History | Foreverinthehills

History, Myths and Legend

King Arthur's cave

It is uncertain exactly how the cave got its name. A skeleton of a "giant human" was supposedly discovered in the cave around 1700, but was lost when a local surgeon named Mr. Pye took the skeleton to sea on a voyage to Jamaica and his ship sank.[4] The cave is shrouded in local superstition and is believed to have had a part in the early legend of King Vortigern, a native British king who fought against the invading Anglo Saxons.
There is evidence that the cave was occupied by man during the Upper Palaeolithic era, and flint tools and woolly mammoth bones have been unearthed within and around the caves
King Arthur's Cave is a limestone cave at the foot of a low cliff at the north-western end of Lord's Wood in The Doward.

The Virtuous Well

Famed for its healing properties, pilgrims visited Virtuous Well until the 17th century. Traditionally one of nine wells stemming from four iron-rich springs, each well cured a different ailment. Pebbles were placed in the water, and the number of bubbles which rose indicated whether a cure would be granted. Locals tell of a farmer who shut the wells but reinstated them quickly after threats from a “strange little old man". Fairies are said to dance at the well on Midsummer eve, drinking water from the flowers found scattered every Midsummer morning

Porth Yr Ogof

Porth Yr Ogof (translated as the gateway to the cave) boasts the largest entrance of any cave in Wales at over 17 m wide and almost 5 m tall. Porth Yr Ogof was once operated as a showcave, but is now managed by the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority
The cave has 15 different entrances leading to over a mile of accessible underground passageways
The main cave is accessed via a limestone walkway on the east side of the main entrance which leads into the large day lit entrance chamber. The large passage in the right hand wall of the main chamber leads to the Right Hand Series.

Radnor Forest

According to local legend Radnor Forest is home to the last dragon in Wales who sleeps undisturbed in the forest. A ring of churches built around the forest, each dedicated to St Michael, the angel who defeated the dragon, are said to contain the sleeping dragon. Churches located at Llanfihangel Rhydithon (Dolau), Llanfihangel Nant Melan, Llanfihangel Cefnllys and Llanfihangel Cascob form the ring. Local folklore suggests that should any of the four churches be destroyed the dragon would be woken.

The cave of Owain Glyndŵr

Legend has it that Owain Glyndŵr, one of Wales’ most well-known princes, once hid from his enemies in a cave on the slopes of Moel yr Ogof. ‘
According to the story, Glyndŵr was being pursued by English soldiers and climbed up a 300-foot rock crevice on Moel Hebog. The soldiers refused to climb the crevice after Glyndŵr, returning to nearby Beddgelert instead. Glyndŵr came across a cave where he hid until the soldiers returned to England.
The cave you see today has been known as Ogof Owain Glyndŵr ever since.

The Alt Mark

Built for the Admiralty in 1945 and was sold out of service in 1959. The ALTMARK was on a short trip from Briton Ferry to Barry, with only one man, the skipper, on board on the 12th July 1961. The engine failed and there was no crew to assist. The vessel drifted and was driven onto the sands by southwesterly winds.The wreck lies well up the beach, with its bow around 50m from the foot of the pebble bank. The stern post lies to seaward reflecting the manner in which the vessel was driven ashore. It is heeled over towards its port side. The wreck alternates between being well-buried and very exposed, depending on the sand-levels prevailing on the beach.

Nannau Mansion

The Georgian house, completed in 1796 at Llanfachreth, has lain empty for about 20 years.
Nannau Hall will always have an important place in the history and culture of Wales – and not just because a predecessor building was destroyed by Owain Glyndŵr. The place also is replete with legend, folklore and superstition. Ghosts are said to stalk its grounds and an old oak tree, called Derwen Ceubren yr Ellyll (The Hollow Oak of the Demon), is reputed to have hosted medieval witch trials.Over almost eight centuries, the estate’s house was rebuilt on five occasions: around 1645 one version was burnt to the ground during the English Civil War. Despite the family’s flirtation with the English, they were proud of their Welsh roots, becoming patrons of many of the country’s most famous poets. However Time is running out for Snowdonia mansion where Owain Glyndŵr entombed rival in the 'Oak of the Demon'.

Vampire Jet VZ106,

Located on the western flank of Fan Hir ridge in the western Brecon Beacons (Bynnau Bycheiniog), is the wreckage of a Vampire jet which crashed into the mountainside in 1953. Much of the wreckage still remains and can be visited during a walk in the Black Mountain range.
On the 9th October 1953, Officer J.R.B Baldock was on a training flight in Vampire Jet VZ106, above the Black Mountain range. Deceived by low-lying clouds, the pilot flew out from the cloud and crashed into the mountainside. Officer Baldock was killed on impact. Search parties hunted for a week before finding the pilot and aircraft remains.

Dinorwic Quarry

At its height at the start of the 20th century, it was the second largest slate quarry in Wales (and thus, the world), after the neighbouring Penrhyn quarry near Bethesda. Dinorwic covered 700 acres consisting of two main quarry sections with 20 galleries in each. Extensive internal tramway systems connected the quarries using inclines to transport slate between galleries. Since its closure in 1969, the quarry has become the site of the National Slate Museum, a regular film location, and an extreme rock climbing destination.

King Arthur Stone

Legend has it that while travelling in Carmarthenshire, King Arthur removed a stone from his shoe and threw it across the Loughor Estuary. By the time it reached its final resting point at Cefn Bryn the stone had become an enormous boulder.
A visit to the stone will not only allow you to see this incredible Welsh legend from close quarters you will also find yourself at the site of a Neolithic tomb dating back to 2500 B.C.

Memorial Stone

The dog stone memorial of Mynydd Farteg Fawr.
Inscribed on the stone
"In memory of Carlo"
A celebrated setter the property of HM Kennard Esq, Crumlin Hall
Accidentally shot August 12th 1864"
Carlo the dog was accidently killed during a shooting party organised by the Blaenavon Company on the 'Glorious Twelfth' of 1864.
Kennedy ordered that the dog be buried where he was shot and then arranged for the memorial to be cast, presumably in the Blaenavon Ironworks, and erected over the grave.

Wellington bomber MF509

The Tragic story of the vickers wellington bomber MF509 began on the night of November 20th 1944 from operational training unit, Wellesbourne, Mountford. The aircraft set out on a nighttime cross-country training exercise but developed trouble with their engine. The engine forced them into clouds which resulted in heavy ice forming on the wings. The impaired engine wasn't able to generate enough power to maintain height and the aircraft crashed into the southwest slopes of Carreg Goch. All six Canadian crew were killed.

Chartist Cave

Tylles Fawr
The Great Hole, or Tylles Fawr, was the initial name given to the Chartist Cave. The Chartist Rebels utilised the cave in 1839 to stash weapons like pikes in preparation for their November 1839 attack on and seizure of Newport. It has been referred to as The Chartist Cave or Chartists' Cave ever since. The SVCC discovered a descending path that led to a lower level room with a variety of passages branching off it in 1969 while excavating the cave's floor.

Llanbedr Ar Y Mynydd

King Arthur's resting place
Formally know as ST peters church where some say to be the final resting place of King Arthur. A sword once found after an excavation in the early 80 by the Blackett and Willison brothers led to a further excavation in the early 90's but no remains were found that would belong to king Arthur. And although he was never found etched in the sword in latin was the words "Artorius Rex Filius Mauricii"or the soul of artious which would indicate that the site is indeed associated with a man named Arthur, and the king of Gwent & Glywysing would seem the most likely candidate.

Llanthony Priory

If there’s a better religious site ‘truly suited to the monastic life… in a wilderness far removed from the bustle of mankind’ we’d like to know. Those were the words of Giraldus Cambrensis, Gerald of Wales, the 12th-century traveller and chronicler Although now a 900-year-old ruin, it’s easy to see from these extensive remains that Llanthony was one of Wales’s great medieval buildings.

The Maid of Cefn Ydfa

Ann Maddocks a Welsh maid also known by the poetic name, 'The Maid of Cefn Ydfa', according to tradition was forced to marry against her wishes and died pining for her true love Will Hopkin.
The legend states that Ann had fallen in love not with the wealthy Maddocks, but with the poet and thatcher, Wil Hopcyn and when discovered were forbidden to see each other. The couple continued their relationship by sending love letters to each other in secret, but when these communications were uncovered, Ann's mother took away her writing materials. Unable to be together, Hopcyn left the area, and Ann married Anthony Maddocks. Ann is said to have pined so desperately for her lover that she fell seriously ill. On her death bed she asked to see Hopcyn, and when he arrived she died in his arms.
The Memorial to the Maid of Cefn Ydfa

Can be found at St Cynwyd's Church llangynwyd.

Where both were burried
"Now at rest together forever"

The shallow pool of Pwll Gwy-rhoc

Legend has it that back in the Dark Ages, a bloody battle was fought on the mountain between two of the five great tribes of Wales, and the lake is supposed to be located in the same place as the centre of the battle. According to the legend, the ground became so trampled and poisoned with blood and gore that the vegetation never recovered, and the area slowly sank into the bog and became a lake.

Pwll Y Wrach - Witches Pool

Locals believed that the pool was used for ducking those who were accused of being witches in between the 15th and 16th century.
To test whether or not someone was a witch, they would be thrown into the pool. If they sink and drown, it would confirm they weren’t a witch. If they float, that means they were, they were then hauled out and burnt to death.
Reality is if you was taken to the pool witch or not you was never coming back.

Legend of the Sini

Mynydd Meio
Said to be haunted by Sini, whose legend stretches back 4,000 years. She is a banshee and the protector of portals to other dimensions. She may take on three different personas: an elderly person pleading for assistance; a stunning young woman encouraging guys to join her for immoral pleasures; or a young, pitiful person lost and alone. She reportedly targets only individuals of mixed blood, or men who have demon ancestry. She is said to be frequently found washing the skulls of the men she has enticed to their deaths at one of the fords.