Madron Holy Well Sacred Well View all content for Madron Holy Well

Monday 19/4/2010: walked along the fairly quiet B road to the well which is clearly signposted. Stopped of at the site of a cairn en route - we entered by a wooden gate and were dismayed at the sight that lay before us. Like other parts of the country, West Penwith has a policy of rhododendron clearance and what lay before us was acres of rhododendron stumps - probably necessary though not an attractive sight. http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/TJJackson66/046-2.jpg The wooded walk to the well was lovely; the low growing trees not yet in leaf and the lichen covered branches gave them a silvery quality. Spent a bit of time at the cloutie tree - I did a few jumps across onto some moss covered boulders to get a better feel of the place. I understand this is not the source the well and I have to admit I didn't get a sense of it being a 'holy' or mystical place. On to to the Baptistry where we sat for a bit before continuing the walk along the wooded path to a field before retracing our steps. I have since read the wellspring is hidden a bit away from the path - this I can believe as I came away feeling I had missed something.

Posted by tjj 7th May 2010ce Edited 7th May 2010ce

Comments (4)
Does anyone know what the tree is that the 'clouties' are hung from which overhangs the spring?	Posted by Gill L 12th July 2011ce
That's a very good question Gill. I'm sorry I don't know, it was spring when I visited so the trees weren't yet in leaf. They all had a knarled, silvery appearance, quite hard to say what they were though. From some of the photos I've seen it looks as though it might be hazel but can't be certain - perhaps someone else knows.	Posted by tjj 12th July 2011ce
The photo here http://www.angandrich.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/fairytree.jpg makes it look as though it could be grey willow? which would possibly make sense as I imagine the ground to be quite soggy (I don't think hazels like sogginess so much)	Posted by Rhiannon 12th July 2011ce
Ah yes, indeed - haven't come across a grey willow before but that would make sense. Thanks.	Posted by tjj 12th July 2011ce
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