Beddgelert
Beddgelert is undoubtedly Snowdonia’s loveliest village. A place of legend, culture and history; yet rich with activities, adventures and attractions. It is a beautiful place to visit, and an even better place to stay for a holiday.
It’s nice to park up and wander around the village and the walk by the river to see Gelert’s grave is lovely.
The story of Gelert
“In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent.
On Llewelyn’s return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant’s cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood.
The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound’s side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog’s dying yell was answered by a child’s cry.
Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here”.
Things to do
Copper mine Abandoned over 100 years ago.
http://www.syguncoppermine.co.uk
Dinas Emrys
Is a rocky and wooded hill near Beddgelert North West Wales rising some 76 m (250 ft) above the floor of the river valley. It overlooks the southern end of Llyn Dinas in Snowdonia
Little remains of the Iron Age Hill Fort or castle structures that once stood here, save its stone ramparts and the base of a keep. Some believe the castle was erected by Llewelyn, the last to guard the road to the mountain pass of Snowdon.
The Legend. A dragon sleeps beneath it
According to legend, King Vortigern wanted to build a castle on top of Dinas Emrys, but every night his castle walls would fall down. Merlin (the wizard) claimed there were two dragons fighting beneath the hill that caused the walls to fall. Therefore Vortigern and his men dug into the mountain and released two dragons. The red and white dragon fought, eventually the white dragon fled and the red dragon returned to his lair. Vortigern’s castle was built and named Dinas Emrys in honour of Myrddin Emrys (Merlin), and the red dragon has been celebrated ever since.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/craflwyn-and-beddgelert/trails/the-legendary-trail-of-dinas-emrys
More info
http://www.castlewales.com/dinas_em.html