Trying to find a children's adventure story from my youth?
I am trying to find a book I remember reading many years ago – probably as far back as 1975. It was an Enid Blighton style story about a small group of children who went on holiday to the Scottish countryside and discovered a series of potholes and caves behind where a burn – that was the word used in the story and may trigger a memory (Scottish stream) disappeared into the ground. There were smugglers or kidnappers involved and I remember one of the caves was full of "bad air" which the children discovered when the candle they were using to light their way went out due to the low oxygen content.
This is along the lines of a Spiggy Holes story but was not, as far as I remember, an Enid Blighton book. I am trying to find it for nostalgia resasons and to read it to my 9 year old daughter who I am reliving my childhood with. If you know the book – or even have it and would be willing to sell it (or even rent it out) I would be delighted to hear from you.
Thanks,
Dave (and Poppy)
i own this story and love it!!!!!………some english kids come and stay with the scottish children, i think they are cousins, at first they hate each other but they go on a few picnics together and become mates. parts i remember include-
the scottish girl buying peppermints before their arrival
the english kids teasing the scottish kids about the way they say burrrrrn
a hole in the ground in the middle of the paddock which was a secret entrance to the caves.
the copy of the story i have has another enid blyton story with it about a boy who goes to boarding school.
this book is somewhere in my bookshelf…
***update***
just found it "The Children of Kidillin" and you were right it was by enid blyton however it was released under the pseudonym mary pollock.
anyway hope this helps!
was it famous five??
I remember the "5". but there were also the "7" and the "9" i believe. they all had similar adventures so you might want to look there
Enid Blyton, Five Go to Demon’s Rocks
Could be this one? If so, it’s on amazon!
Or try the other link, that’s Spiggy Holes?
Secret of Spiggy Holes
Aah you’ve triggered a memory! I too read that book, and I’m certain it’s Enid Blighton.
Famous Five – George, Dick Julian Anne and Timmy the dog, Secret Seven Peter, Janet , Jack, Barbara, George, Pam, Colin
and the was another lot of Mystery Solving Kids by a different author called The Bobbsey Twins
Was it:
The Glen Castle mystery (Mabel Esther Allan)?
The only other ones I can think of in Scotland are:
The Chatlet Girls (one of that series is in Scotland- by Elinor Brent-Dyer) or an Enid Blyton Four Adventure series, or Holiday House also by Enid Blyton
A Faery Tale ?
I believe it one of the "Five Series" . There were a whole bunch of "Five" books and unfortunately I believe they are all out of print. I recently tried to get them for my niece and nephew. Here’s the list I found. I suggest googling her name/books to look for summaries of these.
Hope it helps.
Five on a Treasure Island (1942 – ISBN 0-340-79614-6)
Five Go Adventuring Again (1943 – ISBN 0-340-79615-4)
Five Run Away Together (1944 – ISBN 0-340-79617-0)
Five Go To Smuggler’s Top (1945 – ISBN 0-340-79618-9)
Five Go Off In A Caravan (1946 – ISBN 0-340-79619-7)
Five on Kirrin Island Again (1947 – ISBN 0-340-79620-0)
Five Go off to Camp (1948 – ISBN 0-340-79621-9)
Five Get into Trouble (1949 – ISBN 0-340-79623-5)
Five Fall into Adventure (1950 – ISBN 0-340-79622-7)
Five on a Hike Together (1951 – ISBN 0-340-79624-3)
Five Have A Wonderful Time (1952 – ISBN 0-340-79625-1)
Five Go Down to the Sea (1953 – ISBN 0-340-79626-X)
Five Go to Mystery Moor (1954 – ISBN 0-340-79627-8)
Five Have Plenty of Fun (1955 – ISBN 0-340-68119-5)
Five on a Secret Trail (1956 – ISBN 0-340-79629-4)
Five Go to Billycock Hill (1957 – ISBN 0-340-79630-8)
Five Get into a Fix (1958 – ISBN 0-340-03363-0)
Five on Finniston Farm (1960 – ISBN 0-340-68123-3)
Five Go to Demon’s Rocks (1961 – ISBN 0-340-79633-2)
Five Have a Mystery to Solve (1962 – ISBN 0-340-79634-0)
Five Are Together Again (1963 – ISBN 0-340-79635-9
Sorry, I see that while I was looking for the list someone already answered correctly.