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KATE MARTIN: Hello and welcome
to the National Trust podcast.

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In this mini episode. We'll be
hearing about the mysterious

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mermaid pools of Kinder Scout.

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Dipped in the coarse folds of
Kinder Scout's heather mounds. A

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cold deep pool glistens.

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On clear days, It's a glassy
mirror to the sky. But when the

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clouds encroach, it gleams
black. This water has been the

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font of myth and legend for
millennia. It is said that

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Celtic water rituals are
practiced here and I can imagine

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the ancient chants of
generations past calling on the

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skies to rain.

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The pool's waters are rumoured
to heal those brave enough to

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slip into its icy depths. And I
can imagine those Celtic water

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worshipers bathing their battle
wounded bodies in the freezing

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water.

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If eternal life is what you're
after. The myth recommends a

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midnight dip beneath Easter's
fat, full moon.

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Under the pale light of night, a
mermaid is said to emerge from

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the pool.

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Her face illuminated by stars
and her voice sweet and syrupy.

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Her song burbles across the
water through the brooks of

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Kinder inviting you closer. If
the mermaid looks on you fondly,

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she'll reward you with
everlasting life.

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Now, this isn't something I'd
personally recommend the peak is

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tricky enough to navigate in the
light, let alone in the dark.

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Even if the moon is full.

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Those seeking eternal life might
actually end up chilled to the

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bone, lost, wandering the peak
in their swimmers, not very

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glamorous.

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And anyway, that's the tame or
more recent version of the

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story.

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The older version is a little
bit more sinister.

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It holds that the mermaids
melodious voice actually lures

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men to the pool.

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Calling them beneath the surface
into a watery grave.

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The famous 18th century poet
Henry Kirke White wrote a poem

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based on the older version of
this myth.

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And one passage reads: "A maiden
strangely fair but strangely

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formed, rises from out the pool
and by her lungs and heavenly

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beauty lures to the shameful
death, The luckless White who

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hears her melodies"

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So eternal life or shameful
death. One thing's for sure, the

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mermaids pool of Kinder Scout
has fed generations of

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imaginations and today it's
eerie, beauty is still enjoyed

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by poets, walkers and dreamers
alike.

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Thanks for listening to this
week's National Trust mini

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episode.

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For the next full episode, I'll
be in Beddgelert, Wales that

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will be available in a week's
time until then for me, Kate

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Martin. Goodbye.