Mysterious totem pole appears on popular UK coastal path!

When a totem pole mysteriously appeared on a popular coastal path in south-east England, local speculation as to who was responsible for the wooden monolith ranged from art pranksters to aliens.

The 2.4m pole (click here to see a picture of it) erected on the clifftops on the North Downs Way in Kent, between Folkestone and Dover, has particularly provoked interest for its inscription with the name Perkūnas, the Baltic god of thunder.

Keen to keep the artwork situated in the Capel-Le-Ferne nature reserve, Kent Wildlife Trust is in the process of applying to Dover district council for retrospective planning permission. But its appeal to find the artist behind it has so far proved unsuccessful.

Dr Francis Young, an Oxford University historian and folklorist specialising in the history of religion and belief, said the pole, which is thought to be carved from a single tree, appeared to suggest a Lithuanian link to its origins.

“Perkūnas is perhaps the best known Baltic god,” he said. “That is his Lithuanian name. He’s the same as the Slavic god Perun. He’s one of the top three or four gods in Baltic mythology but not the most important. He’s equivalent to the norse god Thor and also wields a hammer.”

Now, we’re not sure if you’ll see this mysterious object on our 7-day South West Coast Path pack-free guided walk but we’re certain you’ll leave with many wonderful memories!

Explore the coastal paths of Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and the Jurassic Coast. A spectacular coastline of rugged high cliffs, quaint villages and centuries of English and Celtic history await you on Britain’s longest national walking trail, the South West Coast Path.

Traditionally the entire walk stretches from Minehead in the county of Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, covering a total distance of 1013km, generally taking around 7 weeks to complete.

Life’s An Adventure has created a unique South West Coast Path walking holiday, choosing the most stunning sections of this walk for a week-long walking experience.

We have handpicked stunning locations to stay each night, featuring superb upmarket properties with amazing views and wonderful dining experiences showcasing local produce and magnificent wines. This is a sensational must-do walk for your bucket list and keep your eye out for mysterious totem poles!