Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Gwynedd

Apparitions / Hauntings

Haunted Toilets

I came across a reference claiming that the public toilets opposite the Gwesty’r Llew Coch (Red Lion Hotel) in Dinas Mawddwy are reputedly haunted by the apparition of a silver haired old man. I have no idea what evidence this based upon, or even if there is any.

Ancient Sites / Early Christianity / Folklore

St Peters, Llanbedr

St Peters Church in Llanbedr is where you can find, behind the rear pew, an ancient engraved stone that stands two foot nine inches in height and two foot wide. The engraving is that of a seven turn spiral measuring twelve inches in diameter. It is said to be similar to those associated with the Irish Boyne culture.

Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Tyn-y-Groes Hotel

The Tyn-y-Groes Hotel is an old drovers inn dating the sixteenth century. I found a reference in a Snowdonia walking book stating strange haunting like phenomena was supposed to have been reported shortly after a young girl was run down in a traffic accident on the A470, just outside the building.

Ancient Sites / Burial Mounds / King Arthur / Legends

Cors-y-Gedol Burial Chamber

The Cors-y-Gedol burial chamber which still has it’s capstone intact is also referred to as Arthur’s Quoit and can be found close to some ancient hut circles known as the Irishmen’s huts on the slope of Moelfre.

Apparitions / Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert

The Royal Goat Hotel is linked to stories suggesting a haunting, though I don’t know of any actual haunting type occurrences that have happened there. The stories relate to David Pritchard, the first landlord of the Royal Goat Hotel and the man generally thought responsible for the Grave of Gelert.

Legends

The Grave of Gelert

‘In the 13th century Llywelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, "The Faithful Hound", who was unaccountably absent. On Llywelyn’s return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master.

Devil / Devil Bridge / Legends

Pont Aberglaslyn

Pont Aberglaslyn has a bridge with a connection to the Devil. It is very similar to other Devil and bridge related stories found throughout the British Isles. The Devil built the bridge on the understanding that he would receive the soul of the first living creature to cross over it. When the bridge was finished he went to the local inn to inform the magician Robin Ddu that it was ready.

Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The Ysgethin Inn

A Snowdonia guide specialising in walks starting from pubs, mentioned that the Ysgethin Inn was haunted.  It did not elaborate further, other to say that the ghost had been heard by the staff, though not actually seen it. The building was originally a pandy (fulling mill) and dates from early 1788.

Dragons / Folklore / Folktales / Legends / Welsh Folktales

The Gwiber of Penmachno

The word "gwiber" in Welsh means viper or adder but many centuries ago the word actually meant "flying snake" . This is the story of how Wibernant (meaning "valley of the gwiber) which is near Penmachno got its name.

Fairies / Folklore / Mermaids

Conwy & Conwy Bay

In legend a curse was put upon the town and its entire people by a mermaid hundreds of years ago. She was found stranded on the rocks at low tide by local fishermen, who would not return her to the water no matter how much she begged. She cursed the town saying that the people would always be poor. The curse is now said to have run its course.