Janet’s Foss – Where Water Whispers and Shadows Linger
In the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, where the limestone hills fold into secret hollows, lies Janet’s Foss, a waterfall that seems to pulse with ancient magic. The name “Foss” is Norse for “waterfall”, but this is no ordinary cascade. It tumbles from a moss-clad cliff into a pool, framed by overhanging trees and the soft murmur of Gordale Beck. Here, the air is thick with stories, and the veil between worlds is tantalisingly thin.
Something drew me to Janet’s foss, and that is the story of the fairies that inhabit there. This weekend I made my first visit; I took along an apple as an offering for the fairy folk.
The Queen of the Fairies
Janet, or Jennet, the Queen of the Fairies, is believed to reside in a cave behind the waterfall. This hidden realm is said to be a sanctuary for the fairy folk. Some tales suggest that Janet was a witch; others that she was a spirit of the water. In this tale, she is given a more dangerous edge. It is said she lies, waiting, to pull the unwary beneath the surface. It seems the character of Janet has changed with the teller: sometimes beautiful and enchanting, sometimes shadowed and vengeful,
The Green Mist
Among the more unsettling tales is that of the green mist. On certain still days, a pale green fog is said to rise from the pool, swirling and shifting as if alive. Again, some say it feels magical; others say it feels more sinister. Some believe it to be the manifestation of Janet herself, others a lingering spirit of the land. Regardless of its origin, the green mist adds an undeniable layer of mystery to an already enchanting place.
The Victorians loved their fairies and gave a much more polished, less sinister version of Janet for eager tourists. But those older, wilder stories remain: a ghostly woman drifting near the cascade, a wraith-like green mist rising silently from the pool, and the eerie sensation of being watched when the waterfall falls silent. These are the stories that bind the place in mystery, whether nature’s trick or something else, Janet’s Foss holds those secrets close.
I am glad I took an apple from our apple tree at home; I always want to stay on the right side of the fairy folk!
Malham Cove — Home of the Night Watchers
Not far away, the curving amphitheatre of Malham Cove carried its own tales. One story tells of a villager encountering a pale, otherworldly figure bathing under moonlight with a wand in hand, which she had fashioned out of a fallen branch, summoning the dawn chorus. Is this Janet, I wonder?
Yet the same cliffs were also said to shelter darker presences: Medieval villagers spoke of “Cove Dwellers”, beings who slept hidden among the rocks and only emerged after dusk. Boggarts, trickster spirits, were blamed for stolen sheep, strange noises, and travellers losing their way among the rocks.
Geologically, the Cove is carved by the hand of time. Meltwater from retreating glaciers tore through the limestone, hollowing caverns and sculpting the land into the forms we see today.
I found this part of the walk challenging; some of the rocks are slippery, and I am not great at balancing, but the views and the location make it worthwhile. To look up at the cove from the bottom is pretty spectacular too; until you are there under it, you cannot appreciate its sheer size.
If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is where a scene from The Deathly Hallows Part One was filmed.
Gordale Scar — Duel of Earth and Legend
Gordale Scar is a gorge where a giant was said to roam. He terrorised nearby villages until a brave knight challenged him in combat among the limestone. Some say the echoes of their battle still ride the winds through the scar, and that the giant’s bones rest under the scree to this day.
I am definitely going back for a revisit. These three places, Janet’s Foss, Malham Cove, and Gordale Scar, are connected by water, by rock, and by folklore. It is a very magical place.
Pagan Portals – Living Fairy: Fairy Witchcraft and Star Worship – Morgan Daimler
Pagan Portals – Fairy Witchcraft: A Neopagan’s Guide to the Celtic Fairy Faith – Morgan Daimler
I highly recommend reading any of the Pagan Portal Books. There are so many topics. I will slowly list the ones I have read. The good thing about them is that they are informative but not too long.