By: Blonde One
Title image – ‘J’ flickr.com
We Blondes like a legend. We are very good at recalling them to interested others and also enjoy making up our own. We know Dartmoor legends quite well, but on our trip to the Peak District we got to find out a new set of legends. The one about Mermaid’s Pool is quite good.
Mermaid’s Pool is to be found down a steep drop as you walk between Kinder Downfall and Kinder Low. We didn’t walk down to it, but it looked like the kind of pool that would evoke all kinds of mysterious legends and myths. It’s there in the photo above if you look very closely!
Copyright Ordnance Survey 2016
Legend has it that if you go to Mermaid’s Pool at Easter Eve you will be granted immortality if the mermaid likes the look of you. If she doesn’t like the look of you, you will be lured to your death by her singing. If you are brave enough to bathe in the pool’s waters it is reported to have healing properties.
The water in this lake is said to be salinated because of its connection to the Atlantic by an underground passage! Folklore has it that animals won’t drink from it and birds won’t fly over it.
The Two Blondes (we think) are going to live forever anyway so we didn’t need to go any closer to investigate!
Did you come across this one: “The naturally occurring magnetic rocks in The Dark Peak can cause local deflection of compass direction.” We were warned about this possibility when we set off on the Pennine Way.
It is possible that birds and animals do not drink from the peat pools and the Mermaid’s Pool because the water is far too acid. Sorry if that spoils the fun! I’d much rathr it was something magical!
I don’t think we experienced any compass problems (we occasionally have on Dartmoor). Mine is currently reluctant to swing but gets things right eventually. You will see soon that we did have a few bog-navigation issues! I don’t blame the birds, although vinegar and lemon juice are both acid and quite nice!
Hee – only to a different kind of bird!
P.S. I ran out of “e”s for “rather.” Does anyone know where I can buy some more?