The first scene from the Vale of Banburn, Series 3 of Knightmare.

Vale of Banburn

By Keith McDonald

This valley had a winding pathway through perilous quicksand marshes. It lies near the realm of the elven kin and is often patrolled by Velda the Elf.


The Vale of Banburn is a long valley leading to a clearing at the end.

A winding pathway surrounds a marsh of quicksand, which claims the life of its first visitor.

This vale was one of Knightmare's first multi-scene locations.

The Vale of Banburn, from a handpainted scene by David Rowe, as shown on Series 3 of Knightmare (1989).
Scene 1: a winding path through the marshes

The scenes

Dungeoneers enter at the foot of the valley. The first scene shows the pathway and a clearing in the distance.

Once dungeoneers reach the apex of the bend in the pathway, we flip to a second scene - a reverse view of the valley.

The Vale of Banburn, from a handpainted scene by David Rowe, as shown on Series 3 of Knightmare (1989).
Scene 2: a reverse view of the vale

Teams must now guide their dungeoneer down-screen to the clearing. They are often pursued by goblins, Grimwold, or the Behemoth.

The third scene is the clearing, which is often patrolled by Velda the Wood Elf.

Velda dispatches any threats and dictates which path dungeoneers should take on their onward journey.

The Vale of Banburn, from a handpainted scene by David Rowe, as shown on Series 3 of Knightmare (1989).
Scene 3: a clearing in the vale

End of series

The final team of the series has the most unusual experience of the vale.

The dungeoneer gets trapped between two bands of goblins and exits into a cave along the pathway.

After passing through the Corridor of the Catacombs, he emerges at the clearing, meeting Hordriss the Confuser.

It is a rare instance of a team returning to a 'location' they had previously left.

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