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Giants North Wales

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giants: Mythical

We love a good story here. Our folk tales are nothing short of spellbinding. Some are pure fantasy, others based on real events.

Our most famous has to be the legend of King Arthur – we've sites with Arthurian connections all over North Wales. He even makes an appearance in The Mabinogion – a collection of folk tales from the 11th century, possibly earlier. The story of Merlin's predictions that a red dragon would win a battle with a white dragon at Dinas Emrys, Beddgelert, is thought to be the origin of our national emblem.

We've tales of other fierce creatures - like the troublesome man-eating Dragon of Denbigh. And the The Gwiber of Penmachno – a deadly flying snake. And plenty of strange stories: one version of the Legend of the Red Hand tells of a desperate heir who lopped his own hand off to claim Chirk Castle.

Head to Llandyfrydog, Anglesey to see Carreg Lleidr – a thief turned to stone. Or to Maentwrog, Porthmadog to see Saint Twrog's Stone – thrown from a mountain by a giant. Take a seat at Cadair Ifan Goch near Llanrwst - the throne of Conwy's very own giant.

We've our fair share of curses, too. The Witches of Llanddona on Anglesey cursed all who crossed them. Once upon a time the entire town of Conwy was cursed by a mermaid. In 18th century Colwyn Bay, locals would curse one another at The Cursing Well of Saint Elian. And there are strange things lurking beneath the surface of The Witch's Pool on Flint Mountain. But how about a good old-fashioned haunting? Listen out for ghostly footsteps at Plas Mawr in Conwy.

If you're not too spooked, a visit to North Wales might just inspire you to create a few stories of your own. Pen your own love story on the tiny island of Llanddwyn just off the coast of Anglesey, home of Santes Dwynwen, Welsh patron saint of lovers.

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giants: Mythical

Cadair Ifan Goch Maenan, Llanrwst, Conwy

Local legend has it that Cadair Ifan Goch was once the seat of mythical giant, Ifan Goch, who would sit on the rock and bathe his feet in the River Conwy below.

Carreg Lleidr, Llandyfrydog, Isle of Anglesey

As local legend would have it, a thief who had stolen valuables from the parish church in Llandyfrydog – including a precious and heavily embellished copy of the Bible – was turned to stone as he tried to flee with the sacred loot.

Dragon of Denbigh

Legend has it that once upon a time the town of Denbigh was terrorised by a fire-breathing dragon. It was living in Denbigh Castle and would regularly attack locals and their livestock.

King Arthur

Recent theories have placed the real King Arthur in North Wales. On Halkyn mountain high above the Dee Estuary in Flintshire, is a Bronze Age hillfort. called Caer Afallwch – this is thought to be Avalon.

Legend of the Red Hand of Chirk Castle

Chirk Castle has been home to the Myddleton family for five centuries, and there are many versions of the legend of the red hand on their coat of arms.

Saint Twrog’s Stone, Maentwrog

Maentwrog means ‘Twrog’s stone’, and according to local legend, a giant named Twrog threw a boulder from the top of a hill down into the settlement below and destroyed a pagan altar.

Santes Dwynwen, Ynys Llanddwyn, Isle of Anglesey

The tiny island of Llanddwyn just off the coast of Anglesey is probably the most romantic place in Wales. It was home to Santes Dwynwen, a fifth century princess and Welsh patron saint of lovers.

The Cursing Well of Saint Elian, Colwyn Bay

Wells aren’t just for healing and wishing – they’re for cursing too.

The Gwiber of Penmachno, near Betws-y-Coed

Wybrnant near Penmachno takes its name from a flying snake (honestly!). This terrifying beast, known as a Gwiber, was able to live on land and underwater and would devour livestock and people.

The Mabinogion

The Mabinogion is a collection of Welsh folk tales which came to prominence in the 19th century, when Lady Charlotte Guest first published her translation. But the tales are themselves much older than that: it’s thought that some were written as early as the second half of the 11th century, and that some might be even older – the product of centuries of storytelling.

The Mermaid’s Curse of Conwy

Like any seaside town worth its salt, Conwy has a traditional mermaid story. Once upon a time during a raging storm, a mermaid was washed ashore in Conwy.

The Witch’s Pool, Flint Mountain

According to local legend, strange creatures live beneath the waters of the Witch’s Pool on Flint mountain. A 19th century farm labourer, John Roberts, is said to have died following an encounter with one of these beings.

The Witches of Llanddona, Isle of Anglesey

The tale of the ‘Witches of Llanddona’ tells of a group of people ship-wrecked during a stormy night in Red Wharf Bay on the east coast of Anglesey.

Nerys Hughes, the television actress was born at Rhyl

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