King Arthur’s Wales

WHY IT RATES:  Live out your own King Arthur adventure on an excursion to Wales- Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor

Director Guy Ritchie’s latest film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, hits theaters on May 12 and puts the tales of Arthur, Merlin, and Camelot back in the spotlight. Some believe that the stories of King Arthur originate in Wales; scripts from the Mabinogion, a medieval compilation of Welsh stories that originate from oral history, tell anecdotes about Arthur and Merlin. The film release coincides with the Year of Legends in Wales, a theme celebration throughout 2017 to honor the country’s myths and legends. 

Not only were scenes from the movie filmed in Snowdonia, one of three national parks in Wales, travelers can plan their own Arthurian-themed vacation in the country, walking in the footsteps of the hero while discovering folklore and history that intertwine to tell a story of the nation’s past.

Eight Stops for an Arthurian Adventure in Wales:

1) Mount Snowdon: The highest peak in Wales at 3,560 feet is more than just a place for hikers looking for a thrill; it’s also believed to be the place where King Arthur buried Rhita – a giant who stole the beards of his enemies and attempted (but failed) to add Arthur’s to his collection.

2) Snowdonia: Searching for Excalibur? Arthur’s sword, perhaps his most famous possession, is believed to be held in three separate lakes in Snowdonia – Llydaw, Dinas and Ogwen. These lakes are located within an hour of each other and are set in the foothills of Mount Snowdon.

3) Gower: Legend says that Arthur’s Stone in Cefn Bryn, located on the Gower Peninsula, was at one time the size of a pebble. The small rock was in Arthur’s boot and he threw it all the way from Carmarthenshire to Gower – that’s roughly 30 miles. As the rock traveled through the Welsh countryside it grew in size.

4) Caerleon: Britain’s best preserved Roman amphitheater located in Caerleon, is believed by some to be King Arthur’s round table. 

5) Dinas Emrys: Dinas Emrys, a small hill located in North Wales, is an important part of Arthurian legend and a critical part of Welsh mythology as well. In the 5th-Century, King Vortigern tried to build a castle on the hill, but each night it would fall down. Merlin, the wizard and friend of Arthur, divined the source of the problem: two competing dragons, one red and one white, were fighting beneath the castle. The white dragon is said to symbolize the Saxons, while the red dragon is said to symbolize the Celts – can you guess which dragon won? Hint: look at the Welsh flag.

6) Carmarthen: The village located along the River Towy just eight miles from Carmarthen Bay, claims to be the oldest town in Wales. It’s also believed to be the home of one of the most critical Arthurian characters – Merlin. 

7) Bardsey Island: Located off the Llyn Penninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales, Bardsey Island is a sanctuary for wildlife – grey seals visit its shores, a variety of birds call it home, and dolphins frequent the surrounding waters. Some say the scenic isle is also Avalon, where the sword Excalibur was forged, and home to Arthur’s burial site.

8) Craig y Ddinas, Pontneddfechan: Did King Arthur really die? Legend claims that Arthur and his knights are sleeping in a cave, waiting to rise up and reclaim Britain from the Saxons. While Craig y Ddinas isn’t the only place in Wales that claims to be King Arthur’s temporary burial spot, but its location in Brecon Beacons National Park, near Wales’ waterfall country, makes it unique. 

SOURCE:  A Visit Wales press release.