The Wild Hunt and Wistman's Wood 

Inspired by review brah

I can bare witness to an incident that happened to me . In the 80's I stayed in a caravan by the sea in Barmouth Wales . It was a Dark black night ,no moon , with an amazing array of Stars so I decided to jump over a 5ft fence onto the pebble beach . I could hear the sea in the distance and visually took in the amazing spectacle of all the stars .I have never been fortunate to see stars like that since . I then heard the padding footsteps of a Dog coming towards me on the pebbles and rather loud panting . It spooked me because I could not see a dog approaching just the panting and padding footsteps getting closer and louder and louder unnerving me to the point of fear . I vaulted the fence to put a barrier between me and what sounded like a big heavy dog just in case but nothing Appeared . I looked and searched and waited for the apperance of this hound ...but nothing !. I know in Wales they also have myths and legends regarding black dogs . I know what I heard... but did not see !.

Loving the English aesthetic! Remember your ancestors who fought exactly 100 years ago!

Wistmans Wood (near me) is a wonderful, tranquil and strangely beautiful place. I don't find it scary at all. There are fae people behind rocks and hiding in trees, but not antagonistic to people who visit the wood with peaceful hearts.

Lovely to see the Westcountry getting some coverage. We are a peculiar and often forgotten bunch.

43k subs is stupidly low for a channel like yours with the quality that you make these at it should be somewhere between 1-3 million subs

Beats sitting around Vallhala all the time, I'd be hands up for a thrash around the woods at night with our nocturnal horde hot on the heels of a fat boar, sound's great.

Those aren't horse sounds just some local Furries Dogging.

This video actually made me enter a trance, it was very strange, and I barely remember being conscience. Very bizarre

14:58 I have the idea that any person that died a noble death in battle, could hold the place of the noble huntsman. Local heroes and local deities can be swapped out, as the wild hunt was filled with fallen warriors chasing Fenrir. So if a king, leader or any significant figure is relevant to a local culture, they represent at that time the noble huntsman. The phenomenon is associated with honouring the dead as well, and is greatly interwoven with our Dutch Sinterklaas tradition. Where he rides the rooftops on a white horse, throwing gifts through the chimney. This could be analogous for making sacrifices in flame. To this day, during the Sinterklaas period, kids will set their shoe in front of the fire place (or more typically these days, in front of the radiator) and the next day there will be a gift in there, as it is believed that Sinterklaas (and his Krampus-figured minions) ride the rooftops and throw in gifts.

Britain has such treasures. These park tours just make me want to pay her a visit.

I find it interesting how this legend continued to echo throughout the Germanic speaking world until quite recently. As an American, the retelling of the legend you gave here immediately conjured up Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. Some very similar elements lie within that tale. If I remember correctly, the Horseman was also apparently a German, a Hessian soldier. Interesting.

Near where I live on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex a friend of my family told this story. Bear in mind this guy was a very quiet and serious man, not prone to exaggerating or making up stuff. He told us one night he was walking on the back road from Tollesbury to the near by village of Tolleshunt Darcy. Out of the darkness appeared a huge black dog with glowing red eyes. He ran from it and tried to escape into some old farm buildings. The dog however followed him . Terrified he ran back onto the road and did not stop until he got back to his house. I asked my sister, who was good freinds with him, if he was pulling ours legs. But she assures me he was sincere. The legend of Black Shuck, or as he is know locally, the Darcy Devil Dog, is well known in East Anglia. It appears that our friend was far from the first person to have seen this creature. Spooky.

Proto Celtic kroukos* means hill or heap, which I believe would become something like crowc in Old Brittonic. The suffix -īnos means pertaining to, and combined with crowc would be Crókín in Old Brittonic. So perhaps Crockin was a god of the hill, a personification if you will, with a name meaning “one who pertains to the hill”

This was a very well made video, hats off to you sir

5:50 That's all well and good but what are his placenta credentials?

Amazing work as always. Within northwestern Europe we actually still celebrate Wodan/Odin and his wild hunt passing through. It might have been rebranded by the Roman Catholic Church and their reign of terror throughout the Middle Ages, but it has never truly died out. Every November when the days get darker and colder, the ever increasing influence of Fenrir was felt. In the old days wolf packs became more desperate and bold and started attacking lone farms and unprepared travelers because other food was getting more scarce. But then Woden would pass with his undead army, and restore order so a new year would come with long and bright days. His black crows and ravens were seen as omens of better times, and to help his hunt, people would light great bonfires during midwinter to light the way and scare off the creatures of darkness. In today’s world we have several incarnations of Saint Nick, or Saint Peter. He wanders the lands with an army of helpers that are either black soldiers from another world or even more sinister and demon like creatures. People still wish for good fortune during these times, and we bless one another with small gifts and sweet candy and delicious bread shaped in the form of runes and letters.

Your videos are becoming more immersive, channeling the spirit of the places or traditions to the rest of us. salute

One of your best ole boy....:) I like the added flavor....sound effects and such.

There’s a Place in the Gippsland eastern Victoria in Australia Called Hernes Wood ! It is another strange place , they have mined around it ! And not Far away in another forest surrounded by Rock gorges is a place called Walhalla in the museum in Walhalla is a photo of an Old Gold miner from the 1800s his sitting in the middle of his fellow miners holding a Huge Hammer ! Great photo ! Great Video Tom thanks again

That ending was class! Loving these added sound effects, especially when you're reading the books, makes it very immersive.

I will pay this place a visit this week and seek your remains.

What a gentleman, spoiling us like this.

This was damned good my man. Broadcast worthy.

That was amazing fun. Thanks for the atmospheric thrill of a video. You can't characterize this as a boring lecture in the least.

I visited my local shopping mall yesterday - the soullessness of the place and the rampant multiculturalism, diversity, political correctness and globalisation which all amounts to no culture, just consumers buying foreign made goods from corporations. To see your video today is a perfect contrast to that and restores real connection to place, people, and heritage. As ever, thank you for a wonderful video!

I'm from Shropshire and on the Stiperstones our version of the Wild hunt is led by Wild Edric or Eadric who was a Anglo-Saxon who fought against William the conquerer. There's lots of folklore connected to the Stiperstones. Fascinating video.

I grew up in a Wiltshire village that had a huge eighteenth century house set on its own in the middle of a huge park with a high stone wall going right round it . The only gateway in had two huge gate pillars each with the statue of a big dog on it painted black . The whole area was known as The BlackDogs . The locals used to say that right at midnight on new year the two dogs came to life and went to the nearby lake to drink . Laws on gun ownership were a lot more casual back in the sixties and One year two of the local lads armed themselves with shot guns and spent an uncomfortable New Year’s Eve hid in the bushes waiting to give these phantom hounds a dose of lead .

I have to say, @Survivethejive I find your videos seem to hit all the spots for me. As a teenager I was fascinated with my Celtic and Anglo-Saxon heritage. 'Woden' was on the back of my football shirt, I learnt to write Runes, and I read into the ancient migrations and kingdoms. But over time I drifted away from it all. But I've recently found your videos and rekindled my interest. And it seems that every other video is on a subject that was dear to my heart. Believe it or not, even Wistman's Wood was a fascination of mine... and here you are doing a video about it too! Kudos. Keep up the good work.

The legend of the Wild Hunt is the same in Italy, it was well knowed snce the Middle Age. The story changed in the time: at the beginning the leader was a mysterious "Hellequin" (origin of the typical north Italian carnival mask "arlecchino") that someone identified as a Celtic king of Britain, after the leader was Odinn, after it was King Arthur, after some Frankonian king and, with the influence of the Church, it was a demon.

FIRST!

If it wasn't for my cousin seeing it in Devon, I'd have thought this was where the beast of Bodmin stories came from... but no, there was actually a black pather roaming the SW lol

This is a place for the fey folk ... I don't experience it as frightening, although it is strange and wild. Many fey beings live here.

I like to imagine this is what Thomas is doing between videos: being captured and escaping from the wild hunt during filming.

Your videos are just getting better and better, I’ve visited exmoor and Dartmoor many a time, it’s nice to be able to recognise places in your videos around the south west. Thoroughly enjoyed that video

Your content has been fantastic recently (not that it hasn't always been). I'm very glad you are covering more locally English/British traditions and folklore, you are making an archive of these so that they may not vamish from history and be forgotten. Thank you Jive, it's a service you're doing. And thank you for wearing the poppy, we will remember them, least we forget.

I was born in the quiet countryside of Powys and have always been sensitive to the spirit of place. This is natural as indeed cities are less so. Stone circles are indeed portals into the concious heart of the universe.

nothing to fear but fear it's self. alone at night each sound is fright. inside my head alone with dread, enchanted. thank yew thomas. gare

Very interesting video! Through stories and myths we rediscover/remember our pagan past. Hail Odin, Hail Perkunas!

now whn you look up the wild hunt only the witcher 3 shows up

I miss spending time on the moors every weekend..cheers for the reminder. There's so many places of interest and fantastic stories about these moors, I had a neighbor who while working up there came home freaked out one night saying he'd seen a big black cat like a panther he'd alerted his work mate and they both watched it disappear! He was a very straightforward quiet type so I never had reason to doubt him.

Me and a mate when we were teenagers went up to wistmans woods at 11 at night, dropped a trip and spent the night in the woods. It was cool. We then upped the stakes and did the same at berry pomeroy castle.....that was very different experience . I'm not even going to explain that one.

I enjoy circling back and listening to this from time to time. The last few years I've started honoring the Hunt where I live with bells and clackers that I've put in the tops of my trees... i know its a stretch but its pretty exciting when I hear them at night from fall until the winter solsticeSure, Its just the wind. 😉

hound of the Baskervilles at 3:35

Thank you so much for this!!! Almost 40 years ago, I saw a film in which an old man on Dartmoor, warned two children to stay off the moor, or Old Crackern and the Wild Hunt would get them. This fascinated me, and I searched in vain for more information. After watching this video, I now know that because of the thick accent of the man in the film, I was searching for the wrong name. I'm so excited that now I can resume my research...and with something that was not around back then...the internet! I have found in life, that if one waits long enough, the answer always comes.

Well done brother. I am very happy to have found you. I am desperately looking for my ancestors and am on the right path. I am American . My relatives came here in the 1700's, I have my family tree...I am envious of all of you who live there . Understanding my roots has given light to my life. You bring life to the past and put flesh on the bones of the dead . TY

It seems that The Hunt claimed yet another mortal soul. Rest in piece.

I love your videos. I'm newly Pagan and an learning a lot about my Celtic/European heritage. Celtic paganism really "sings" to me. Hope that makes sense. Probably because the majority of my heritage. Your reading of the Wild Hunt sends shivers up my spine.

thanks Mr. Roussel. always entertaining and/or educational.

It looks like a beautiful place.Too bad more native trees haven't been planted all the way along the gully in honour of old Croken.Im sure he would appreciate it!

Beautiful imagery

The Forest is home to strange and ancient magick. There are still plenty of sacred places in Europe that Christianity failed to corrupt. The Druid legacy lives on.🐺❄

I first read about the Wild Hunt when reading The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. I had always assumed Herne the Hunter was something she made up, now I realize how much mythology research she put into her stories.

Sad that a channel like this has so few subscribers. They've done such a fine job of separating us from our history that we hardly recognize it when we see it. Anyway, thanks for helping this lost European to "Survive the Jive".

I love the tone of your videos. Informative and serious, but making room for fun and playfulness as well. One of my favorite RU-vid Channels

One of your best yet!

Awesome story! You're a great storyteller.

It looks like a nice place. I would happily sleep there at night.

There was an old rendition of the Hound of the Baskervilles filmed here, absolutely haunted me when I watched it, and I'm never affected by horror films. Always thought there was something to that.

The end made gave me a good chuckle once again a well made video! Keep them coming!!!

Remnants of the spooky wild ride with hounds has come down to the present day in Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Great video!

Watching this from Dartmouth, love wistman's wood and the whole area. Smashing channel, much appreciated!

You and your videos are just delightful.

Brilliant video!

So good! I love this! X

Yet another brilliantly constructed video, loved the last part!

You should read the book series by Robert Holdstock, called the Mythago Cycle. Titles: Mythago Wood (1984); Lavondyss (1988); The Bone Forest (1991); The Hollowing (1993); Merlin's Wood (1994); Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn (1997).

Loved it!

Thank you for taking all of us with you to this mysterious and beautiful place. The end of your video was original and I loved it..💚

Every video you create is gold.

Incredibly interesting and informative video! Much THANKS for this!

It's a fascinating theme - the Wild Hunt. Interesting to hear you recite the beginning of Grimm's version of 'The Mon o' Micht'; an alternative version of which I made a song of.

Very enjoyable and interesting many thanks.

Wonderful Sir Thomas.

Your videos are amazing, please keep making content!

Wow, new Favorite channel!

Another great video, lots of interesting info and very entertaining. Thank you.

great work

Amazing video and channel. I’m incredibly happy to have subscribed, all your videos are a treat.

Fantastic video, it truly is an eerie place. Your videos grow better, Tom. I even learned a thing or two about my homeland here.

Great Video! Very similar to a sage/legend here in the Achterhoek, Northeastern part of the Netherlands called Derk met 'n Beer. It's told that on Christmas eve Derk met 'n beer (Derk with the boar) would ride true the night on his boar to collect stuff like tools and other belongings that hasn't been brought inside or hasn't been locked up. The Doors and fences would be opened so Derk would have an easy passage over the land and everything he finds will be taken or broken beyond repair. This also counts for young wives and daughters. Its said that it's a christianized version of the Wild Hunt or the God Freyr that we call Fro. Probably demonized to scare people from old customs and believes.

F to pay respects to STJ, made one too many videos about the Wild Hunt and they came looking for his ass

I’d love to camp out there on a creepy November night.

Great video. Lmao that run through the wood at the end. Good to see you wearing the poppy man!

Very atmospheric. Loved it! You are an excellent storyteller and videographer

Awesome!

Nice video Tom! Thanks for the spooky folklore, and nice use of Grimrik, he's one of my favorites. Same label Arath and Murgrind are excellent too.

What an amazing place. Definitely one to visit

What a wonderful reading Thank you for putting this out into the world

Very well done, sir.

What a spot of quality!

Amazing work my kid loves the story

I used to work with an old boy who hailed from that area.His take on the derivation of the name was this. In Cornwall and Devon when you're ill you are told "youm lookin wisht" Wisht being a term loosely associated with looking pale,ghostly. He always maintained that was the dialect root.Dartmoor is still quite untouched,a land of the ancient Britons,even the Romans didn't really push to far west of the Exe. Your channel is a joy to watch.

Interesting video and quite well done. Thank you very much.

superb

I heard a similar story from Hawaii. This story is called the Legend of The Nightmarchers. Nightmarchers are the spirits of warriors and Ali'i (chiefs) who appear on certain nights and parade across the islands carrying torches. Those unfortunate enough to get in their way will be swept up in the cavalcade. Nightmarchers often appear on certain nights dedicated to deities such as Kane (Po-Kane). Often Kane, Ku or other Hawaiian gods will join these processions. There are 5 signs that signal the approach of the Nightmarchers: First, the air becomes colder. Then, an odor of sulfur permeates the area. After that you will hear the loud blast of a conch shell followed by the loud beating of drums. And finally a cry shatters the air: Kapu!

You are an excellent teacher and storyteller, im learning alot from you. Many thanks :)

Loved this video. I've spent a lot of time in the southwest but not nearly enough in Dartmoor. This has inspired me to make a visit when I'm next in the area :)

I adore this video. I was first introduced to the wild hunt because the poem the Eorlking was in my English book in high school and I read it even though it wasn't assigned. I met Herne the hunter in The Nightside series by Simon R. Greene. I read about the wild hunt in again in The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I love the clothes you are wearing. In the US, everything seems to be made of cheap polyester from China. Like you, I only wear natural fibers. Do you have the book The Endless Calvacade? It has articles about English holidays and traditions for the whole year, as well as pictures. One of the first books that made me aware of my ancestry was The Secret Country by Janet and Colin Bord. The pictures looked like home to me. I recently had my DNA tested and I am English, Scottish, Irish and German. It just confirmed family lore. I am 99% western European and 1% Asian. I guess from my German ancestors who fought off Genghis Khan.