Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Category: King Arthur

Ancient Sites / King Arthur / Legends / Roman

Caerleon Amphitheatre

This is the best example of a Roman amphitheatre in Britain. Until 1926 when serious excavations were undertaken at the site, it was considered to be a circular earthwork and linked to the legend of King Arthur being known as his Round Table.

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Articles / King Arthur / Legends / Merlin

Glastonbury Arthur’s Avalon

Beside the main roads leading into the dreamy Somerset town of Glastonbury, are a series of signboards welcoming all to ‘The Ancient Avalon’, and causing a nationwide controversy. Glastonbury claims to be Avalon, to be the final resting place of King Arthur, and the site to which the Holy Grail was borne to by Joseph of Arimethea.

Ancient Sites / Giants / King Arthur / Legends

Brent Knoll

The hill, which was once and Iron Age hillfort, is associated with an Arthurian Legend, and was the abode of three fearsome giants.

Ancient Sites / Buried Treasure / Dragons / King Arthur / Legends

Cadbury Castle

This large hillfort has a plethora of traditions attached to it, most notably that it is the site of the legendary Camelot, the stronghold of Arthur. There is a distinct possibility that the historical Arthur – probably a sixth century war leader – had his base here, as the Iron Age hillfort was reoccupied and refortified around this time.

Ancient Sites / Early Christianity / King Arthur / Legends

Glastonbury Abbey, Arthur’s Grave

This is a reproduction of the cross said to have been found in Arthur’s grave at Glastonbury Abbey. The actual grave seems to have been a very early burial but the Arthur link is tenuous. The actual cross disappeared many years ago and the only depiction is from a drawing by William Camden in 1607, from which this picture has been redrawn.

Ancient Sites / Chalk Hill Figures / Dragons / Featured Sites / Folklore / King Arthur / Legends

Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill

The White Horse of Uffington is one of the most impressive sites close to the ancient Ridgeway path, which traverses the steep chalk downs brooding over the Vale of the White Horse. Other sites include Dragon Hill, The Manger and Uffington Castle, which have been the subject of legend and folklore for over a thousand years.

Ancient Sites / Earth Works / King Arthur / Legends

Badbury Rings

This concentric ring hillfort dates from the Iron Age, and according to archaeologists was built to stem an invasion from the Northeast of the country.

Apparitions / Hauntings / King Arthur / Legends

Blencathra Mountain (The Saddleback)

This mountain is one of the locations associated with an army of sleeping knights, this time King Arthur and his men, waiting for the call to arms when he is most needed. In old Cumbrian, Blencathra means ‘Devils Peak’

Directions: A footpath leads to the hill from Blencathra Centre.

Ancient Sites / Burial Mounds / Giants / King Arthur / Legends

Eamont Bridge and Arthur’s Round Table

Two prehistoric henge monuments have become known as Arthur’s Round Table, a common theme in folklore were ancient structures become romanticised into legendary sites.  A cave near Eamont Bridge called giants cave is associated with two legendary giants called Tarquin and Isir.