Cauldon Lowe can be found on the Leek to Ashbourne road in the county of Staffordshire, U.K just outside the small village of Waterhouses. The word lowe is derived from the term burial mound, and the burial mounds and barrows which can be found on top of this hill are claimed to have some sort of connection to the Fairy Folk. Over the years strange moving lights have been observed around the summit of this hill and seem to dance on the barrows. The rapid, playful movements of the lights which people see, and their longevity, suggest that they possess some sort of low order of intelligence, of course this could also be some sort of natural phenomena which has been triggered by the extensive quarrying which has taken place over the years by a company called La Farge. This has resulted in a large proportion of the hill being excavated, however it still doesn't explain the sightings which have occurred here before the quarrying started.
Cauldon Lowe in the background. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
Not much further past Waterhouses can be found the beautiful Dovedale valley, however at the end of the day when all the tourists have departed and darkness has fallen, strange lights have been reported where the stepping stones cross the river Dove. Two students back in 1993 witnessed two bright lights playing cat and mouse with each other, they were seen rising and falling between 10ft and 100ft. The students becoming scared fled the scene, but one of them did return at a later date with a different friend, this time they ventured further into the valley not really expecting to see something a second time. However again they were fortunate in that they saw a large white bright sphere. Are these lights the same that are said to lead and light the way for travellers who are passing through the nearby Manifold valley, and are known locally as Jenny Burnt Tail?
This is the place where lights were seen in the Dovedale valley. Photo by Gary Tacagni.
