In May we are visiting these and other sites in the wonderful Peak District, please click here to find out more.

Every time I approach Bakewell town, famous for its tart and tea shops, I feel the excitement well up in my heart because I know I'm going to visit my favorite local site. Arbor Low is a henged stone circle complete with womb/tomb burial site, ruined avenue and man made mound of Gib Hill. The site is on farm land just off the A515 Buxton to Ashbourne road near to Youlgreave and Monyash. A £1 fee is requested of each visitor by the owners of the land upon which Arbor sits. As you walk up through the farm and cross the fields the henge of the circle comes into view.

I spend a lot of time at Arbor, come rain or shine, I've lost hours of time in that circle. I like it best in Winter during the week when there's just me and the crows for company. On my last visit the snow drifts in the henge were awesome and up to your waist deep. My sister and I decided to honor the snake Goddess, who I believe to be prominent at this site, by sculpting Her in the henge side out of snow (see image above).

Time seems to stand still at Arbor Low as it appears to be contained within a bubble of energy encompassing both then and now. There are no apparent guardians for me here, the keepers of the stones appear to be heavenly directors, their technology and science anchored in the stones with the instruction manual held in some distant constellation.
When you visit Arbor Low, sit in the henge and feel the difference between the energy of the circle itself and the henge bottom. I feel like this site is strongly linked to the starry realms and see it as a gateway or portal.

When I think of the ancestors who made this space to last so long so that we could still know of it today, I can't help but think they knew we would need it for something. I've never resonated with the old burial chamber explanation given to so many ancient sites and Gib Hill which lies on the outskirts of the main henge is confirmation that this label is incorrect for many sites. When I climb this mound I always climb it in a spiral and it seems to respond to me by taking me out of time when I meditate on top.

I would recommend a visit to this site. Go and see the recumbent stones of limestone sleeping peacefully waiting for you to remember why they're there! Make magic here in honor of the Snake Goddess and the star ancestors, create love here for this place is from a golden age.

I went back to Arbour Low one spring day to confirm what the stones had told me was right. I had been given instructions for the Summer Solstice and wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining things! I took up residence in my usual position and made my connections to the circle. Sure enough I was asked to come back with a group of like minds for the Solstice to perform a ritual.

Now I am blessed to have such a wonderful spiritual family of like minds who just love to come along on Earth healing jaunts. Little did we know it would be a very cold and blustery Summer Solstice indeed!

We arrived at a respectable time and encountered the usual handful of pilgrims enjoying the Solstice energies through layers of jumpers and waterproofs! There were nine in our group and we began our ceremony in the usual fashion before getting down to the work itself.

We had been instructed to tone over the stones and we did so over each individual stone until the cold got the better of us and we retreated into the centre of the circle for hot tea.

After a half time warm up we continued our toning to dramatic effect. The skies above cleared and a circular patch of blue appeared directly over the circle. The sunlight streamed though and for the first time that day we could feel the energy of the Sun Goddess touch us and the stones - it was truly magical and we knew our work paid off! Our visit finished with a fruit and chocolate share and the giving of offerings to the spirits of the circle before going to languish in a hot bath tub to warm up! Happy Solstice memories!