Guides & Routes

The Welsh Library

Discover Wales through its mountains, legends, wildlife and history, alongside hiking routes with downloadable GPX files to help you explore it for yourself.

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The Welsh Legends

Wales is a land of dragons, giants, enchanted lakes and kingdoms said to lie beneath the sea. Explore the myths and legends woven into its mountains, valleys and coastlines, and discover the real places behind some of the country's most enduring stories.

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Guide

The Tylwyth Teg Midwife: When Fairies Needed Human Help and Paid in Ointment You Shouldn't Touch

A mortal midwife was summoned to deliver a fairy baby, then given ointment to rub on the child's eyes. When she touched her own eye with it and could suddenly see invisible fairy folk everywhere, they blinded that eye so she'd stop noticing them at market.

18 Sept 2026Read

Guide

Ysgyryd Fawr and the Crucifixion Split: When a Welsh Mountain Cracked at Golgotha

The Skirrid's distinctive landslide scar is said to have opened at the exact moment Christ died on the cross, two thousand miles away. The split rock became a pilgrimage site, and fragments were supposedly kept as charms against drowning.

12 Sept 2026Read

Guide

Moelfre's Stone Women and the Sabbath Punishment: When Three Women Turned to Rock for Working Sunday

Three women who winnowed corn on Sunday were said to have been turned to stone as divine punishment. An early account says the stones were later uprooted and rolled down the hill; this is Moelfre near Dwygyfylchi, not the separate hill near Barmouth.

03 Aug 2026Read

Guide

Pumlumon Fawr and the Sleeping Giant: The Legend Beneath Wales's Five Peaks

An unnamed giant is said to sleep inside Pumlumon. The mountain's name means “five peaks”, but the surviving folklore does not identify the summits as body parts or say the giant will wake to defend Wales.

03 Aug 2026Read

Guide

Yr Wyddfa and the Giant's Beard Cloak: When Arthur Killed Rhita Gawr for Wearing Kings

The giant Rhita Gawr took the beards of defeated kings for a cloak and demanded Arthur's. Geoffrey of Monmouth places their duel on Mount Aravius; later Welsh tradition links the fight and Rhita's grave to Yr Wyddfa.

03 Aug 2026Read

Guide

Cadair Idris and the Giant's Chair: When Sleeping on the Summit Meant Waking Up Mad or a Poet

Legend says anyone who spends the night on Cadair Idris will wake either mad or blessed with poetic genius. The mountain is linked to the giant Idris, while another explanation connects its name with the 7th-century prince Idris ap Gwyddno.

03 Aug 2026Read

Hiking Routes in Wales

Our hiking route guides for Wales, with practical route details and a downloadable GPX file for each walk.

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The Welsh Legends

The Tylwyth Teg Midwife: When Fairies Needed Human Help and Paid in Ointment You Shouldn't Touch

Ysgyryd Fawr and the Crucifixion Split: When a Welsh Mountain Cracked at Golgotha

Moelfre's Stone Women and the Sabbath Punishment: When Three Women Turned to Rock for Working Sunday

Pumlumon Fawr and the Sleeping Giant: The Legend Beneath Wales's Five Peaks

Yr Wyddfa and the Giant's Beard Cloak: When Arthur Killed Rhita Gawr for Wearing Kings

Cadair Idris and the Giant's Chair: When Sleeping on the Summit Meant Waking Up Mad or a Poet

Hiking Routes in Wales

Cambrian Way: Cardiff to Conwy

Cadair Berwyn via Pistyll Rhaeadr: Route Guide

Pumlumon Fawr via Eisteddfa Gurig

Snowdonia Slate Trail: Porth Penrhyn to Bethesda

Moel Famau via Bwlch Penbarras

Moel Siabod via Pont Cyfyng and Daear Ddu

Arenig Fawr via Llyn Arenig Fawr

Aran Fawddwy via Cwm Cywarch

Sugar Loaf via Mynydd Llanwenarth

Glyder Fawr via Devil's Kitchen: Eryri Route Guide

Moel Hebog via Beddgelert

Pen y Fan via Pont ar Daf and Corn Du

Rhinog Fawr via the Roman Steps

Cadair Idris via the Minffordd Path

Y Garn via Llyn Idwal and Devil’s Kitchen

Tryfan North Ridge Out-and-Back from the A5

Yr Wyddfa via the Llanberis Path

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