Halloween: Ghost guide book reveals Wales’ spookiest supernatural hotspots
Halloween: Ghost guide book reveals Wales’ spookiest supernatural hotspots
New book, Supernatural Wales, reveals gateways to the underworld, bottomless lakes, UFO’s, werewolves and all manner of ghostly goings-on around Wales
Fairies, goblins, devils and demons are said to have haunted Wales for thousands of years.
Now ghost hunters keen to visit the land’s spookiest spots on Halloween can do just that, thanks to a new guidebook called Supernatural Wales.
Author Alvin Nicholas revealed “no other mountain has attracted as much lore as Cadair Idris.”
“Cadair Idris means Chair of Idris – a shadowy figure of the Dark Ages, sometimes associated with King Arthur,” he said.
The chair is thought to refer to the armchair like shape of Cwm Gadair.
“The mountain was thought to be a gateway to the underworld, frequented by dragons, troops of fairies and the much feared ‘cwn annwn’ – hounds of the underworld.
“A glacial lake called Llyn Cau is said to be bottomless, and according to tradition, is the abode of a man eating monster.
“To the present day, visitors report a peculiar presence on the summit and in the vicinity of the nearby stone shelter.”
In 1977, a corner of Pembrokeshire became known as the Broad Haven Triangle.
“The Coombs family of Ripperston Farm near St Brides were disproportionately affected by the odd events,” Alvin said.
“Their car was pursued by a rugby ball shaped craft that emitted powerful lights, a ‘giant faceless humanoid’ peered in through the windows of their farmhouse and a disc like object frightened their children in a nearby field.”
Ghostly Wales – eerie pictures of some of Wales’ supernatural hotspots
Fifteen Broad Haven primary school children claimed to have seen a cigar shaped UFO.
“Headmaster Ralph Llewellyn asked the children to sketch what they had seen and was impressed by the similarity of their drawings.”
Then there is the Skirrid Mountain Inn, in Monmouthshire.
“Resident ghosts include some of the many people allegedly held here over the years, from sheep stealers to rebels hanged following the Monmouth rebellion in 1685,” Alvin said.
Ghostly mists have appeared in photos at the pub.
“Beer glasses and other objects have been known to fly across the bar of their own accord and shadowy figures wander the corridors,” Alvin said.
Top ten terrifying tales from Wales
“Some visitors have reported feelings of panic and of a noose being tightened around their neck on the stairs.”
According to legend, South Stack lighthouse, on Anglesey, is haunted by the ghost of assistant lighthouse keeper Jack Jones. He died after he was hit on the head by a rock during a storm on October 25 and 26 in 1859.
That sunk ship Royal Charter with a loss of 500 lives. Jones died three weeks later.
“Jones makes his presence known by rattling doors, in a desperate attempt to get in, some say, and by tapping on windows,” Alvin said.
Denbigh moors lie to the north of the Cambrian mountains.
“A Roman centurion, said to be an omen of death, haunts a bridge on the road from Ruthin to Cerigydruidion,” Alvin said.
“The centurion appears in full Roman military uniform – complete with helmet, breastplate and sandals. He holds a short sword above his head.”
“Fishermen have suffered ill fortune after seeing the ghost.”
A werewolf was said to roam the moors in the 1700s.
“One full moon night a creature the size of a donkey attacked and overturned a coach travelling between Denbigh and Wrexham,” Alvin said.
“The following year an ‘enormous black beast’ mutilated livestock and killed a farm dog.”
* Supernatural Wales, by Alvin Nicholas, is published by Amberley priced £14.99.
