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All the United Kingdom England Bourton-on-the-Water Dragonfly Maze

Dragonfly Maze

Puzzles within puzzles hide a golden treasure in this hedge maze.

Bourton-on-the-Water, England

Added By
Duncan Chappell
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Toad automaton.   Dragonfly Cafe on Facebook
Toad automaton.   Dragonfly Cafe on Facebook
The entrance to the maze.   Dragonfly Cafe on Facebook
The titular dragonfly.   duncanchappell
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water is a hedge maze that is a puzzle lover's dream. 

The Dragonfly Maze, unlike the majority of other English hedge mazes, incorporates a series of clues and puzzles throughout the maze that must be deciphered in order to fully complete the game. The concept for the game-within-a-maze was inspired by a 1979 children's book by author Kit Williams called, Masquerade. William's book provided readers with obtuse clues and riddles that would lead one lucky winner to the location of a golden hare treasure. Taking this model of riddles and rewards, the builders of the Dragonfly Maze placed their titular golden insect in the middle of the maze. However the dragonfly is contained inside of an elaborate frog automaton which was designed by Kit Williams himself. To liberate the bauble, visitors must not only find their way to the middle of the maze, but also solve all of the clues to get the clockwork frog to give up its dinner.

Unfortunately, even if the puzzles and the maze are solved, the dragonfly is just to look at and cannot be taken. However the real prize in the Dragonfly Maze is the sense of wonder and adventure brought on by going treasure-hunting in a hedge maze.

Related Tags

Mazes Hedge Mazes Games

Community Contributors

Added By

duncanchappell

Edited By

Rachel, Martin, EricGrundhauser, rbenn250

  • Rachel
  • Martin
  • EricGrundhauser
  • rbenn250

Published

November 3, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.seeknewtravel.com/the-quirky-dragonfly-maze-in-the-cotswolds/
  • http://www.bourtoninfo.com/tourist-attractions/dragonfly-maze/
Dragonfly Maze
Rissington Road
Bourton-on-the-Water, England, GL54 2EB
United Kingdom
51.878244, -1.748864
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Bourton-on-the-Water Model Village

Bourton-on-the-Water, England

miles away

St Edward's Church

Stow-on-the-Wold, England

miles away

The Tures

Stow-on-the-Wold, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water

England

Places 2

Nearby Places

Bourton-on-the-Water Model Village

Bourton-on-the-Water, England

miles away

St Edward's Church

Stow-on-the-Wold, England

miles away

The Tures

Stow-on-the-Wold, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water

England

Places 2

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24 Mesmerizing Mazes and Labyrinths

List

By Michelle Cassidy

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