Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Dyfed

Ancient Sites / Stone Circles

Ysbyty Cynfyn Church

Three miles from Devil’s Bridge is the 19th century Ysbyty Cynfyn Church, which stands in the remains of a stone circle. Two of the stones now act as posts for the gate leading into the churchyard. Another two are set into the church wall itself. The tallest of the stones is in the North of the churchyard and stands 3.4m high.

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Folklore / Folktales / Mabinogion / Welsh Folktales

Pwyll, Lord of Dyfed

The story of Pwyll is found in the Mabinogion, a collection of old Welsh stories translated by Lady Charlotte Guest, and published in 1849. It describes how Pwyll the Lord of Dyfed meets the underworld king Arawn and how the two become close allies.

Apparitions / Black Dogs / Folklore / Hauntings

Laugharne

A spectral dog known as the Gwyllgi or the ‘Dog of Darkness’ is said to haunt the town. The dog appears with flaming red eyes, and is said to run from the castle to the town along an old route-way.

Directions: On the A4066

Legends / Merlin

Ogaf Myrddin

Ogaf Myrddin means Merlin’s Cave, and this is one of the locations where he is said to sleep awaiting his release. The cave is hidden behind a waterfall.

Directions: Northwest of Brechfa

Ancient Sites / Burial Mounds / King Arthur / Legends

Bedd Arthur

The whole area around Dyfed is associated with Arthur, outlined in the old Welsh tales now part of the Mabinogion. This cairn on the hilltop is thought to be Arthur’s Grave.

Directions: The grave is in the Prescely Mountains

Ancient Sites / Apparitions / Early Christianity / Folklore / Hauntings

Strata Florida Abbey

The abbey was founded in early part of the 13th century by the Cistercian monks, and was one of the grandest in Wales at its height. It was seen as a centre of education and political activity. The abbey was destroyed during the reformation.

Ancient Sites / Early Christianity / Hauntings / King Arthur / Legends / Mabinogion / Wells

St Non’s Chapel and St David’s Peninsula

St David’s Peninsula is supposedly the landing place of Twrch Trwyth, the magical boar told in the story of Culhwch and Olwen in the Mabinogion, King Arthur features heavily in the story. It is also the place where St Patrick is said to have sailed for Ireland to convert them to Christianity.

UFO Sightings / UFOs

Broad Haven

Broad Haven was the scene of a UFO flap during the late 1970’s. There were several reported sightings; the most widely publicised was the strange visitation to a field near to Broad Haven primary school in February 1977.

Ancient Sites / Legends

Clegyr Boia

This rocky hilltop was occupied during the Neolithic period around 3800BC, when there were a number of rectangular houses on the summit. During the Iron Age the hill was fortified and served as a hillfort. A rampart, which can still be seen today, was completed around the hill with an entrance towards the Southwest.