Any local will be able to regale you with countless tales of mystery surrounding the famous mountain ranges of Snowdon. From the creepy to the preposterous, there’s enough lore to fill a book or two. Still as blood curdling and brilliant as ever, here are a select few of the tales that have enchanted over the years.

King Arthur

One part of the infamous ‘Mabinogion’ collection of fables, this rumour is steeped in mystery.

Legend tells that Arthur was awaiting reinforcement so he could recapture Wales in one of the many caves dotted around the region. Excalibur was also rumoured to lurk in the depths of Ogwen, Dinas and Llydaw.

The great mountain itself also bears the marks of Arthur’s presence after he claimed to have slain a mighty giant atop it before covering the monster’s body in stones.

One of Arthur’s most famous associates, Merlin, also reportedly had some interest with the beautiful region where it is claimed his body lies in a glass crypt just off of Bardsley Island.

Cadair Idris

This outstanding mountain measures in at 893m and is an iconic part of the Snowdonian range with its three peaks being of a nostalgic quality.

One such peak is the Cyfrwy (the saddle), which is claimed to have been the perch for a mighty giant. Whether this is in relation to the tale of King Arthur is unknown. A great tip even in this modern age is not to sleep on the mountain because as legend tells, you may never wake up or become a completely different man.

Rhys and Meinir

A tragedy before Shakespeare’s time, this tale is one that uses the beauty of the Welsh tongue to tell one of its most ugly stories.

Rhys Maredudd and Meinir Maredudd were cousins who had decided to betroth one another after a heady romance. Come the wedding day, Meinir was nowhere to be seen with Rhys having no choice but to set on a quest to find her.

Time passed and with only his faithful dog, Cidwm, in tow, Rhys started to lose himself in the search before coming to rest at an ancient oak tree – a favourite spot of the sad couple. Suffering from madness, Rhys survived a lightning bolt that missed him fractionally which split a gap in the tree. To his horror, a skeletal figure fell from the gap and lay by his side. Still wearing her wedding dress, Rhys discovered aghast that it was his bride to be and was overcome with grief. Succumbing to shock, Rhys died with only his dog by his side that was said to have remained until he too passed away.