Snowdonia: Discover the Myths and Magic of King Arthur
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The Magic of Snowdonia
Snowdonia is one of my all-time favourite places in the whole of the UK. First of all, it has some of the most glorious views, landscapes, and places to discover of anywhere I’ve ever visited. It also has some great locations for wildlife spotting and birdwatching.
On top of this, anyone who knows me knows that I am an enormous geek when it comes to literature, myths and legend. One of my favourite British stories is that of Merlin and King Arthur. Snowdonia is the home of these stories, with many places connected to the original legends.
Was King Arthur Welsh?
‘Was King Arthur Welsh?’ is a great question, but it is one without a clear answer. Many places across the UK claim to be the home of King Arthur, from Wales, to Cornwall, to Scotland, all the way over to Brittany in France. All of these places have stories that connect them to King Arthur.
However the oldest stories come from Wales. The earliest mention of King Arthur comes from a Welsh text called The Mabinogion, and many stories about King Arthur take place in Welsh locations. This places Wales as pretty likely when it comes to Athurian locations.
I have put together a list of my favourite of these Arthurian locations in King Arthur Wales. Not only will they allow you an insight into these magical myths, but they are also a great way to discover some new places to visit on your trip to Snowdonia. So, without any further ado, here are my top Arthurian locations in Snowdonia linked to the myths and legends of King Arthur.
Mount. Snowdon
Mount Snowdown is the tallest mountain in Snowdonia, and is heavily linked to King Arthur. Its Welsh name is Yr Wyddfa, which means “The Tomb”. This name refers to the myth of Snowdonia really being a burial mound for a giant.
The story goes that the giant, named Rhitta Gawr, fought kings and wore their beads as a trophy. He terrorised the many kings of Wales, until he came up against the great King Arthur. He challenged him to a battle, and Arthur accepted.
However, Arthur was such a skilled warrior that he struck a fatal blow to the Giant. After the giant was slain, Arthur instructed his knights to build a tomb for the giant – and that tomb became Snowdonia.
Snowdonia is the most popular mountain to climb in the UK. However, all of the walks to the summit are classed as high difficulty. It also takes approximately 7 hours to get there and back, and that’s if you’re a relatively athletic person.
Never fear, though! There is a railway service that takes you halfway, so you only have to hike the last half and back to the station again. It is recommended that you pre-book tickets, as this service is quite popular. Make sure to pack your best hiking boots – and your camera!
Check Out This Video So You Can See What It’s Like To Hike Snowdon
Llydaw, Dinas, and Ogwen Lakes
These are three separate lakes in Snowdonia, however, they are all connected to the same legend. That legend says that after King Arthur’s passing, he instructed one of his most loyal knights to throw his sword into a lake.
So, Sir Bedevere threw the legendary sword Excalibur into the lake. The hand of the Lady of the Lake reached out of the water, and took it down into the depths with her. Some legends say that King Arthur was placed into a boat and sailed across the same lake to his final resting place of Avalon, or the Excalibur island.
The lakes of Llydaw, Dinas and Ogwen are all equally as connected to this story. Luckily, none of them are very far away from each other, so you can visit them all if so desired. Although, it might take you a while to walk around each.
The first, Llyn Llydaw, is directly at the summit of Mount Snowdon so you can easily visit before or after you ascend. Llyn Dinas, is a little further away, but is still not far from the mountain and makes for an easy nearby trip.
Llyn Ogwen is further away still, and you can find it further north into the Snowdonia mountain ranges. However, a trip to this one gives you the opportunity to see Tryfan and the Glyderau mountains and gives an opportunity to visit another location in the national park.
Dinas Emrys
This location is more closely linked to Merlin than King Arthur, but the two go hand in hand. This story is linked to Merlin before he had even met the legendary king. In fact, this story is about the child Merlin.
It says that the Celtic King Vortigern chose Dinas Emrys to build his castle upon. However, each time the soldiers would return to work in the morning, the structures they had built the day before would be collapsed. He came across the magical child Myrddin Emry (or Merlin, to us), and decided to have him sacrificed in order to appease the lands.
However, the young Merlin advised Vortigern that the structures would not stand, due to two dragons being contained within the mountain. He also advised him of the prophecy the dragons gave. He told him that the white dragon represented the Anglo-Saxons and the red dragon represented the Welsh.
Despite the fact that the white dragon was winning the battle at the moment, it was the red dragon who would prevail.
Despite the warring dragons underneath the surface, Dinas Emrys makes for a really nice walk. There are wonderful waterfalls and oak woodland to discover.
You can also see the remnants of an old tower and ramparts from ancient structures here. You can also find a lake here called “Merlin’s Pool”.
The trail is only 2 hours long and is not too difficult a walk at all, even suitable for children. It is a really special trip that can help you to feel connected to the magic of the legend and Wales’ legacy.
Check Out This aMAZING vIDEO oF dINAS eMRYS
Where is Camelot?
With all this mention of castles, you might be wondering – where is Camelot? The King Arthur castle is as legendary as the myths themselves, however the Camelot location is hotly debated. Some of the top locations are Caerleon, Cadbury or Colchester.
As you can see, none of these locations are in Snowdonia. However, Caerleon is in Wales, although quite a far way south. If you fancy a road trip then you could drive to Caerleon to see the supposed Camelot location and enjoy this relic of medieval history. Rather than a castle, this is merely the foundations of a circular for that used to stand at the site.
Llyn Barfog
Llyn Barfog is another lake connected to Arthurian legend. Although this lake is rather smaller than it once was it still makes for a lovely visit. The story goes that a monster called the Afanc lived in the lake and would terrorise the people living in the surrounding villages. King Arthur heard about this and came to the lake. He threw a chain around the Afanc, dragged it from the lake and killed it.
The proof of this is supposedly on a stone around the lake. This stone has the impact of a hoofprint, and legend says it is the print of King Arthur’s horse.
This location holds magnificent views of the mountains across the lake, and is a very peaceful location. Again, is it a relatively flat and easy walk from the local town centre to here, as well as around the lake.
Water lilies cover the lake in summer. There are many types of wildflowers and butterflies on the walk there. This is one to go to for a relaxing walk with breathtaking views, and a magnificent legend to boot.
Bardsey Island
Barsey Island, off the coast of Gwynedd, is rife with legend and scenery both. This makes it one of the most magical places you can visit. There are many different versions of the myths associated with this Arthurian island.
The first is that this is the legendary Isle of Avalon, where Arthur lies in wait until he is needed once again. However, Glastonbury in Somerset, most famously claims this title.
It is also said to be the resting place of the wizard, Merlin. Some say he is buried here, and some say he lives in a glass house here. Others say he lives in a cave, awaiting the return of his king.
Whatever the legends say, we do know it was a spiritual place of rest. There were over 20,000 people buried here. It was believed that the soil here was so magical, that anyone buried here would become a saint and it would become impossible for them to go to hell.
It remains a magical place, simply due to the amount of wildlife that can be found here. You can see grey seals, puffins and coughs, as well as a lot of wild plants and herbs. This King Arthur island is a really special place to visit, and it is open to visitors from March to October. You are able to take a day trip across, as boat trips run from the mainland.
King Arthur’s Labyrinth
King Arthur’s Labyrinth is not a location linked to the legend, but it is a great place to go to find out more. It is especially great for those with kids. Half theme park, half educational centre, King Arthur’s Labyrinth tells the legends in a fun and accessible way.
You are able to take a boat trip into the caves underneath the mountain. You are then guided around the exhibits as you are told the story of King Arthur and Merlin. It is very atmospheric and magical, and it gives the sense of having travelled back in time.
Not only this, but there is also a maze in which you can listen to the stories of other Welsh myths. For kids, you can also complete a puzzle in the maze and win a medal. This is a great spot for those who want to learn more about the legends.
Wishing You A Magical Visit
Well, that’s it for my top recommendations for Snowdonia’s legendary locations linked to King Arthur. There are numerous others across the area, far too many to include in this post alone. These ones are, in my opinion, the most interesting for fans of the legends as well as those looking for a scenic walk or visit.
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you back here again soon!
Ta ta for now! x
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