Witch Country

Links &amp; Details as promised!Our StoriesThe Tale of the White Dove, written by Carl Carmer, read by Vincent Price (recorded in the 1970's, hence the static!)Storm Magic, a tale from The Norwegian Fairy Book by Klara StroebeJoin me via:Newsletter &gt;&gt; LinkPatreon &gt;&gt; LinkInsight Timer &gt;&gt; LinkInstagram &gt;&gt; LinkWitch Country: Seeking the Witch in the British Landscape Buy the Paperback &gt;&gt; Link or Listen to the Audiobook &gt;&gt; Link <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

Books Read from:Extract from ‘April’ from Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life by Pauline Campanelli‘Cunning Belladonna’ from Kitchen Witch: Food Folklore &amp; Fairy Tale by me! Sarah Robinson‘Belladonna’ from Unprofessional Tales by Norman Douglas, 1901Sarah XXX(I have changed the sound settings for the pod episode this month, do let me know if it's better or worse! or indeed if you can't tell the difference!) <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > The Witches of Wuthering Heights: Folklore and Wild Things of YorkshireIn today’s journey, we touch on the lives of:Charlotte Brontë&nbsp;(1816–1855) –&nbsp;Jane Eyre&nbsp;(1847),&nbsp;Shirley&nbsp;(1849),&nbsp;Villette&nbsp;(1853)Emily Brontë&nbsp;(1818–1848) –&nbsp;Wuthering Heights&nbsp;(1847)Anne Brontë&nbsp;(1820–1849) –&nbsp;Agnes Grey&nbsp;(1847),&nbsp;The Tenant of Wildfell Hall&nbsp;(1848)In their own way, all three embraced a gothic vibe, drawing on Yorkshire folklore and the mists of the moors that permeate their work. And I've had fun exploring the ways witches and folkloric figures appear in their writing. And we’ll meet witches, goblins, ghouls and gytrash on the moors, oh my!The Two Folktales I share are both from Legends of the North York Moors: traditions, beliefs, folklore, customs by&nbsp;Marion Atkinson, 1981

A very different kind of Valentine…. in a February special, this murky and mysterious little tale was written by Ethel Marriot-Watson in 1893. It is set within the misty marshes you may find in Cornwall, where a protagonist seeks love, or desire, but all is not as it seems...Sarah XXX

Ok, just one more pod to end the year! Two extraordinary tales to see in Christmas with, retold in my own words.The Christmas Masquerade - Published by Mary E. Wilkins, 1892The Sparrow and the Winter Fairy - Published by Georgianna M. Bishop, 1859Thank you for joining me this year in Witch Country.May these old stories bring warmth to your hearth and a spark of wonder to your winter days. We’ll meet again in the new year for more tales, folklore, and seasonal reflections.Until next time, keep the witch lights burning, may the glow of the season always guide you into safe harbour and may a little winter magic find its way to your door.Merry Christmas and Bright Yuletide, one and all xxx <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

For your festive nights, enjoy this gathering of tales!The Frozen Hearth Fairy (From the Old-Fashioned Fairy Book Constance Cary Harrison, 1843 - 1920Extracts from Christmas and Christmas lore by Thomas G. Crippen, published in 1923The Story of the Year by Hans Christian Anderson, 1805 - 1875And I close with the poem Under the Holly Bough by Charles Mackay, published in 1857Thank you for joining me through 2025. Here's to a merry and magical winter and bright 2026!&nbsp;Sarah xxx <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

Welcome, friends, to the November episode of&nbsp;Witch Country. As the nights draw in and the air grows sharp with autumn’s edge, I’ve been walking among the Rollright Stones — a circle steeped in story. Kings turned to stone, witches weaving fate, and whispers carried on the wind linger here. In this episode, I share my own walk among the stones, along with the folklore, legends, and uncanny tales that have gathered around them for centuries. And to close, a delectable and chilling treat: the tale of the Stone King, another version of the Rollright story, read by the incomparable Vincent Price from the 1973 archive&nbsp;A Coven of Witches’ Tales. <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

I’ve left the most chilling of our tales until the edge of Halloween…Set in Scotland. In this haunting tale of fear, death, hardship and superstition, Mary has the misfortune of meeting a Bean Nighe. This story is from a book called Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch. Written by Dorothy K. Haynes, it's a collection of eerie tales published in 1949.Sarah xxx

Witch Country Arrives!!This October,&nbsp;Witch Country&nbsp;the podcast and&nbsp;Witch Country&nbsp;the book finally meet! In this episode I read a large section from the October chapter. (I do say in the recording that it’s the full chapter—but in the end I trimmed it slightly for brevity, and to whet your appetite for more!)Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this journey so far. And fear not—the path of&nbsp;Witch Country&nbsp;is far from over!Sarah xxxAs of Halloween, you can buy Witch Country in paperback from all the usual online booksellers, direct from Womancraft Publishing and Red Wheel (our US distributors) or ask your local indie to order in! It's also available in ebook and audiobook form! <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

As autumn descends, I wanted to face a classic symbol in British and European folklore - the black dogWe start in East Anglia, England, with perhaps the most famous of all shadow hounds:&nbsp;Black Shuck,&nbsp;who makes an appearance in St Mary's church of Bungay in 1577, storms to raise havoc. And a reading drawn from Ghosts and Witches by Wentworth + Ayrton, 1991, on the Galleytrot and Shuck.Before facing:The&nbsp;Barghest&nbsp;of Yorkshire, accompanied by rattling chains, may have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula's transformation into an enormous black dog in Whitby.Yeth Hounds (Devon)Whisht Hounds (Devon/Dartmoor)Richard Cabell's Hounds (Dartmoor) widely considered a major inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.The Devil's Dandy Dogs (Cornwall): A terrifying hunt led by Satan himself.The Wish Hounds or Witch Hounds of SussexThe Church Grim, a guardian spirit that appears as a large black dogAnd The Moddey Dhoo of the Isle of Man: Meaning "black dog" in Manx, this giant shaggy-haired dog that haunted Peel Castle&nbsp;And we finish with readings of The Moddey Doo or the Black Dog of Peel Castle from Manx Fairy Tales by Sophia Morrison, 1911 and The Book of Were-Wolves by Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865.&nbsp;And accounts of witch wolves from Estonia.These are just a few of the countless legends of black dogs, wolves and hounds. Do drop me a message if you would like to share your own favourites!&nbsp;Happy SeptemberSarah X <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

With thanks to Mark from Dorset for inspiring much of this episode! Featuring ideas, stories and poems from Gemma Gary, Enid Blyton, Olive Knott and Walter del la MareSarah XXX <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

A very exciting episode with news and songs and delights!As mentioned in the episode, find me on Instagram @thisiswitchcountryPatreon - www.patreon.com/witchcountryAnd don’t forget to head over to WomancraftPublishing.com on July 9th! Sarah xxx <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

Welcome to Witch Country Ghost Stories. Prepare this month, to meet the White Lady of the Lyttletons, found in The Grey Ghost Bookby&nbsp;Jessie Adelaide Middleton, 1915Sarah XXX

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Wishing you all a very Marvellous May! Mentioned in the podcast:Witch Country Ghost StoriesKitchen Witch audiobookxxx

Join me as I wade though water, myth and marshy lands in the New Forest!XXX <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " >

For 2025, Our podcast journey starts with a wander to Avebury. My friend and I took a walk amongst these stones last year, about this time, as the equinox sun shone. <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Links Mentioned: Find me on Instagram Join the chats on Patreon Kitchen Witch Audiobook Thank you for joining me this month for Magic and Myth! See you next month for more Witch Country Wanders! XXX

I am thrilled to present, in what I plan to be a festive tradition for Witch Country: A Ghost Story for Christmas! <figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Since the days of Charles Dickens and a Christmas Carol (1843), and, I'm sure, long before, we have huddled around fires to tell tales of spirits and ghosts during the cold yuletide nights. So here is a tale where witches raise storms and become ghosts themselves, seeking a little retribution, perhaps.Merry Christmas One and All! Xx

A frosty trip to Dartmoor!

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > Enjoy some Folk Fun and Food drawn from my fourth Book;&nbsp;⁠Kitchen Witch: Food, Folklore &amp; Fairy Tale!⁠ and ⁠Kitchen Witch Companion: Recipes, Rituals &amp; ReflectionsWishing you all many happy hallowed evenings this October!Join me for&nbsp;Tales from the Wildwood&nbsp;live Zoom event&nbsp;on October 30th, 6pm (GMT)&nbsp;⁠⁠Eventbrite Link⁠

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > A short and sweet podcast episode for September! If you are seeking more tales of forest folklore and witchy woods, Do pick up a copy of the Witch and the WildwoodJoin me for&nbsp;Tales from the Wildwood&nbsp;live Zoom event&nbsp;on October 30th, 6pm (GMT)&nbsp;⁠⁠Eventbrite Link⁠

A wonderful wander with stones, witches and wizards!

In June, I journeyed along the Fife Witches Trail to stand at the stone we call Lilias Adies’ grave and to pay my respects to the accused witches of Scotland at Dunferlimne Abbey.

Happy Solstice Season to All!

A wander on a sunny day to Tinkinswood Burial Chamber, also known as the Witches Castle!

Our three Gathered Tales were:Goblin Combe: You’ll find many versions of this story, including the one in Folktales of England, by Katharine Briggs and Ruth Tongue, 1965The Brecon Elves &amp; the Wise Housewife: A Variation of a story that can be found in Folk tales of Wales by Eirwen Jones, 1978The Fairy of the Dell: A short and sweet version of a tale told in Welsh Fairy Tales By William Elliot Griffis, 1921Thank you to all who have supported me on Patreon this month - do check it out. There are free resources and bonus goodies each month!

Today, I have a collection of tales! I start the podcast with some snippets from my upcoming book, The Witch and the Wildwood. Then, I head out on a journey to Arundel, Sussex, to indulge in Wassail and a walk around in muddy fields looking for Witch Hares!

Explore magical trees and join me underground in the caves of Wookey Hole!

Spying witch marks in the dim light of the Tithe Barn at Bradford on Avon, a walk through winter evergreens and along the Kennet & Avon Canal

Welcome to Midwinter!Thankyou to Haley and Leigh who suggested I might add the Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft &amp; Magic and the Maggie Wall Monument to my ‘To Visit’ List.Our Tree Tales this month are of the Pine tree and Christmas Trees:“In Germany the Christmas-tree is not a luxury for well-to-do people as in England, but a necessity, the very centre of the festival…For one thing, perhaps, in a land of forests the tree seems more in place; it is a kind of sacrament linking mankind to the mysteries of the woodland…at night it is a true thing of wonder, shining with countless lights and glittering ornaments, with fruit of gold and shimmering festoons of silver…The Germans have quite a religious feeling for their Weihnachtsbaum, coming down, one may fancy, from some dim ancestral worship of the trees of the wood.”Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Clement A. Miles in 1912Thoughts on this episode? questions? ideas? new witchy places I should explore? Say Hi on Instagram! @wildwoodsandwitchcountry

Starting Witch Country: a journey through story and landscape and all things witch, with perhaps the most famous, infamous witches of England - the accused witches collectively known as the Pendle witches.