The Ley Hunter

The Ley Hunter is a specialized magazine founded in 1962 by Philip Heselton and Jimmy Goddard as part of The Ley Hunters Club. It emerged from the 1930s ley hunting movement, particularly building on the work of Alfred Watkins and groups like the Straight Track Club. The magazine focuses on ley lines, ancient wisdom, sacred sites, cosmic energy, UFOs, and related earth mysteries topics. The publication gained significance in the 1960s-1970s earth mysteries movement, serving as a key platform for enthusiast research outside academic channels. Under editor Paul Devereux (1976-1990s), the magazine underwent a notable shift toward more critical analysis of ley line theories. Devereux's investigation into mystical ley line powers found no supporting evidence, leading him to conclude that Alfred Watkins' alignments were likely chance occurrences. The magazine organized the Dragon Project, an ambitious experimental program using magnetometers and meditation at ancient sites like the Rollright Stones to detect unknown energies. Despite extensive work, the project yielded inconclusive results. The publication has served as an important outlet for non-mainstream theories, including the Becker-Hagens planetary grid theory, providing a platform for research that might not find acceptance in traditional academic peer review. Historical addresses include locations in Stroud and Brecon in the UK, with editorial operations also based in Wales. The magazine's current operational status remains unclear, though related publications like the Network of Ley Hunters continued activity into 2016.