Beddgelert

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The River Glaslyn at Beddgelert

Beddgelert is a village in Gwynedd, Wales, lying in Snowdonia. It is rumoured to be named after the legendary hound Gelert. The name is Welsh for "Gelert's grave".

The so-called grave is now a tourist attraction, but there is no truth in the Gelert legend, which was fostered by a local innkeeper during the 19th century. The village is probably named after an early Christian saint.

The village is a significant tourist attraction, its picturesque bridge crossing the river Colwyn just upstream of its confluence with the river Glaslyn. It is also the nearest village to the scenic Glaslyn gorge, an area of tumultuous river running between steep wooded hills. Much of the area is however becoming invaded by the alien plant, Rhododendron ponticum which provides a covering of pink blossom in May and June, but which is slowly blanketing out the native flora. To this end attempts have been made to control its spread by cutting and burning.

Beddgelert has a range of hotels and guesthouse, cafes, restaurants and pubs. The car-park in the village provides the easiest access route for climbing Moel Hebog, the mountain which directly overlooks the village. Other local attractions include the Sygun Copper Mine. The Welsh Highland Railway is currently rebuilding its former railway line into Beddgelert, and the village will gain its own railway station once more.

[edit] The Myth

Llywelyn is very fond of hunting and in the summer he lives in a hunting lodge at the foot of Snowdon. Although he has many dogs, his favourite is Gelert, because not only is he fearless in the hunt he's also a loyal friend and companion at home. One day Llewelyn and his wife go out hunting, leaving their baby son with a nurse and a servant to look after him. The nurse and the servant go for a walk in the mountains leaving the baby alone and unprotected.

Llewelyn is absorbed in his hunting, but after a while he notices that Gelert isn't with the pack. The Prince knows something is wrong as Gelert is always at the front of the pack. He reasons that the only place Gelert would go is back to the lodge, so he calls off the hunt and heads back home.

As the party is dismounting, Gelert comes running out of the lodge towards his master, covered in blood and wagging his tail. The Princess, calling her child's name, faints. Llewelyn rushes into the baby's room to find the cradle overturned, the bloodstained bedclothes thrown all over the floor - and no sign of his son.

Filled with anger and grief he draws his sword and runs Gelert through. As the dog dies, he whimpers and his cries are answered by the sound of a baby crying from behind the overturned cradle. When Llewelyn pulls aside the cradle he finds his son unharmed and the bloody body of a huge wolf next to him. Gelert had in fact killed the wolf as it tried to attack Llewelyn's son.

Filled with remorse, Llewelyn buries Gelert in a meadow nearby and marks his grave with a cairn of stones. The village of Beddgelert (Gelert's grave) owes its name to this site.