Victoria O’Hagan looks ahead to 2017, the Year of Legends, and rounds up her top pick of legendary locations in Wales.
2016 may well go down in history as the year where Western politics went a little bit bonkers and Bowie left for his home planet, but 2017 is set to become a legendary year for Wales. The Year of Legends 2017 is a campaign set up by the Welsh Government Tourist Board to raise the profile of Wales’ tourism. All Celts love a good story, and Welsh history is studded with tales of ghosts, devils, wizards and some seriously irritated 12th century monks. So, if you’re looking to travel around Wales, why not give these legendary locations a try?
Tintern Abbey
Situated in the lower Wye valley near Chepstow, the serenely romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey have inspired poets and artists throughout the ages. Its remote location appealed to the 12th century Cistercian ‘White Monks’ who lived out their quiet and pious lives within the hauntingly beautiful valley. Their peaceful existence came to an end thanks to Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, and the arrival of the Black Death didn’t help matters either. According to legend, the lost souls of these plague-stricken monks can be seen walking towards the Abbey in single file.
Another local legend tells the tale of a group of 18th century treasure hunters who decided to dig within the remains of the Abbey looking for priceless antiquities. They didn’t find any treasure, but they did chance upon the ancient remains of two Cistercian monks. To celebrate their ghoulish find, the men cracked open the booze and got drunk within the ruins, amused by their own hedonism within this holy establishment. They didn’t laugh for long. A veil of mist descended on the abbey as thunder rolled across the sky, and the ghostly spectre of an armour clad knight fixed his eyes on theirs. Behind him stood an army of white-robed monks, closing in slowly…
Tintern Abbey is a must-visit for aspiring artists, poets, historians or ghost hunters, but if you do decide to visit the ruins of Tintern Abbey, it’s best to leave the hip flask at home.
Info: 012 9168 9251 / www.cadw.gov.wales
Cadair Idris
Standing at the southern gate of Snowdonia, Cadair Idris (Idris’s Chair) is one of Wales’ most iconic mountains and the source of numerous local legends. Named after the mythological giant Idris and surrounded by many (apparently) bottomless lakes, the mountain is a great place to visit for anyone seeking out more about Welsh mythology. According to legend, king of the Tylwyth Teg (Fair Folk) and ruler of the Welsh Otherworld Annwn, Gwyn ap Nudd would hunt on the mountain with his pack of spectral hounds, the Cwn Annwn.
It’s said that if you fall asleep on the slopes of Cadair Idris, you’ll wake up either a madman or a poet. But if you’re woken up by the sound of howling, the Cwn Annwn will sweep you into Hell before you’ve even composed a limerick.
Info: www.eryri-npa.gov.uk
Gelert’s Grave
If you’ve survived Cadair Idris’s bloodthirsty hounds, why not stay within Snowdonia and pay your respects to an altogether different sort of dog? Prince Llewelyn’s legendary dog Gelert is buried in the town of Beddgelert and the tragic tale of this loyal dog draws visitors from across the world every year.
In the 13th century, Prince Llewelyn had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went on a hunt without his faithful hound and on his return, he found the dog drenched in blood. When finding his young son’s empty cot, the Prince plunged his sword into Gelert’s side, as punishment for killing his only heir.
The dog’s dying yelp was answered by a child’s cry. The prince’s young son was very much alive, lying near the body of a dead, blood soaked wolf, who had been killed by Gelert himself.
The prince was devastated at his mistake and buried the dog in a beautiful, peaceful spot in Beddgelert. It is said that the Prince never smiled again.
Info: www.beddgelerttourism.com
Merlin’s Oak
There are lots of reasons to visit the beautiful ancient market town of Carmarthen. Steeped in history, the town is one of the oldest in Wales and known for its famous Black Book, which is perhaps the earliest Welsh manuscript. Dated at around 1250, the Black Book contains poetry and references to Welsh myths, including the legend of Arthur.
Camarthen was also the site of Merlin’s Oak. Legend has it that King Arthur’s wizard put a spell on an oak tree, warning that the tree’s removal or destruction would bring about the drowning of the town.
The tree was poisoned by a disgruntled villager in the 1850s and preserved in iron railings, but despite these measures it was set on fire in the 70s. As a stark warning not to mess with legendary wizards, the town suffered its worst flood in years.
Info: www.carmarthen.info
Lady of the Lake
Fancy a visit to a damned lake? After you’ve paid your respects to the town of Merlin’s Oak, go and visit the famous Llyn Y Fan Fach in Carmarthenshire. According to a local folk tale, a young man agreed to marry a beautiful girl who rose naked from the lake, on the condition that he would never hit her more than three times. They didn’t have many anger management courses back then, so this impulsive young man found it hard to stick to his wife’s one simple rule.
As punishment, the lady slunk back into the lake, taking all of her husband’s cattle with her, which is the historical equivalent of throwing your partners MacBook into a swimming pool.
After a strange and confusing 2016, next year may be the time to look back at our past and remind ourselves that there’s magic in them there hills.
The Year of Legends. Info: www.visitwales.com