Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Category: Welsh Fairies

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Welsh Fairies / Welsh Folktales

Tylwyth Teg of Llyn Cwellyn

In ‘Celtic Folklore Welsh And Manx’ (1901) John Rhys mentioned a story concerning fairies that had been passed to him by two brothers who had in turn heard it from Mari Domos Siôn, who died around 1850. ‘A shepherd had once lost his way in the mist on the mountain on the land of Caeau Gwynion, towards Cwellyn Lake, and got into a ring where the Tylwyth Teg* were dancing: it was only af

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Welsh Fairies / Welsh Folktales

A Visit to Fairyland

The following fairy folk tale takes place around Llyn Cwellyn, a 215 acre, 120 feet deep glacial lake which has now been dammed to create a reservoir. The tale is taken ‘Bedd Gelert: Its Facts, Fairies, and Folk-Lore (1899) by D E Jenkins.

0

Fairies / Folklore / Welsh Fairies

Tylwyth Teg

Tylwyth Teg is a general name for the fairies in Wales, it means the ‘fair folk’. Like the Bendith y Mamau the flattering name was thought to appease them.

2

English Fairies / Fairies / Folklore / Scottish Fairies / Welsh Fairies

Will o’ the Wisp

The Will o’ the Wisp is the most common name given to the mysterious lights that were said to lead travellers from the well-trodden paths into treacherous marshes. The tradition exists with slight variation throughout Britain, the lights often bearing a regional name.

1

English Fairies / Fairies / Folklore / Irish Fairies / Mermaids / Scottish Fairies / Welsh Fairies

Mermaids

Tales of mermaids have been around for centuries, and form a large part of seafaring lore, especially round the coastal areas of Britain such as Cornwall, and the Northern Isles of Scotland. Their sighting was thought to be a bad omen, foretelling storms and rough seas. There are numerous folk tales describing their interaction with humans.

Fairies / Folklore / Welsh Fairies

Llyn Y Fan Fach

Traditionally the lake is thought to have been bottomless, and it has long been associated with fairies.

0

Fairies / Folklore / Welsh Fairies

The Coblynau

The Welsh version of the Cornish Knockers, these mine spirits were relatively good humoured, and helped the miners by knocking in places with rich lodes of mineral, or metal. The Coblynau dressed in miners’ attire, and stood at around 18 inches in height.

0

Fairies / Folklore / Welsh Fairies

The Cwn Annwn

The Cwn Annwn, which means hounds of the otherworld (underworld), are Welsh phantom dogs seen as a death portent. Their growling is louder when they are at a distance, and as they draw near the growling grows softer and softer.

0

Fairies / Folklore / Welsh Fairies

Bendith y Mamau

Bendith Y Mamau means ‘the mothers blessing’ and is a generic name for the fairies, especially in Southern Wales.

In appearance the fairies are described as small and ugly, and are most readily identified with the Brownies, or the West Country Pixies, although they have the characterisations of most fairies.