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Arthurian Legends, Folklore and Ghosts

Hoof

Location: Aberdyfi / Aberdovey (Gwynedd) - Carn March Arthur (three miles northeast of Aberdovey)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The hoof prints from King Arthur's horse can still be seen imprinted in the rock here.

Saint Padarn

Location: Aberystwyth (Dyfed) - Lanbadarn Fawr
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Sixth century
Further Comments: Lanbadarn Fawr was founded by Padarn. King Arthur once tried to steal Padarn's tunic but was seen. Padarn then caused the ground to open and swallow Arthur, where the king remained until he apologised.

Cloaked Gentleman

Location: Aberystwyth (Dyfed) - Nanteos House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1984
Further Comments: One of several ghosts reported to haunt the house, the cloaked figure disrupted a video unit sent to shoot several TV scenes here to such an extent, the crew refused to work after dark. The other ghosts comprise of a phantom horseman and two spectral women, one of whom appears before a death. The building is also thought to have once contained part of the Holy Grail.

Pony

Location: Aldbourne (Wiltshire) - Road leading to the village from Braydon
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: A white pony silently galloped past two men as they returned to the village. It has been speculated that the pony was King Arthur's mount Sigral (ridden at the Battle of Baydon) or belonging to a local man who committed suicide.


King Arthur's budget round table.

Resting King

Location: Alderly Edge (Cheshire) - Exact location unknown
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Another place in the UK where King Arthur lies in wait for when he is required once more.

Lancelot

Location: Alnwick (Northumberland) - Joyous Gard, possibly Alnwick Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Lancelot was laid to rest at his castle, Joyous Gard. Some believe that this fort later become known as Alnwick Castle.

Modred's House

Location: Alyth (Perth and Kinross) - Dunbarre Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This castle is said to be the former base of Modred, the nephew of King Arthur. He was killed when the fort was overrun by Scots and Picts. Guinevere may have also been killed here and is reportedly buried at nearby Meigle.


Sir Gawain in the mist.

Gawain

Location: Armathwaite (Cumbria) - Tarn Watheling
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One Arthurian story places Sir Gawain here, jousting with a knight from Scotland to see if he is worthy to sit at the Round Table.

The Glass Tower

Location: Bardsey Island (Gwynedd) - Exact location not known
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: As well as the final resting place of King Arthur, Merlin is said to have kept the Thirteen Treasures of Britain within his glass tower that stood on Bardsey Island. These treasures were: 1) Dyrnwyn - the sword's blade would burst into flame when wielded by royalty, 2) The Hamper of Gwyddno Garanhir - the hamper would multiply its contents by five-score, 3) The Horn of Bran - this drinking beaker would provide whatever the user wanted to whet their lips, 4) The Chariot of Morgan the Wealthy - extremely fast magical travel, 5) The Halter of Clyno Eiddyn - any horse dreamt of would appear haltered in the morning, 6) The Knife of Llawfronedd the Horseman - would carve the meat at a meal for twenty four men, 7) The Cauldron of Diwrnach - would only boil water for a brave man, 8) The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd - when used to sharpen the sword of a hero, any strike made by the weapon would be fatal, 9) The Coat of Padarn Redcoat - would only fit anyone of noble blood, 10) The Crock of Rhygenydd - would serve any food the user wanted, 11) The Dish of Rhygenydd - would serve any food the user desired, 12) The Chessboard of Gwenddolau - would play itself once set up, & 13) The Mantle of Arthur - would make the wearer invisible.


An old sketch of Cader Idris.

Idris

Location: Barmouth (Gwynedd) - Cader Idris (aka Caldair Idris)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Idris was said to be a wise giant, who may have had links with King Arthur. People would avoid the area at night, convinced that fairies would drive them mad. Another legend says that the site was the hunting ground of Gwyn ap Nudd (Ruler of the Otherworld) who searched the area with a pack of Cwn Annwn, looking for souls to take back home. Finally. Strange lights are said to appear around the summit for the first few days of a new year.

Battle of Mount Badon

Location: Bathampton (Somerset) - Bathampton Down
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The down has been suggested as the site where Arthur engaged and defeated the Saxons.


The vanishing lake of Beaulieu.

Lake with Sword in a Stone

Location: Beaulieu (Hampshire) - Exact location unknown, somewhere in the New Forest
Type: Environmental Manifestation
Date / Time: 1951
Further Comments: A family driving in the New Forest while on holiday passed a mist covered lake, with a sword set in a large stone a few metres off the shoreline. The lake had disappeared when they drove back and, to the best of our knowledge, has never returned.

The Lady

Location: Beeswing (once known as Lochend) (Dumfries and Galloway) - Loch Arthur
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This small village has been named as a possible location to where the story of the Lady in the Lake occurred.


The mythical battlefield Camlan.

Camlan

Location: Birdoswald (Cumbria) - Cambogianna
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The countryside here is another place speculated to be the final battleground of Arthur and Mordred.

Sleeping Place

Location: Blencathra (aka Saddleback) (Cumbria) - Concealed under the peak
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Blencathra is another location that may contain King Arthur and his troops, ready to be awoken when Britain requires them most.


Dozmary Pool, Bodmin Moor.

Jan Tregeagle

Location: Bodmin Moor (Cornwall) - Dozmary Pool
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: As punishment for killing his wife and children, Jan's ghost returns to the pool every night, attempting to empty the contents with a broken shell. A pack of ghostly wild dogs watch over him should he try to escape. One version of the same tale states Tregeagle did escape, but now he sweeps the sand from Porthcurno Cove to Mill Bay; he can be heard screaming as the sea washes the sand back again. Locals would refuse to say Tregeagle's name in case the ghost manifested. The Pool is also the supposed location where Sir Bedivere returned Excalibur.

Arthur's Table

Location: Bossiney (Cornwall) - Bossiney Mound
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 20 June, midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Once a year, King Arthur's table is said to surface from the mound, briefly waiting for the man to sit at it once more.


The lake's treasures.

Excalibur

Location: Broomlee Lough (also referred to as Bromley Lake) (Northumberland) - Waters of the lake
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present?
Further Comments: The lake is another contender for the claim for being the resting place for King Arthur's sword. Another legend says the lake is home to a treasure that can only be retrieved by chain made by seventh generation blacksmith that is pulled by a team of twin horses, twin oxen, and twin youths.


The mythical boat Twrch Trwyth.

Carn Cabal

Location: Builth Wells (Powys) - Pile of stones (no longer present)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: King Arthur's dog Cavall left his footprint upon a stone while hunting the mythical boar Twrch Trwyth (Troyt). Arthur had the footprint placed on top of a cairn, and if removed, the marked stone would always return the following day.

Swan Eater

Location: Burscough (Lancashire) - Martin Mere
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 2002
Further Comments: An unknown large creature was seen to attack several swans from beneath the water of the lake - it is believed to be a type of large catfish, which can grow up to sixteen feet in length. There has also been at least one mermaid sighting in the lake, and Sir Lancelot's body is supposed to be buried nearby.

King Arthur

Location: Cadbury (Somerset) - Cadbury Castle, and road between North Barrow and South Barrow villages
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 20 June (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Escorted by mounted knights carrying lances, King Arthur of the Britons traverses this route back to Camelot (as Cadbury is thought to be) on this day in June. One witness said that on 23 June 1995 they encountered an armoured man (more dark age than medieval) holding a standard on horseback - the figure disappeared around a corner, though there was no place that he could have gone. One legend says a door opens every seven years in the hillside so that Arthur and his company can leave to feed their horses.

Round Table

Location: Caerleon (Gwent) - Exact area unknown
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Some have named Caerleon as the site of the original Arthurian round table and of Camelot.

Camelot

Location: Caerwent (Gwent) - Iron age hill fort
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Evidence of fort still present
Further Comments: Researchers Chris Barber and David Pykitt have claimed Caerwent to be Camelot.

Carantoc's Dragon

Location: Carhampton (Somerset) - General area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Saint Carantoc, while searching for his altar, met with King Arthur who voiced concerns about a dragon terrorizing the county. Carantoc agreed to help the King (in return for the location of the altar), and tamed the dragon using his stole. Locals wanted to kill the creature, but the saint set it free after making the dragon promise never to hurt anyone again.

Merlin's Prison

Location: Carmarthen (Dyfed) - Bryn Myrddin (Merlin's Hill)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A legend says that the great wizard Merlin was caught by a woman (possibly Nimue) and is kept as a prisoner under this hill to this day. He can be heard working in his cell late at night. At least one legend names Carmarthen as Merlin's birthplace.

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