I always find Beddgelert a strange, soulful place mainly, I suppose, because of the feel of enclosure the surrounding hills provide, its history and mystery and the story of the hound Gelert, as told in a Welsh Folk Tale.
When we arrived the mist was still overhanging the hills and mountains that surround the village.
We walked along the riverside and out towards Gelert's grave. According to legend Gelert was the favourite hound of Prince Llywelyn. The story is that Gelert was left behind when Llywelyn went hunting and when he returned he was greeted by Gelert who's mouth was covered in blood.
When Llywelyn found his baby son missing he assumed that Gelert had eaten him and killed the dog with a sword. Just after that he found his child safe under the crib and a dead wolf by it's side. Gelert had saved the child from the wolf. Llywelyn was filled with remorse and the tale is that he never smiled again. Moral of the tale is presumably don't judge anything until you have all the facts. Act in haste and repent at leisure also fits here.
Hello Gelert.
Statue above of Gelert created by Rowleigh Clay in 2014.
There is another statue of Gelert (or is it the wolf?) which has appeared since our last visit. It's in the back garden of the National Trust cottage Ty Isaf. I can't find out anything more about this at the moment. When we last visited you could look upstairs in the cottage whilst downstairs was a National Trust shop.
It is now a sweet shop.
We always pop into the Woodcraft shop, it's an Aladdin's cave of beautiful things.
I loved the dragon puppet hanging outside.
Refreshment was taken at the little tea shop on the right of the photo, luckily for us it rained whilst we were inside.
Below a few more photos taken around the village.
A lovely morning but time to head to our next destination for lunch at a beautiful garden nearby.
A hauntingly beautiful place with a very sad tale! I think I could gain a lot of inspiration for my art just by being there. The statues are striking to look at. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Simone, I'm sure you would find inspiration in such a mystical and historic place. I like both statues. I love the way Gelert is looking tentatively out towards visitors as they approach him in the first one:)
DeleteI remember our visit from a few years ago and loving my walk by the water. If memory serves there was an amazing ice cream shop just by the car park. B x
ReplyDeleteThank you B, yes the ice cream shop is still there and very popular too especially with ramblers and hikers as they pass through the village:)
DeleteI had forgotten that story, Rosie. It was told by my friend Judi when we did presentations of Celtic tales together. A sad story indeed, but it is good to know the hound is still remembered and honored.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful location! And you're right, an eerieness to it as well.
Thank you Granny Sue, it is a sad story and I think it affects you as a visitor and gives a melancholy air to the place:)
DeleteWhat a wonderful trip. I was sad to read the story of poor Gelert, the new sculpture is really lovely. It is a pity the sweet shop couldn't find a dog rather than a penguin! Ha! 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you CK, yes, the penguin outside the sweet shop was a bit odd, a dog would have been far better especially if it were wood or stone rather than plastic:)
DeleteLovely photos Rosie - I have always found that legend of Gelert so moving! I seem to remember there is an icecream shop there that sells the most delicious homemade icecream! Love the dragon puppet and look forward to hearing about the garden you visited next.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline, yes the ice cream shop was still there, if it had been afternoon when we visited I'm sure we would have indulged but at 11ish we just wanted a coffee. I thought you would like the dragon puppet. Garden next post and then the beach:)
DeleteAnother lovely post Rosie and glad you've shared. Enjoyed the legend story and are they owls on that bench outside the woodwork shop? Take care & hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. The legend is sad, poor Gelert. Yes, they are owls on the bench, there is some fabulous wood carving both inside and outside the shop. Take care:)
DeleteSuch a beautiful and green landscape. The village looks charming. How sad the legend is, and the sculpture is a lovely way of remembering the brave dog.
ReplyDeleteThat you Lorrie, it is very lush and green especially as you walk by the river and up to Gelert's statue. It is a very small village that gets crowded as the steam train runs though it and it is popular with walkers:)
DeleteA lovely blog post! It looks to be a beautiful visit and I love the statues. 😁
ReplyDeleteThank you Sal, the statues are wonderful aren't they?:)
DeleteThank you for reminding me of the legend of Gilert, Rosie. Beddgelert looks a beautiful place to visit with all that wonderful scenery. I wonder why the shop chose to put a penguin outside. It seems a little out of place doesn't it! I wouldn't mind a wonder around the Woodcraft shop though.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beverley, it is a sad legend, poor Gelert. Yes, the penguin did jarr a bit, it would have looked fine at the seaside. The shop is wonderful, I have one or two little things bought from there on previous visits:)
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