The Snowdonia beauty spot 'haunted' by phantom horseman and slain dog

Nestled within the Snowdonia National Park the Aberglaslyn Pass is a spectacular beauty spot.

But the narrow gorge, near Beddgelert, is said to assume a different character at night with a phantom horseman, a figure of fire and a huge dog said to roam the area.

If legend is to be believed Beddgelert is named after the legendary hound Gelert who is said to have belonged to Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd.

Tales tell that Llywelyn returned from hunting to find his baby’s cradle overturned and Gelert with blood around its mouth.

Llywelyn killed the dog with his sword thinking he savaged his child, but then hears the cries of his son unharmed under the cradle along with a dead wolf killed by Gelert.

It is thought that Gelert, a huge black dog, now roams Aberglaslyn Pass with passers-by reporting hearing his dying yelps echoing through the night air.

Phantom figures of a horseman and a carriage have also been sighted in the area as well as a frightening woman dressed in white.

According to Alvin Nicholas, author of Supernatural Wales, the white lady should be avoided at all costs as she is a “harbinger of misfortune and death”.

Many have speculated over her identity with some believing she died in an accident and appears to warn people of impending danger, while others say she was an unfortunate maiden who was drowned at the spot by her lover.

Some even claim that the spectre is a woman who lived at the old manor house of Plas Gwynant and she saw something so horrific she died of fright.

Other strange phenomenon spotted are a phantom horseman and a “figure of fire”.

A phantom carriage and horses has also been reported in the area which is said to resemble one which brought a fatally ill man to the Bettws Hotel.

Another famous tale concerns Pont Aberglaslyn (Aberglaslyn bridge) which some believe was built by the devil himself.

Folklore states that the devil waited underneath the bridge ready to claim the first soul who crossed it.

But, the story tells that the devil was tricked by a Welsh sorcerer who sent a dog across before himself.

However, perhaps not all of the unearthly beings are quite so scary.

Strangely, there have been reports of “little people” or “fairies” being observed playing in the water.

Few paranormal investigations have taken place at Aberglaslyn Pass so we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the area really is haunted or if the stories have been created to scare nightbound travellers.

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