdstone' and its sequel, 'the Moon of Gomrath' in the mid-sixties when I was eight to ten years old. The ideal age for those books which are a step up from the Narnia fantasies I had adored but had found the slightly patronising tone beginning to grate. What I particularly loved about Garner's books was that his magic did not take place in a different world: his wizards and dwarfs and elves were lurking in shadows just around the corner from where they could step, without warning, into the real world which was also vividly evoked.
And so, forty five years later, I find myself drawn to visit a place I first visited in books. What could, if it weren't such an insufferably poncey phrase, suitable only to be spoken in a Brian Sewell drawl, as a "literary pilgrimage". But why not? As I child I so desperately wanted to see the places Garner described and now I can.
Strictly above ground this time, though I would love to go to go on one of the organised trips to the mines, some pictures of which can be seen here.
Instead, if the weather holds, I intend to follow this walk which covers most of the landmarks from Garner's books. And, sadly, I know I'm too old to run into any wizards. Indeed, even the big, rambling old barn of a house is more likely today to be occupied by Carlos Tevez than Selina Place. But the edge itself, with history back to the Bronze age and the sheer physical beauty should be magical enough...
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