culture
‘I’m hoping to meet a river goddess’: a wild journey through Britain’s mythic waterways
Follow the folklore and you will discover a landscape full of wonder and powerful women – from a fearsome Scottish warrioress to the first queen of a united England
TL;DR
- The author visited Mount Pumlumon Fawr in mid-Wales, the source of the River Severn, inspired by local myth.
- Folklore is experiencing a revival in Britain, influencing literature and cultural practices.
- Waterways and their sources are significant in mythology, often associated with powerful goddesses and magical events.
- Legends include Sulis at Bath, Coventina's well, the Ffynone waterfall, and a nymph at Llyn y Fan Fach.
- Notable female figures in folklore include Scáthach, a Scottish warrioress, Gwendoline, a legendary queen, and the matriarchal figures of Avalon.
- Exploring Britain through myth and folklore offers a different perspective, highlighting wonder and the possibility of the extraordinary.
- Connecting with the natural world through folklore can help view waterways as living beings with stories, rather than mere resources.