Land Of Myth And Legend: Folklore And Fairy Tales Of Snowdonia
Many visitors are drawn to Snowdonia for its evocative image as a misty, magical country steeped in history, tradition and folklore. Bards, druids, mythical beings and a strong connection with King Arthur go hand-in-hand with our mysterious, mountainous landscape and ancient, musical-sounding language. The romance, the magic and the mythology of Snowdonia make it just as popular a holiday destination for history and folklore addicts as it is for adrenalin junkies.
In simpler times, natural phenomena were explained away by the superstitious as magic or miracles, warring dragons or battling giants, or the work of the ‘Tylwyth Teg’, or ‘Fair Folk’. We may laugh today, but centuries ago it was considered perfectly plausible that a pile of rocks could appear on a mountainside because a giantess had taken fright and dropped the contents of her apron!
In the true tradition of the ancient bards and storytellers, many old tales survive to this day, having been passed down orally from one generation to the next throughout history. Myth, legend, superstition or fairy tale – whatever you choose to call the folklore of Snowdonia, there are plenty of surviving tales to choose from, each one as colourful as the next. Here are a few of our favourites.
St Twrog’s Stone
In the village of Maentwrog, just outside Blaenau Ffestiniog, an unusual boulder stands next to the porch in the churchyard. Legend has it that a local giant, Twrog, disgusted by the pagan rituals being carried out in the village, threw a large rock down from a nearby hill which destroyed the unholy altar. His followers later erected the church where the boulder had landed.
The Mermaid’s Curse
Many hundreds