Here in Snowdonia, we live and work in one of the most historic little corners of the world (as well as one of the most beautiful, not that we’re biased or anything!). People, families and communities have lived here for thousands of years – around 29,000 in fact. And all this history means only one thing – bucketfuls of legend and mythology that has been passed down through the generations.

Story telling is closely linked with the landscape of Snowdonia – tales, myths, legends and stories that have been told, retold and told again, for thousands of years through song, dance, poetry, art and words. Next year, the whole of Wales will celebrate it’s rich tradition and culture of legends and myths, as Visit Wales make 2017 the year of Myths and Legends. So, here on the Oakeley blog we thought we’d celebrate with a series of features about the Myths and Legends of Snowdonia. And of course, our area is packed with them.

There are the famous Welsh stories, The Mabinogion (did you know that our little village of Maentwrog is written about in the legends?). The Mabinogi aren’t known for their uplifting stories in their exploration of themes like royalty, armies, gods and religion, fall and redemption, marriage, love, infidelity, family ties and gruesome battles, but they are the most famous of all the Welsh legends, and possibly in the world. The tales have been hugely influential, and have said to inspire such mythical figures as Arthur and Merlin, and were really the first “fantasy and adventure” stories that are still popular today.

And of course, the legend that is close to the heart of any Welshperson is the story of the Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon), and what about the sad, sad tale of Gelert – a faithful hound who was wrongly killed by his owner in a dreadful case of mistaken identity. There’s the story of the Princes of Gwynedd, the giant Idris – who sat on the mountain of Cadair Idris, the sorry tale of Cantre’r Gwaelod – an underwater kingdom, and the tales and stories that are strongly associated with King Arthur, the fearsome afanc and the coblynau (goblins) that are said to haunt the mines and quarries and the story of how a little island off the coast of North Wales came to be the Island of 20,000 saints.……

And of course, there are dozens more besides. So, join us over the next few weeks and months as we delve deeper into some fascinating history, and some of the wonderful Myths and Legends of Snowdonia.

The legends of King Arthur and Merlin…. Was the famous King ever based in North Wales?