Maentwrog (Twrog’s Stone)

Lying in the Vale of Ffestiniog, alongside the river Dwyryd, is the village of Maentwrog. There is a legend that a giant called Twrog (who died in the year AD610) hurled a stone from a hill top, down into the village and destroyed a pagan altar. This stone is said to be the one standing in St Twrog’s Church courtyard, and as with many old tales, the depressions in the stone are said to be thumb and finger impressions, thus vouching for truth in the tale. It is also said that if you rub the stone you will be fated to return to the village again.

In Welsh Mythology, Maentwrog is mentioned in the Mabinogion, being the burial place of Pryderi fab Pwyll, and the stone is also said to be the grave marker of this Welsh Prince.

Maentwrog can be found on the A496 between Harlech and Blaenau Ffestiniog, at the junction with the A487 from Porthmadog.