The Willow Miner Info
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Not to be confused with the 1973 film of the same name starring Edward Woodwood ????
The dog loved it, spent most of the time exploring the bushes. The Wicker Man sculpture was an impressive structure. Went in search of the Wicker Woman and Chickens but sadly failed probably due to the total lack of signage. The various Stone circles dotted around the site were equally uninspiring with their relief carvings.
Good walk. Bit difficult to find if you were coming from the woods way but all in all a nice area with good views on a clear day. Not much to it once you're there. We usually eat our packed lunch here then continue our walk around the woods and city.
I don't know why Google calls this impressive sculpture The Wicker Man. His real name, given by the Woodland Trust who installed him, is the Willow Miner. He's a miner because in the 19th century there was a short-lived coalmine, Croxdale Pit, at Low Burn Hall, although only traces remain. And willow because although his main structure is made of steel there is some willow woven in this framework. If you want to find his wife you have to go all the way downhill from the miner then follow the Riverside Trail - it goes off to the left just before the Boutique Bed and Breakfast. Follow it close to the river for 800m, she's under trees just before the track veers to the right in the direction of the A167 and the Honest Lawyer hotel. The Willow Wife has a couple of willow chickens and last time I visited some thoughtful person had put a blown hen's egg in her basket; she also had a fetching safety pin in her nose and her fingers were decorated with lesser celandines!
Worth the walk to see the view he has, amazing, if you're feeling energetic wander off to find his wife and chickens , look our for the stone circle and the willow tunnel.
Who would of known this was on my doorstep. Well done National Trust. Don't know a lot about thus gentleman but I think he fantastic. Makes for a nice picture. Worth a look.
Smaller than expected but very lovely
The ground was still slightly frozen, which made the walk easier, it can obviously be very muddy.
The woodland is very young, thus we weren't protected from the wind very much, which can be biting as you are at the top of the river embankment. The views from the willow miner are pretty good, weather permitting.
He is in fact The Wicker Miner, recalling the coal mine that briefly existed in the 19th century at the bottom of the hill he sits on. The Wicker Man was a 1971 cult horror film set on a Scottish island :) But he's a bit of fun and at quite a good viewing point, walk towards the main road for even better views