Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Specific Location: Ruthin

Ancient Sites / Wells

St. Cynhafal’s Well, Llangynhafal

According Wirt Sykes in ‘British Goblins’ (1881), ‘St. Cynhafal’s well, on a hillside in Llangynhafal parish, Denbighshire, is one of those curing wells in which pins are thrown. Its specialty is warts. To exorcise your wart you stick a pin in it and then throw the pin into this well; the wart soon vanishes.

Folklore / Folktales / Welsh Folktales

St Cynfarch and St Mary Church, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd

According to Elias Owen in his ‘Welsh folk-lore: a collection of the folk-tales and legends of North Wales’ (1887) ‘For the following legend, I am indebted to Mr. R. Prys Jones, who resided for several years in the parish of Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd. In answer to a letter from me respecting mysterious removal of churches, Mr.

King Arthur / Legends

Maen Huail

Situated outside Exmewe House (currently Barclays Bank) in Ruthin, is a large boulder that was reputedly used by King Arthur as a chopping block when he killed a love rival. The story states that King Arthur and Huail (son of Caw) once fought over the favours of a lady.

Apparitions / Featured Sites / Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Haunted Wedding Venue / Hauntings / King Arthur / Legends

Ruthin Castle

Before I begin I would like to say that I spent my honeymoon at Ruthin Castle, and found the accommodation and service exemplary. I would recommend staying in the castle to anybody, and I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed the Medieval Banquet which they host on a regular basis.