14-Mar-2026
In a really interesting article, James Franklin mentions a whole list of folklore sites. This one is really not far from us, and today was a cracking day for a walk...
First up, catch one of the strike-determined skeleton-service buses to Crosby. The village conveniences are currently under dispute (and therefore closed), but if you're lucky, you'll happen across a kind person who'll open them up for you
Spring!
Marown New Church, designed by Ewan Christian (the man behind Cronkbourne Village)
Then along the old Douglas-Peel railway line (now a walking track)
And after a short while you set off perpendicular to the track, up towards the main road
Cross the road, and head off up the hill
And then you see the Lady...
This is what James Franklin says:
"The White Lady is a large quartz pillar found at the gatepost in front of Ballafreer Farm, north of the main road between Union Mills and Glen Vine... This pillar has acted as 'an object of reverence, of wonderment, of admonition and of fear for many' for centuries. Many years ago it used to be custom for women who were about to get married or hoping to become pregnant to come to the White Lady to perform a pre-sunrise rite that would grant them luck. They would take a mouthful of water from the nearby holy well and walk three times around the White Lady jesh-wise (clockwise), swallow the water and say, 'Ayns yn Ennym Yee, as y Vac, as y Spyrryd Noo' ('In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost')."
She has a very distinct face... And I can imagine that if you were passing this way after a night at the pub, she could give you quite a shock...
Back down to the main road for a short stretch
Union Mills church, and adjacent monkey puzzle
And onto the old railway line again. Picnic lunch on the memorial bench at the former Union Mills station
Follow the railway track to Braddan
And sit in the sun at Kirby Garden Centre while you enjoy a coffee
Great walk.
I'll just also mention the Saddle Stone, which is very close to the Garden Centre, and often figures on some of our shorter walks. Again according to Franklin, the origin of the Saddle Stone goes back to a bit of mischief that Themselves practised on a local vicar. Every morning the man of God found his horse exhausted, and couldn't figure out why. Then, early one morning, he saw a green-jacketed little man turning that same horse loose into the field, having clearly been riding it. As soon as he spotted the vicar, the horse-exploiter disappeared, and his saddle turned to stone... It was later moved to its current position, where it is used as a wishing-seat...