Finding the Ents of Avebury: A Sobering Reminder to Leave No Trace

Our recent staycation led us to the ancient heart of Wyrd Wessex, a landscape steeped in myth and history. Our destination: Avebury, a place that feels less like a historical site and more like a living, breathing chapter from a fantasy novel. As we walked among the monumental stones, we were drawn to a copse of majestic beech trees, their gnarled trunks and sprawling canopies giving the impression of an assembly of ancient, watchful beings.

In this moment, it was impossible not to think of J.R.R. Tolkien. His great love for trees, so famously articulated in his writing, felt palpable here. The rustle of the leaves and the creak of the ancient bark seemed to be the very breath of these silent giants. It’s no wonder that these majestic trees are widely rumored to have inspired the Ents, the tree-herds of Fangorn Forest. Standing beneath their shade, you can easily imagine them waking, stretching their limbs, and speaking in a slow, deep tongue.

But our reverie was broken by a sobering conversation with a dedicated volunteer. He shared a disheartening reality: a significant portion of time is spent meticulously removing ribbons, trinkets, and other offerings left by well-meaning visitors. The well-intentioned desire to connect with the site, to leave a mark or make a wish, was ironically leading to the very slow harm of these beautiful trees. The synthetic materials of the ribbons don't break down, and the constant additions can restrict growth and damage the delicate bark.

This message hit home even harder when we stumbled upon a newly carved name etched into a tree’s surface. Then, just a few feet away, a stark and powerful piece of irony: a ribbon tied to a branch, with the words 'Leave No Trace' written upon it. The message clearly lost on the person who left it.

These ancient sites—places of immense natural and historical significance—are not simply backdrops for our photos or canvases for our expressions. They are fragile ecosystems, cared for by dedicated people and preserved for future generations. Our role should be one of guardianship, not ownership. We must become stewards, not just visitors.

So, how can we honor these places without harming them? How can we connect with the spirit of the trees without leaving a physical mark?

My thought goes to a different kind of offering. Instead of a ribbon or a carving, consider a simple, respectful act: giving the trees a drink of water. As you stand before one of these ancient giants, take a moment to pour a little water at its roots. As you do, you can make your wish, say your prayer, or simply offer a moment of gratitude. This is an act of reciprocity—a small gesture of care that respects both the tree and the people who work tirelessly to protect this special site.

It's a way to leave a blessing, not a trace. It’s about being better guardians of these places, ensuring that the magic we feel today can be experienced by countless others who will walk among the stones and the Ents of Avebury tomorrow. Let’s connect with nature in a way that truly honors its spirit.

Is Bigfoot's Footprint a Poem? A Chat with Alex Stevenson

Most people think of Bigfoot as an elusive ape, but what if we've been looking at the legend all wrong? That's the core idea behind Alex Stevenson's deep dive into the subject. We recently sat down with Alex to chat about his dissertation, "The missing poetics of footprints in mid 20th century American cryptozoological writing," and the conversation completely changed how we think about Bigfoot.

Bigfoot: A Story of "Missingness"

Alex's academic work connects two seemingly different worlds: 1960s literary theory and Bigfoot research. He explains that thinkers like Jacques Derrida were fascinated by the "trace," or the idea that language is defined by what's not there—the missing thing that leaves a mark. At the same time, Bigfoot hunters were obsessed with a very physical trace: a massive footprint. For Alex, these footprints aren't just scientific evidence; they're the poetic heart of the mystery. Whether you believe in Bigfoot or not, the footprint itself is a story, a symbol of a wild world that still exists just beyond our reach.

Ivan T. Sanderson: The Flamboyant Pioneer

A key figure in Alex's research is Ivan T. Sanderson, a British explorer who became one of the "fathers of cryptozoology." While his colleague Bernard Heuvelmans took a more serious, scientific approach, Sanderson was all about the spectacle. He understood that to reach the masses, he had to write with a fire and a theatrical flair that made his work exciting to the public.

Sanderson's legacy, Alex argues, is not just in his theories but in his ability to inspire a grassroots movement. In places like Willow Creek, California, he encouraged people to cast the footprints they found. This created a culture where hundreds of people were actively involved, turning the search for Bigfoot into an entire community and, eventually, a new tourism-based economy for an area with a dying logging industry. It's a truly poetic idea: a new symbol of the wild growing where the old one, the giant redwood, once stood.

The Film That Changed Everything

We've all seen the Patterson-Gimlin film. For many, it's the defining evidence for Bigfoot. But Alex suggests it also did something else—it "scrambled the poetics." Before the film, Bigfoot was an image built by the imagination of a community, piecing together various footprints and stories. But once that single, definitive image was put on film, it narrowed the mystery. Instead of a fluid, ever-evolving legend, Bigfoot became tied to a specific visual, making the conversation about a simple binary: real or fake.

From Cryptids to the Human Psyche

So, where does Alex stand on the existence of these creatures? Annoyingly, he prefers not to answer with a simple "yes" or "no." His work is less about proving Bigfoot's existence and more about exploring why we're so drawn to the idea. He sees the legend as a reflection of our own primitive roots and our desire to believe that wild, untamed places still exist. Ultimately, the footprint of Bigfoot might not tell us much about the creature itself, but it can tell us a whole lot about ourselves.

Our Wyrd Staycation: Finally Visiting Our Local Stones

You know how it is—you live twenty minutes away from one of the most famous monuments in the world, but you never actually get around to visiting it. Well, as part of our staycation, we finally made the trip! There’s something special about seeing those massive, ancient stones in person, especially when you know the wild folklore behind them.

The history is steeped in magic, with the most famous story coming from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain. The legend says the stones were called the "Giants' Dance" and originally stood in Ireland. After a great battle, the British king, Aurelius Ambrosius, wanted to build a monument to honour 460 nobles who had been killed. His wizard, Merlin, suggested bringing the Giants' Dance over because the stones were believed to have magical healing powers. When the nobles, including the future King Uther Pendragon, laughed at him, Merlin explained the stones were set up by giants who had brought them from Africa. An army was sent, but they couldn't budge the stones, so Merlin had to use his magic to transport them to the Salisbury Plain himself!

Speaking of stone circles and their incredible stories, you might remember our chat with storyteller Dawn Nelson back in Episode 18 of the podcast. It’s a topic that’s always fascinated us, and seeing Stonehenge in person really brings all those myths to life.

And for a bit of a cheeky fact, a study last year named Stonehenge one of the most "overrated" tourist attractions in the world! Apparently, the high ticket prices and not being able to get too close to the stones can leave some people feeling a bit underwhelmed. But for me, standing there, knowing all the wyrd history and legends, was anything but overrated.

Have you visited Stonehenge? Do you think it's worth the hype? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The Thing About the Thing Is... Sometimes It's a Mural!

A New Mural for the Warminster Thing

A massive shout-out to our listener, Claire Mullin, who tipped us off about something wyrd and wonderful happening in Warminster! She let us know that an incredible new mural has appeared in the town, celebrating its bizarre history with UFOs, so we had to go and check it out.

For those who don't know, back in the mid-1960s, Warminster became a hotspot for UFO sightings. The whole thing kicked off with a mysterious "banging" or "rasping" sound, and it was local journalist Arthur Shuttlewood who first wrote about "The Thing" that was terrorizing the town. After that, the sightings of strange lights, hovering crafts, and inexplicable aerial phenomena just took off, turning Warminster into the UK's capital of high strangeness.

The new mural, created by local artist Paul Boswell, really captures that history. The 20m-long spray-painted artwork, which was funded by a community Facebook group, features flying saucers, strange creatures, and a portrait of Arthur Shuttlewood himself. Paul, who grew up in the area, even mentioned he used to go UFO spotting on Clay Hill as a teenager hoping to be "taken away by aliens!"

And the timing couldn’t be better, because this month there's a UFO conference scheduled in the town to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first sightings. The organiser, Stuart Dike, and retired detective and UFO archivist John Hanson were both at the mural unveiling. It’s a chance for local enthusiasts and experts to celebrate Warminster's strange legacy and discuss a mystery that, 60 years on, is still part of the town’s identity.

If you’re a fan of our show, you've got to go and see the mural. It's a fantastic piece of art and a great nod to a classic British enigma.

If you want to hear our full deep dive into the story, you can listen back to Episode 23 where we covered the Warminster Thing in detail.

Have you seen it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Slender Man Update, Alien Probes & Dino-Beavers: A Rundown of AfterWyrd

Hello and welcome to AfterWyrd, the place where Andy and Craig cram all the weirdness they can't fit into the main show. This episode is packed with updates on old cases, bizarre news, and some very strange personal stories.

A Slender Man Update

The episode kicks off with Craig providing an update on the Slender Man stabbing case. Morgan, one of the two teenagers involved, has been approved for a conditional release from a mental hospital. The hosts discuss the public debate surrounding her release, her diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the legal nuances of being found "not guilty by reason of insanity." They also mention the confusion in news articles regarding Morgan's gender transition and the use of pronouns.

Alien Probes and the Dark Forest

Andy then presents a wild news story about a newly discovered interstellar object, 31 Atlas, which some Harvard scientists believe could be an alien probe. The hosts discuss the Dark Forest Hypothesis—the theory that alien civilizations remain silent out of fear of drawing attention from hostile forces. They even connect this to a previous clip from a UFO researcher who warned that governments might fabricate an alien threat.

The Pentagon's Ghostbusters

Next, Craig dives into a new documentary that exposes a shadowy group of US government officials who have been investigating paranormal phenomena for decades. From Project Stargate to the famous Skinwalker Ranch, the story is full of bizarre reports of "dino-beavers," psychic powers, and UFOs. The hosts discuss how this fringe group of "paranormal believers" had gained influence inside the Pentagon and even considered detonating a nuclear bomb to attract UFOs.

A Stranger Under the Bed

The episode wraps up with a terrifying, real-life story of a woman who found a man hiding under her hotel bed in Tokyo. The hosts question how the police and hotel staff handled the incident and then share a personal anecdote about Craig's own late-night encounter with a stranger.

The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui: An In-Depth Look at Britain's Most Mysterious Mountain Ghost

Hello and welcome to Wyrd Wessex! In our latest episode, we took a deep dive into one of the most chilling and perplexing mysteries in all of the British Isles: the legend of the Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui. This isn't your typical ghost story. It’s a decades-old enigma haunting Scotland’s second-highest peak, where something unseen has been terrifying some of the world's most experienced mountaineers.

The Most Famous Encounter

The story's roots go back to 1891 with the renowned Professor J. Norman Collie. As a distinguished chemist, a pioneering mountaineer, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, Collie was not a man prone to flights of fancy. Yet, while descending the mountain in a dense mist, he heard something unnerving: giant footsteps following him, taking strides three or four times the length of his own. Overcome with an indescribable terror, he ran blindly for miles, later confessing that something was "very queer about the top of Ben Macdui" and he would never return.

A Mountain of Unsettling Stories

Collie's account was far from an isolated incident. Over the years, countless other climbers have reported similar, and sometimes even stranger, experiences:

• The "Psychic" Encounter: Mountaineer Peter Densham twice had a deep sense of dread on the mountain, once feeling a cold pressure on his neck and a force pushing him toward a deadly cliff.

• The Brown Creature: A friend of climber Richard Frere, attempting to spend a night alone on the summit, was terrorized by an intense sense of presence before witnessing a massive, brown, swaggering creature he estimated to be over 20 feet tall.

• The Demonic Sighting: A respected lawyer and veteran mountaineer, George Duncan, was so shaken by his sighting of a devil-like figure in a black robe on the mountain's slopes that he felt a cold shiver run down his spine, an experience he never had before or since.

Beyond the Grey Man

The mystery isn't limited to just a spectral figure. The mountain seems to be a nexus for all sorts of unusual phenomena.

• Ghostly Music and Voices: Many have reported hearing beautiful, swelling pipe music, baritone voices singing, and even a "spectral orchestra" in the silent, misty conditions.

• Time Slip Visions: Mountaineer Frank S. Smythe had a vivid and terrifying vision of a massacre on the mountain, an event he later learned was historically plausible for the area.

• Benevolent Beings: Not all encounters were frightening. Mahayana Buddhist Captain Sir Hugh Rankin and his wife saw and conversed with a tall, peaceful figure they instantly recognized as a Bodhisattva, a perfected being of their faith.

Explaining the Unexplained

So, what is the Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui? The logical brain offers a few explanations:

• Brocken Spectre: An optical illusion where a person's shadow is magnified and distorted by mist.

• Infrasound: Low-frequency sound waves generated by wind and geology that can cause feelings of anxiety, dread, and a sense of presence.

• Hallucination: The extreme isolation, fatigue, and cold can certainly play tricks on the mind.

But as we highlighted in the episode, the most compelling part of this legend is that these experiences are reported almost exclusively on Ben Macdui by some of the most seasoned and rational climbers in the world. Whatever the cause—be it scientific, paranormal, or something completely unknown—it's clear that this mountain holds a secret that continues to fascinate and terrify to this day.

For more deep dives into the weird and wonderful, be sure to check out our latest episode and follow us on our socials! You can also find our show on Substack at weirdwessex.co.uk to get notifications about new content.

Stay Wyrd!

AfterWyrd: Ozzy's Legacy, Loft Phroggers & Fake Sperm Races!

Hello and welcome to AfterWyrd, the show where we dive into the strange, the mysterious, and the downright bizarre stuff we couldn't squeeze into our regular episodes. This time, we're talking about a rock legend, a terrifying home invasion, and a few other head-scratchers.

Ozzy Osbourne's Legacy The episode kicks off with a tribute to the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, who recently passed away. The hosts discuss his massive impact on music and his role in popularizing the occult and paranormal in rock. They also touch on the personal connection he had to many fans and his incredible final performance.

The "Unicorn" Skull Next, they discuss a peculiar news story about a man who reportedly found a unicorn skull in Cornwall and traded it for "unlimited beer" at a pub. The hosts muse on the authenticity of the find and where such a strange artifact should ultimately end up.

The "Frogger" in the Loft The podcast takes a creepy turn with a chilling story from 2009. A man set up a camera to catch his girlfriend stealing food, only to discover a stranger was secretly living in his loft and creeping around his apartment at night. The hosts react to the genuinely unsettling video footage of the incident.

The Fake Sperm Race The show wraps up with a story about a "world's first sperm race" that turned out to be a fake. The event, which drew a large online audience, used pre-recorded footage and CGI to simulate a race that had already taken place, leaving the hosts in a state of disbelief and amusement.

A Conversation with Maxim Furek: Demonic Hauntings, Psychic Sasquatch, and UFOs

We had an incredible, wide-ranging conversation with author and paranormal researcher Maxim Furek, covering everything from demonic entities to the mysterious nature of Bigfoot.

The Smurl Haunting and Annabelle's Power

The conversation started with Maxim's book, The Smurl Haunting: The True Story of the Smurl Family's Battle with a Demonic Entity. He explained the harrowing experience of the Smurl family and how the famous paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren became involved. Maxim also shared his personal experience with the Annabelle doll, which he saw on display, and brought up the chilling visions and hauntings that followed the Shepton mining disaster.

A New Theory for Bigfoot and UFOs

The discussion took a fascinating turn when we got to Bigfoot. Maxim introduced the interdimensional hypothesis, a theory from researcher Jacques Vallée. Vallée argues that the idea of aliens traveling for light-years is outdated. Instead, he believes UFOs and cryptids, like Bigfoot, use wormholes to fold space-time, allowing them to travel through dimensions. This theory provides a logical explanation for the strange connection between UFOs and Bigfoot sightings, especially in a place called Chestnut Ridge, Pennsylvania.

The Best Evidence for Bigfoot's Existence

The conversation wouldn't be complete without discussing the evidence. Maxim highlighted the two most authentic pieces of proof: the Malacca ape film and the famous Patterson-Gimlin film. He told the amazing story of British paleontologist John Napier, who initially called the Patterson-Gimlin film a hoax. However, after the discovery of the "Lucy" fossil in 1974, which had the body of an ape and the ability to walk upright, Napier changed his mind, stating that the film was authentic.

The hosts also brought up their own research into Leif Erikson's accounts of "skrælings" from the Viking era, which have descriptions eerily similar to Bigfoot. Maxim confirmed this link, noting that while "Bigfoot" is a modern name, the legend of Sasquatch has been a part of indigenous cultures for thousands of years.

A Final Message

Finally, we talked about why Bigfoot is so popular today. Maxim explained that it's become a massive "cottage industry" with documentaries, books, and expos, all of which keep the legend alive and well. He also gave his own take on what Bigfoot could be, weighing the popular theory that it's the extinct ape Gigantopithecus against the interdimensional hypothesis. He concluded that the lack of a body points toward the interdimensional theory.

The conversation ended with a powerful message about conservation. Maxim hopes that our fascination with Bigfoot, which some indigenous cultures believe is a protector of the environment, will inspire us to be better stewards of our planet.

Is Bigfoot Hiding in Another Dimension? A Conversation with Maxim Furek

Most people think of Bigfoot as a fuzzy, ape-like creature stomping around the Pacific Northwest. But what if the truth is far weirder? That's the question we explored with author Maxim Furek, who joined us to discuss his book, Lost Tribes of Bigfoot. Our conversation took us on a wild ride, from infamous hoaxes to psychic miners and everything in between.

Beyond the Hoaxes

Maxim is passionate about separating fact from fiction. He started our chat by calling out some of the most famous hoaxes in paranormal history, like the Piltdown Man and the Minnesota Iceman. He explained that these elaborate fakes did serious damage to the credibility of serious paranormal research, making it harder for people to believe genuine sightings.

This is where Furek's book comes in—it's an attempt to clear the air and focus on the truly compelling evidence, no matter how strange it seems.

Bigfoot and the Interdimensional Theory

So, if Bigfoot isn't just an ape, what could it be?

Maxim is a big believer in the interdimensional theory. This idea suggests that Bigfoot might not be a physical creature at all, but a being that can move between different dimensions. This would explain why it's so good at disappearing, and why we've never found a body. This theory gets even more interesting when you consider the number of times Bigfoot sightings have been reported alongside UFOs and strange orbs of light. The Chestnut Ridge area in Western Pennsylvania, for example, is a hotspot for all three!

The Evidence That Makes You Wonder

Maxim highlighted some of the most intriguing pieces of evidence out there. Of course, we talked about the famous Patterson-Gimlin film, the 1967 footage that many still believe is the best proof we have. But the most chilling story he shared was the Albert Ostman abduction. In 1924, this trapper claimed he was kidnapped by a family of Sasquatch and held for a week. What makes his story so credible, Furek says, is that he didn't make up any of the over-the-top details we often see in modern stories.

A Few Detours into the Weird

Our conversation wasn't all about Bigfoot, though. We took a couple of fascinating detours into other paranormal topics. Maxim brought up the Sheppton mining incident from 1963, where two trapped miners claimed they had visions of humanoid figures and the recently deceased Pope John XXIII. We also touched on the history of the Annabelle doll and how that one item has spawned a massive horror franchise.

The True Message of Bigfoot

For Maxim, the Bigfoot legend has a much deeper meaning. He believes the creature is a protector of the environment. He says that Native American coastal tribes have known this for centuries. Ultimately, he hopes that the fascination with Sasquatch will inspire people to become better stewards of the environment. So, the next time you hear a story about a wildman in the woods, maybe it's not just a creature—maybe it's a reminder to take better care of our planet.

A Deep Dive into the Barrow-downs: From Tolkien to the Unsettling World of AI

In a special episode of the Wyrd Wessex podcast, hosts Andy and Craig, along with guest Pat Robinson, embark on a sprawling journey from an ancient burial mound to the bizarre corners of the modern world. Recorded at the Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Tolkien, Anglo-Saxon mythology, paranormal folklore, and the ever-evolving nature of "wyrd." If you're searching for a podcast that connects historical sagas with modern ghost stories and cutting-edge technology, you've found it.

Tolkien's Barrows and the Wessex Landscape

The conversation kicks off by exploring the profound influence of the Wessex landscape on one of the greatest fantasy writers of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien. The hosts delve into how Tolkien, a scholar of ancient tales, drew on the very real burial mounds of Southern England to create the haunting Barrow-downs and their ghoulish inhabitants, the Barrow-wights, in The Lord of the Rings.

They specifically connect the episode's themes to landmarks like Wayland's Smithy , a Neolithic long barrow that likely inspired the desolate, stone-lined paths of Middle-earth. The discussion extends to other real-world locations such as Cheddar Gorge, which Tolkien based his descriptions of the Glittering Caves upon, demonstrating how the ancient, rolling hills of Wessex are inextricably linked to the fantastic world of elves, hobbits, and orcs.

Barrows in Ancient Mythology and Folklore

The podcast then ventures into the heart of ancient mythology. As guest Pat Robinson was dressed for the part in his "bottle cap armour," it was Craig who performed a captivating reading of the Anglo-Saxon tale of Weyland the Smith'svengeance.

As the story goes, Weyland was a master smith and a formidable warrior. But his fortune turned when he was captured by the cruel King Nithud. To ensure he could never escape, the King's men severed the tendons in his knees, leaving him imprisoned on an island where he was forced to serve as the King's personal smith. While there, the King's wife stole a ring from Weyland's wife and gave it to their daughter, Beadohild, and the King's son was given Weyland's own powerful sword.

But Weyland's vengeance would be far more terrible than his punishment. When the King's two young sons came to visit his forge, he murdered them, hiding their bodies and fashioning their skulls into beautiful silver-chased drinking cups, their eyes into jewels, and their teeth into brooches. He then seduced Beadohild when she came to him to repair a ring, leaving her pregnant. As his final act, Weyland crafted a pair of mechanical wings and flew away, shouting down to the despairing king that he had taken his revenge.

This incredible story of a blacksmith's gruesome revenge and escape is etched into historical artifacts like the Franks Casket. The episode also explores the role of barrows in Norse sagas, with the story of the shieldmaiden Hervor, who must brave a barrow to retrieve the cursed sword Tyrfing from her dead father's ghost.

The hosts also touch on Welsh mythology, recounting the tale of Pwyll, the prince who, by sitting on an ancient mound, is led into the underworld of Annwn. This reinforces the idea that barrows were not just tombs but powerful portals to other worlds. The theme continues with the legend of Reverend Robert Kirk, a 17th-century Scottish folklorist known as the "Fairy Minister" who, after documenting beliefs about the Fae, was said to have been taken by them from Dune Hill.

Modern Mysteries and Ghostly Encounters

The weirdness isn't confined to ancient tales. The episode brings the paranormal into the modern day with a discussion of ghost stories from the famous West Kennet Long Barrow. The hosts recount the enduring local legend of a ghostly man and his red-eared dog who are said to disappear into the barrow at sunrise. This is followed by a chilling, modern account from a couple who visited the site, where the woman felt an unseen force try to drag her into the deepest part of the tomb.

The podcast also introduces a new "Listener Stories" segment, sharing a vivid account of a terrifying sleep paralysis encounter and a heartwarming but eerie story about a grandfather's ghost who returned to watch over his family.

From Chinese Aliens to AI Horrors: The "Weird News" Rundown

The episode concludes with a round of "Wyrd News" that proves the world is still full of mysteries. The hosts debate baffling footage of glowing dots in China that some feared were aliens, discuss the strange discovery of an alligator snapping turtle named "Fluffy" in a Cumbrian tarn, and end with an unsettling look at the future. Pat raises alarms about OpenAI's Sora, an advanced AI video generator that can create hyper-realistic footage from text, questioning the future of filmmaking and the nature of reality itself.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves folklore, history, and a good ghost story. Find the podcast on all major platforms and follow Wyrd Wessex on social media to join the discussion.

The Falkirk Triangle: Scotland's Spookiest UFO Hotspot

Welcome back, fellow wyrdo's!

The Falkirk Triangle is one of the most concentrated areas of paranormal activity in the UK, and for good reason. This small region, home to the town of Bonnybridge, has a staggering reputation for UFO sightings—sometimes over 600 in a single year! It's been dubbed the "Scottish Roswell" for good reason.

The area is home to some wild stories. One of the most famous is the 1979 case of Robert Taylor, a respected forester who was allegedly attacked by a strange, spiky craft in the woods. His torn trousers and the mysterious marks left on the ground even prompted a criminal investigation by the police!

But the wyrdness doesn't stop there. Other reports from the area include a howling, basketball-sized light, a mysterious "star-shaped object" that sparked a media frenzy, and even a sighting of "hundreds of small grey beings" in the trees. The most mind-bending case, though, has to be the 1992 abduction of Gary Wood and Colin Wright. Investigated by the Ministry of Defence, their story includes a "detuned television set" effect, over two hours of missing time, and a chilling telepathic message about humanity being "capped."

The Falkirk Triangle also has its share of bizarre side stories, from a pyramid-shaped object in 1767 that left a trail of destruction to a local councillor who is convinced he's been visited by a "reptilian."

So, what's really going on in the Falkirk Triangle? Is it a non-human secret meeting place? A military test site? Or just a fantastic way to boost tourism with a new UFO theme park? It’s a mystery that makes you wonder what's scarier—a paranormal reality we can’t explain, or a world full of people who believe in things like alien abductions and secret conspiracies.

The Wyrd and Wonderful Chalk Figures of Wessex

The Wessex landscape is dotted with giants, horses, and mysterious figures, all carved into our hillsides. In our latest episode, we took a deep dive into some of the most famous chalk hill figures in the UK. We covered ancient myths, modern mysteries, and even some seriously rude geology!

The Giant, The Horse, and The Long Man

We started, of course, with our favourite, the Cerne Abbas Giant. This 55-metre-high figure wielding a club and an impressive... other thing has been making people laugh for centuries. A 2020 study dates it to the Anglo-Saxon period, but the famous phallus was apparently added much later. This didn't stop a Victorian campaign to cover it up with a leaf, which, thankfully, was rejected!

Next up was the iconic Uffington White Horse, a beautiful Bronze Age carving that looks like it’s galloping across the hill. Its folklore is rich and wyrd, with legends of a phantom foal, a wish-granting eye, and a connection to King Arthur. But not all the discoveries here are so light-hearted; in 2019, workers found the remains of 26 people, some with their heads and feet cut off, suggesting human sacrifice.

We then covered the Long Man of Wilmington, who stands vigil over East Sussex. This figure has been a puzzle for historians, with theories ranging from it being an Iron Age chieftain to a representation of the god Woden. It also has its own dark folklore, with a black dog known as the "wish hound" said to guard the nearby barrows.

Wyrd Origins and Modern Twists

Some figures have much clearer, but no less interesting, origins. We talked about the Hackpen White Horse, which was allegedly carved in 1838 as a result of a drunken pub conversation! This horse, which has its own local fairy folklore, stands near Adam's Grave—a site where the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records two battles took place.

We also discussed the Alton Barnes White Horse, with its hilarious story of an artist named John Thorne who ran off with the commission money and was later hanged! This horse and the surrounding area are also a hotspot for crop circles, which brings up the rumour that a local pub used to pay people to create them.

Finally, we gave a shout-out to the Bulford Kiwi, a 130-metre-tall figure carved by bored New Zealand soldiers in 1919 while they were waiting to go home from WWI. It’s a great example of a modern hill figure with a clear, and very human, story behind it.

From Wyrd Anecdotes to Wyrd News

As a quick tangent, Andy shared a personal story about creating a hill figure of his own—a giant Nirvana smiley face! This got us thinking about how these figures are more than just art; they’re territorial markers, community projects, and sometimes, a bit of teenage rebellion.

We wrapped up the episode with our usual segment of wyrd news, covering a recent big cat sighting in Cheshire and a bizarre tale about a pigeon that was detained as a Chinese spy in Mumbai. This spiraled into a discussion about animals in warfare, from Soviet dogs with bombs to a real-life kamikaze pigeon program!

If you want to hear our full deep dive into the folklore and history behind these incredible chalk figures, be sure to listen to the full episode. You can also get your hands on our new merch with the Cerne Abbas Giant logo. Let us know in the comments which figure is your favourite!

The Exorcism of Michael Taylor: A True Crime Horror Story

Hello, Wyrdo's.

On this episode, Craig and Andy delve into a case where true crime and the paranormal collide in the most brutal way imaginable. This is the tragic story of Michael Taylor, an exorcism gone wrong, and the murder of his wife, Christine.

⚠️ Trigger warning!!!

A Newfound Faith

In 1974, in the town of Ossett, West Yorkshire, lived a mild-mannered butcher named Michael Taylor with his wife Christine and their five children. Suffering from chronic back pain and depression, Michael and his family were struggling with the financial hardships of the time. At the suggestion of a neighbor, they began attending a local prayer group at St. Thomas's Anglican Church.

They were immediately converted, but the wyrdo's note that Michael seemed to have ulterior motives. He quickly became infatuated with the group's charismatic 22-year-old leader, Marie Robinson. He would spend all-night private sessions with her, much to the concern of his wife and other church members.

The Path to Possession

The church group, with no official expertise in exorcism, made a series of bad decisions. At one meeting, after Michael was rejected by Marie, his entire demeanor changed. He lashed out at her physically and began screaming in tongues, leading Marie and others to believe he was possessed. A rumor even surfaced that Marie was a Satanist who had infiltrated the church and caused Michael's possession.

His behavior grew more erratic over the coming weeks. He began lashing out at his family, shouting in the streets, and smashing plates at the vicar's house, all of which led the church to make a grave decision.

An Unorthodox Exorcism

On the evening of October 5, 1974, Michael was taken to St. Thomas's church. With no medical professionals present, the vicar, Reverend Peter Vincent, and another clergyman performed an eight-hour-long exorcism. Michael was tied down, soaked in holy water, and had a crucifix jammed in his mouth.

During the horrific ordeal, it was claimed that 48 demons were removed, but three were left behind: murder, violence, and insanity. Exhausted, the priests took Michael home and told him to prepare for the second part of the exorcism later that day.

The Tragic Aftermath

Less than two hours later, police were called to a naked man—Michael Taylor—roaming the streets, covered in what they initially thought was red paint but was actually the blood of his wife, Christine.

Michael told the arresting officer, "I loved her. I destroyed the evil that was within her." In the house, officers discovered a horrific scene. Michael had murdered his wife, ripping out her tongue, gouging out her eyes, and tearing the flesh from her face. He had also brutally killed the family's poodle.

The Trial and Legacy

At trial, Michael was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent for psychiatric care. Incredibly, no one from the church faced any charges in Christine's death, and the lead exorcist, Reverend Peter Vincent, received a promotion the following year.

Craig and Andy mention that Michael was released four years later, though he would eventually return to the courts and prison for other crimes. The case is still remembered today and was even mentioned in the film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

This episode is a stark reminder of how a person's faith can be manipulated with devastating consequences. Craig and Andy will be back to their usual weirdness soon, with a promised "light relief" episode on the fairies.

Stay Wyrd!

A Dark Double Feature: The Hungerford Massacre & The Case of Christopher Halliwell

Hello, Wyrdo's.

This is a special, true-crime-focused episode of Wyrd Wessex, where Andy and Craig step away from the supernatural to delve into two of the most chilling cases to come out of the area.

⚠️ Quick warning, this episode does cover some very disturbing and violent material, so viewer and listener discretion is advised.

The Hungerford Massacre

The hosts begin with a harrowing account of the Hungerford Massacre on August 19, 1987. They discuss the perpetrator, Michael Ryan, a young loner who was known to make up stories about himself. Ryan legally owned a collection of powerful firearms, which he first used to murder Susan Godfrey in Savernake Forest.

The podcast details the tragic timeline as Ryan returned to his hometown and began a killing spree that lasted over six hours. Andy and Craig mention that Ryan's car failing to start may have changed his initial plans to go on the run. The spree ended when he barricaded himself in a school and took his own life. The hosts note that this horrific event, and the subsequent Dunblane tragedy, led to the strict gun laws in the UK today.

Christopher Halliwell: A Killer in Plain Sight

Next, Craig and Andy turn to the case of Christopher Halliwell, a taxi driver from their hometown of Swindon.

• The Disappearance: The story begins with the disappearance of 22-year-old Sian O'Callaghan in 2011 after a night out. Her phone's last signal was traced to the Savernake Forest area.

• The Confession and Legal Controversy: Police surveillance led them to Halliwell, who confessed to Sian's murder and led them to a second victim, Becky Godden Edwards, who had been missing since 2007. However, due to a legal technicality in which the detective, Stephen Fulcher, breached legal guidelines, the confession was deemed inadmissible, and Halliwell was only initially charged with Sian's murder.

• Evidence of a Serial Killer: After Becky's mother's persistence, more evidence was gathered, and Halliwell was eventually convicted of Becky's murder with a rare whole-life order. The hosts reveal that police also found other women's clothing buried, suggesting he is likely a prolific serial killer. They also discuss the bizarre coincidence of multiple women, including Linda Razzell and Claudia Lawrence, disappearing on March 19th, a date that holds significance to Halliwell.

This episode is a somber look at two very different, but equally chilling, crimes. Andy and Craig will return to their usual folklore and paranormal topics, promising something "a little bit lighter" for the next episode, even if it is the exorcism of Michael Taylor.

Stay Wyrd!

Into the Heart of the Forest: The Dark and Wyrd Tales of Savernake

Hello, Wyrdo's!

On this episode of Wyrd Wessex, Craig and Andy head out into the ancient and beautiful Savernake Forest. But this isn't just a peaceful stroll; it's a dive into a place steeped in dark history, folklore, and some truly bizarre modern-day encounters. A quick warning: this episode covers some very disturbing true crime and violent material, so listener discretion is advised.

A Dark History and a Separate Episode

The hosts start their trek by acknowledging the heavy history of the forest. They mention two notorious cases that are tied to Savernake: the beginning of the Hungerford Massacre in 1987 and the murder of Sharno Callaghan in 2011. While these grizzly events are important to the area, Craig and Andy decide to cover them in a separate, more true-crime-focused episode, promising to keep this one focused on the folklore.

Ancient Oaks and Devilish Dancing

Savernake is home to some of the oldest trees in the country, and the hosts visit a few. They stand before the Cathedral Oak, a magnificent tree over a thousand years old, and discuss the forest's history as a royal hunting ground for Henry VIII. They also mention the Duke's Vaunt Oak, which once had a choir singing inside, but the most intriguing story belongs to the Big Belly Oak. Legend says if you dance around it seven or twelve times naked at midnight, you'll summon the Devil.

Witches, Ghost Houses, and Headless Horsewomen

As the sun sets, the supernatural tales begin. Craig shares a story from an old book about a witch who disguised herself as a piece of straw, causing a horse to drop dead. Andy counters with a unique "ghost house" story from a letter, where a young boy could perfectly describe the blueprint of a building that had burned down fifty years before he was born. Then, on the Grand Avenue, they talk about a headless horsewoman who is said to charge through the forest on a white steed.

Black Dogs and a Modern-Day Fright

No spooky episode is complete without black dogs, and Savernake doesn't disappoint. The hosts discuss an old legend about a huge black dog with glowing eyes that was either the devil or a murderer. They also share a new, very in-depth story from a Mumsnet forum about a woman who, while pet-sitting, heard a malicious voice in the dark forest and was chased back to her cottage by an unseen force. She got back to find that the puppy she thought she was chasing had been inside all along.

Wyrd News

The episode wraps up with the hosts' take on wyrd news. Andy brings the first story: a "doomsday fish" caught in Thailand that, according to folklore, is a sign of an impending natural disaster. Craig then shares a celebrity tale: Andrew Lloyd Webber claims to have had a poltergeist in his London home that, oddly enough, would neatly stack his theatre scripts in unusual places.

To hear all the spooky details and the hosts' final thoughts on Savernake's creepiness factor, be sure to listen to the full episode of Wyrd Wessex!

The Curse of Clapham Woods: A Deep Dive into England's Wyrdest Woodland

Hello, Wyrdos! On this episode of Wyrd Wessex, Andy and Craig take a break from their usual antics to dive headfirst into one of the most notoriously strange places in all of England: Clapham Woods. From a curse laid upon the village centuries ago to a modern-day cult and everything in between, this small patch of woodland has a truly wild history.

The Curse and the Corpses

The hosts start with a look at the ancient curse of 1288, placed on the village by a man named Robert Le Falconer. This curse, which called for damnation upon the village and its priesthood, is thought by many to be the source of the woods' eerie atmosphere. But that’s not all. The woods are also linked to four strange deaths, including a police constable, a vicar, and a pensioner whose body decomposed at an unsettlingly fast rate.

Disappearing Animals and Big Cats

It's not just people who have had strange encounters here. Andy and Craig recount stories of animals disappearing into thin air, including a horse that vanished in a moment and a dog that became violently ill after a brief run-in with the woods. They also mention a disturbing police report of a pit full of skinned cats and a sighting of a big cat stalking the pathways.

The Cult of Hecate

One of the most well-known stories is that of a local cult. While local newspapers mislabeled it as a "satanic cult," the group was actually devoted to the Greek goddess Hecate. The hosts discuss investigator Charles Walker's spooky encounter with a cloaked figure who claimed the missing dogs were sacrifices. They also look at the skepticism around these stories, with theories that it could have just been a hoax tied to the "satanic panic" of the 80s.

UFOs, Ghosts, and the Devil

You name it, this wood has it. While the hosts note the lack of concrete ghost stories, they do share a bizarre account of a woman who was physically thrown into a barbed wire fence by an unseen force. On the UFO front, they cover sightings from the 1700s to a beam of light from a saucer that a telephone engineer saw in the 70s. The episode concludes with a look at a nearby site, Chanctonbury Ring, which was tied to occultist Alistair Crowley and is said to be a place where you can summon the Devil by running around a clump of trees seven times in exchange for a bowl of soup.

Wyrd News

No episode is complete without the wyrd news. This week, the hosts cover two truly wild stories: a fortune teller who correctly predicts the future by throwing asparagus spears in the air and a shocking case of a self-proclaimed cannibal who turned himself into police.

Noddy Holder's UFO, Alien Abduction & A Sussex Mystery

Hello and welcome back to Wyrd Wessex! The UFO stories continue to roll in as Craig and Andy share some more bizarre and fascinating accounts. This time, the conversation includes a personal, first-hand account of an unexplained sighting, a bizarre abduction story, and a sighting from a famous rock star.

Noddy Holder Sees a UFO

In a truly fantastic, Wessex-based story, Andy reveals that Slade frontman Noddy Holder once had a close encounter over Bournemouth. While in a hotel room, he saw a circular flying saucer emitting beams of light over the sea. His wife, however, was a bit more skeptical, famously telling him, "you're drunk, you fool." The sighting was corroborated by other reports of UFOs traveling in a straight line from Gloucester down to the south coast, lending the rock star's story a bit more weight.

A Personal Sighting & A Man Deemed 'Too Old'

In a first for the podcast, Andy shares his own UFO encounter from 2006. While walking with his partner in Hertford, they saw a giant, pulsating glowing orange ball in the night sky. The object moved in a strange and unpredictable pattern, zipping up and down, hovering, and then zipping off into the horizon at an incredible speed. Andy notes that it made no sound, ruling out a helicopter or a plane, and that the most plausible theory he has is a rare phenomenon called ball lightning.

Craig then shares a truly odd story from 1983 involving a 77-year-old military veteran named Alfred Bertou. While night fishing, he was abducted by two four-foot-tall humanoids. They led him to a metallic craft where an unseen voice examined him before ultimately deciding, "You are too old and infirm for our purpose." The hosts find the detail both amusing and chilling, especially with the added detail of Alfred describing a strange smell of "decaying meat" inside the craft.

Wyrd News

The weird news segment is just as strange as the UFO stories!

• Biblical Plagues: Craig reports on two biblical plagues hitting Central America. One involved a multi-car pileup in Honduras caused by a "plague of frogs, toads, and tadpoles." The other was a "plague of locusts" in Mexico that caused chaos in shopping plazas.

• Police UFO Reports: Andy reveals that West Yorkshire Police are overwhelmed with UFO reports, logging over 1,800 cases since 2020. The most bizarre report shared by the force was a caller who claimed a female was "beamed into the sky" from his street.

A Green Christmas, Ouija Board Tragedies, and Peruvian Mummies

Welcome back to Wyrd Wessex for the final part of our Christmas specials! This time, Craig and Andy are wrapping things up with a wild ride through a famous author's ghostly encounter, a dark news story that makes you question everything, and an update on one of the most bizarre claims of the year.

Thomas Hardy's Green Christmas Ghost

We kick things off with a brief but classic ghost story straight from the Dorset countryside. On a green, snowless Christmas Eve, Thomas Hardy saw a strange man in 18th-century dress in Stinsford Churchyard. The figure exchanged a few words with Hardy before disappearing into the church, where Hardy found no one. Hardy's sister later speculated the ghost was their grandfather, who had passed away years before.

Wyrd News: From Satan to South America

We covered a lot of ground in our news segment, starting with a brief mention of the Satanic Temple's popular "Hail Santa" Christmas tree display, which we all agreed was a great bit of festive trolling. Things then took a much darker turn with a story from Colombia.

• The Ouija Board Murder: We discussed a truly disturbing case where a teenage boy was allegedly murdered by his friends after a Ouija board told them to do it. While one of the friends claimed to be on LSD and said the whole thing was a dream, we can’t help but be skeptical. Was it an actual paranormal command, or just a chilling excuse for a tragic crime?

• The Mummified "Aliens": Andy brought us an update on the mummified creatures found in Peru. According to some researchers, DNA analysis of the specimens shows that 30% of their genetic makeup is from an "unknown species." While a controversial journalist is pushing the alien theory, other experts believe the mummies are likely a hoax, possibly made from the remains of extinct animals.

The Krampus of Ramsbury

To close out the episode, Andy shared a brilliant news story from a Wiltshire village. A local blog, the Ramsbury Raven, hilariously reported on a Krampus sighting, warning local children to behave or risk being scooped up in a basket by the demonic Christmas creatures. It was the perfect quirky end to our weirdly festive deep dive!

Poltergeists, Psychokinesis, and a Shed in Winter

Hello and welcome back to Wyrd Wessex! It's your host, Craig, joined by Andy, who is currently being banished to a cold shed for the sake of good audio. Today we're diving deep into the world of poltergeists and hauntings, and let's just say, the dedication for this episode is palpable—you can practically see Andy's breath!

The Durweston Poltergeist

My story takes us back to the late 1800s in a village called Durweston, near Blandford. Here lived a kind widow, Mrs. Best, who was plagued by unexplained knocks and disturbances in her cottage. The activity soon escalated, with floating objects like seashells and thimbles and even a boot that literally knocked a man's hat off his head.

When the Society for Psychical Research got involved, things took a turn for the bizarre. During a séance, an entity was asked to communicate by writing on a slate. To the amazement of the witnesses, the pencil began to write the words "money" and "garden" on its own! The disturbances eventually followed one of the foster children, Anne Cleave, before a doctor diagnosed her with a "hysterical" tendency.

The Penhill Hauntings

Andy brings us to a more modern, and frankly, terrifying, series of hauntings in Swindon's Penhill estate. Built in the 1950s on land that was once a brewery's water source, this area has a consistent history of poltergeist activity on two specific streets: Westbury Road and Melchon Close.

In 1973, a young couple, Dave and Cheryl Pellymounter, reported a chair being thrown across the room and dummies going missing and reappearing. Their case was so well-known that an exorcism was actually televised by the BBC! Later, in 1980, another couple on a nearby street claimed a levitating cassette player nearly killed their three-week-old baby. The council believed their story, agreeing to rehome them and perform an exorcism.

What's really fascinating is that this wasn't just a one-off thing. We found multiple other reports from the same two streets spanning from the 60s all the way to the 2000s, with reports of things being thrown, and people even being scratched and pinched by an unseen force.

Our Verdict: Pop Culture, Psychokinesis, or Bullsh*t?

This episode sparked a big debate for us. We noticed that a lot of these famous poltergeist cases, from the Durweston story to the Penhill hauntings, seem to revolve around young girls, children, or new families. We discussed the theories of psychokinesis, where stress or hormones could cause objects to move, and the influence of pop culture like The Exorcistand Poltergeist on people's perceptions.

We're both leaning towards the skeptical side, with the possibility of "baby brain" or just an overactive imagination, but we can't completely dismiss the fact that so many people in the same small area reported similar experiences over decades.

Wyrd News!

• Most Haunted Holiday: Did you know that a recent study named Dorset as the most haunted holiday destination in the country? Apparently, the county has 18 prominent ghost stories, beating out places like Norfolk and the Cotswolds.

• The Pink Pond: A pond in Hawaii has mysteriously turned bright pink, and while it's not toxic algae, officials are concerned. The leading theory is an organism called halobacteria thriving in the water's super-high salinity due to a drought.

• Bonus News: We also couldn't resist talking about a very weird-looking, bubbling green slime that appeared in a New York City sewer. It turned out to be dye used by workers, but it made for a great visual!

Coming Soon: A Christmas Special!

We're excited to announce that we'll be back soon for a special Christmas episode! We're bringing on our very first guest, Jimmy the Welsh Viking, who does ghost walks in York. He'll be sharing some Christmas-related paranormal stories, and we'll have a few festive Wyrd News stories for you, too.

A Halloween Special: The Screaming Skull & Other Ghostly Tales

Welcome back to Wyrd Wessex! For this spooky Halloween special, Craig and I, Andy, have put together a couple of dark and chilling ghost stories just for you. Grab your pumpkin spice tea and get ready for tales of betrayal, curses, and restless spirits.

The Cursed Manor of Wild William

I'll start with a dark tale from Little Cop Manor in Berkshire. It's a three-house manor built in 1250, and according to legend, a curse was placed on the building that prevents its owners from having children. The story goes back to 1575 when a midwife, Mother Barnes, was blindfolded and brought to a manor to help a masked couple with a birth. After a successful delivery, the masked man snatched the newborn and horrifically threw it into a fire. This man was later revealed to be the owner, William Darrell, who became known as "Wild Will."

Mother Barnes reported the crime, but Wild Will bribed the judge and got away with it. However, he met his end in 1587 when the ghost of the baby appeared before him while he was out hunting. The sight startled his horse, which threw him off, breaking his neck. Today, the manor is a hotel and is supposedly haunted by a few ghosts from this tragic story. Guests have reported seeing the crying ghost of the mother on the landing and hearing the baby's cries.

The Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe Manor

My story takes place in Bettiscombe Manor in Dorset. This tale of betrayal and ghostly wails begins in the 1680s with a gentleman named Zyra Pinney. After his involvement in the Monmouth Rebellion, he was banished to the West Indies, where he and his family made a fortune running plantations with slave labor.

Fast-forward to the 1800s, Zyra's great-grandson, John Frederick Pinney, returned to Bettiscombe Manor, bringing with him an enslaved man who was freed but soon became ill and died. On his deathbed, the man requested to be buried in his homeland. However, due to the high cost of shipping, John Frederick buried him in a local churchyard instead.

Immediately after the burial, strange things began happening at the manor—doors slammed, windows rattled, and a haunting wailing could be heard. The village also experienced a string of misfortunes. Fearing a curse, John Frederick exhumed the body and moved the coffin to the manor's attic, where the haunting stopped.

After a few years, the body disappeared, leaving only the skull behind. Subsequent owners who tried to remove or bury the skull were met with the same terrifying screams and poltergeist activity. The story goes that the skull remains in the manor to this day, locked in a cabinet, and is known as the Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe Manor.

Houdini and the Halloween Séance

While we're on the topic of Halloween, we should bring up Harry Houdini, who famously passed away on Halloween 98 years ago. He had promised his wife he would try to contact her from the afterlife, leading her to hold séances for many years after his death. To this day, it's a tradition for magicians to hold séances on Halloween to try and contact him.

We think it would be a great idea for us to try one for a future episode of Wyrd Wessex! It's an interesting topic, especially since Houdini was a famous debunker of spiritualists, even though he was good friends with a huge believer, Arthur Conan Doyle. We'd love to try and contact him!

Wyrd News

In our weird news segment, we're talking about necrobotics (scientists reanimating spiders as tiny robots!), and a recently confirmed story from 1942 about a group of men who claimed to have chopped up and incinerated the body of the Loch Ness Monster. We also get into a debate about the psychology of mediumship, the history of spiritualist frauds, and whether we're believers or skeptics at heart.