MAGIC AND MYSTERY
Restless and enigmatic, swathed in mist or sparkling in the sun, there is a sense that waterfalls are something special in the landscape. Their setting, often lush and green, with moss, lichens and ferns thriving in the moist conditions, can add to the fairytale atmosphere, a place where wishes can be made and other worlds glimpsed. “Waterfalls have long had an important place in the British cultural imagination,” says expert Dr Edward Cole. “They are the site of many folk tales. For example, at the Reekie Linn in Perthshire, a murderer was said to have hidden until he saw the Devil in the form of a black dog. He was so scared, he handed himself in to the authorities.” Many waterfalls, as at St Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall or Janet’s Foss near Malham, North Yorkshire, have traditionally been said to be the home of fairies. The innate fascination of waterfalls has made them a magnet for visitors, and they are also a source of inspiration for writers and artists. “Waterfalls first became popular attractions in the 18th century, when wealthy travellers began to visit areas such as the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District,” explains Edward. “They would assess waterfalls according to the aesthetic tastes of the day, often writing detailed accounts of their visits. Turner painted numerous waterfalls; the Wordsworths and Coleridge visited many, and falls were favourite subjects in Victorian photography.”