This participatory walk was an invitation to meet the standing stones of Lundy through movement, ritual, and the senses. I chose to hold the walk at Beltane. This time felt especially resonant with the stones. It also resonated with the landscape that holds them.

Beltane is a pagan festival marking the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is traditionally linked to rebirth, fertility, and renewal. It marks a moment of transition. During this time, growth accelerates and the land begins to fully awaken. Across Britain and Ireland, Beltane has long been linked to fire. Beltane is also connected to ancient sites, including standing stones.

Beginning at Felix Gade Hut

We began the walk at Felix Gade Hut, a familiar landmark on Lundy and a fitting place to gather. A fire was lit to welcome in Beltane. It echoed the traditional Beltane fires. These fires symbolise protection, renewal, and the return of warmth to the land.

Chalked onto the wall were three words that captured the essence of the festival:
Rebirth – Fertility – Renewal

A small pagan altar was created using willow, painted in the fresh colours of spring. Willow has long been linked to flexibility, growth, and water, making it particularly appropriate for a Beltane gathering. Yarrow was included for its scent, adding another sensory layer to the start of the walk.

Participants were given willow wands, bound with sheep’s fleece. These referenced maypoles. Maypoles are symbols of fertility and community. They were presented in a quieter, more understated way. This felt in keeping with Lundy’s landscape.

Mapping the Standing Stones

There are nine registered standing stones on Lundy, scattered across the island. Simon Dell helped me pinpoint their locations before the walk. We translated their locations into a map for the walk.

Rather than using a conventional map, participants were given a Turkish fold map. This style of folding allows the map to open out gradually, revealing itself piece by piece. The format introduced a sense of mystery and intrigue. It mirrors the experience of seeking out the stones themselves.

The map did not dictate a fixed route. Instead, it encouraged exploration, decision-making, and attentiveness to the landscape.

Encountering the Stones Through the Body

Finding each stone was only part of the experience. Once located, participants were invited to spend time with each stone, engaging through the body rather than observation alone.

We sat on the stones, stood beside them, and lay against them. We paid attention to temperature — were they warm from the sun or cold to the touch? We noticed how much lichen covered each surface, what colours it formed, and how it felt beneath our hands. Rough, powdery, smooth, or damp — each stone offered a different tactile experience.

We used our senses — touch, balance, temperature, smell, and sound. The stones became less like static objects. They transformed into active participants in the walk. This embodied approach encouraged a different connection, one rooted in presence rather than explanation.

Beltane, Stones, and Seasonal Thresholds

Standing stones are often understood as markers of time, place, and transition. Holding this walk at Beltane felt appropriate, as both the festival and the stones speak to thresholds — between seasons.