Reading time: 5 minutes
The historic county of Ceredigion, on the west coast of Wales, is a spooky destination for those intrigued by the mystical and the supernatural, writes RICK HALE.
The county of Ceredigion lies along the far west coast of Wales, bordering the Irish Sea.
For centuries, Ceredigion experienced much sorrow and bloodshed. When the Western Roman Empire fell and its legions withdrew from the region, the region was subjected to numerous raids and invasion attempts by the Irish.
Fortunately, the invasions were repelled by the forces of Cunedda, an early Welsh warrior and leader.
In the intervening centuries, a succession of conquerors and kings attempted to take over Ceredigion, but the people remained strong and retained their unique culture.
Today that culture is central to Ceredigion as it is a place where Welsh history is celebrated.
And with that come dark tales of grim ghosts, terrifying specters, and even dealings with the devil himself.
Vest castle
Of all the areas of Great Britain, Wales has the most castles per square mile than any other place in Britain. And the legendary Cardigan Castle on the River Teifi in Cardigan is undoubtedly the most haunted.
Cardigan Castle was built a thousand years ago in the 11th century. Cardigan Castle was owned by the Cadwgn family, but was seized by Henry I as punishment.
From that moment on, the castle had different owners and was even a prison for a while. As well as its use by Welsh soldiers during the Second World War.
But time was not kind to Cardigan Castle and in 1984 it was declared unfit for human habitation. A sad end to one of Wales’ most beautiful castles.
Ultimately, the castle was renovated to its former glory in the early years of the 21st century and has become an important part of Cardigan culture. And that goes for his ghosts too.
Following the castle’s extensive renovations and opening to the public, it has become quite clear that Cardigan Castle is very haunted.
The current house known as Castle Green House seems to be a magnet for paranormal activity as most ghostly happenings take place there.
Employees have reported the sound of footsteps in the hallways, as well as the eerie feeling of being watched when they are alone in a room.
In rooms where no living person is present, full conversations can be heard.
And apparitions with a full body are regularly seen in rooms. Includes the figure of a stern-looking woman in black who disappears when spoken to.
Cheating old scratch
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “The devil always gets his due.” But that is not always the case. Sometimes he is deceived by the mere mortals he torments. Here are two from Ceredigion.
The Devil’s Bridge
Stretching across the dangerously deep Mynach Gorge is an old stone bridge that has quite a story to tell.
Long ago, an elderly woman urgently wanted to take her cow to the other side of the gorge, but she couldn’t because there was no way out.
Suddenly the devil himself appeared, in all his hellish majesty, and offered to build her a bridge. But there was a catch.
He would only build the bridge if he could claim the soul of the first person to cross it.
When she agreed, the devil was overjoyed, for he would surely take the older woman’s soul to the fiery abyss of hell as soon as she crossed over. But the old lady was smart and knew the game he was playing.
When the bridge was finished, the old woman took a piece of bread from her apron and threw it over the bridge. Her dog happily ran across and gobbled up the bread.
When the Prince of Lies realized he was defeated, he disappeared in a flame.
As for the old lady, she and her cow crossed the bridge and lived happily ever after.
The graveyard game
Dafydd Llwyd was a man who craved power and would do anything to get it. Even sell his soul.
Dafydd summoned the devil and said he could gain his soul for power if he was buried inside or outside the cemetery.
The devil was, of course, more than happy to oblige. But when he wasn’t looking, Dafydd outsmarted him by having his body buried half in the cemetery and half outside.
A clever way to keep his soul and still be the most powerful man in his city.
Spirits of the Cambrian Mountains
Wales is a country known for its remarkable beauty and majestic mountains with peaks that disappear into the clouds.
One of those beloved mountain ranges, the Cambrian Mountains, is said to be home to a number of ghosts that haunt its slopes and steep ridges.
The ghost kite
Motorists on the A44 driving along the Pumlumon Cwmbiga escarpment claimed to come face to face with the ghost of a kite.
As they drove along, people claimed to have seen a silent World War II bomber flying overhead. A bomber that mysteriously disappears from view.
Years ago, a bomber crashed in the area, killing everyone on board instantly.
Near the crash site, the image of a bloodied airman in a torn and burned uniform appears on the side of the road. Forever mourning the loss of his life. And the lives of his crew.
The Knockers of Ceredigion
The ghosts of the silver mine of the Cambrian Mountains join the phantom flyer.
The mine is no longer in use, but the spirits of the miners who died in the darkened underground realms are still heard, pleading to be saved.
The monks of Nanteos Mansion
Nanteos Mansion near Aberystwyth is one of those beautiful country houses that mark the landscape of Great Britain. And like many of its counterparts, it has a legendary ghost story.
In the Middle Ages, a brave group of monks managed to find the cup of Christ, the legendary Holy Grail.
The monks brought the holy relic back to their abbey. Long after their deaths, the monks are still seen, guarding their find until the day Christ returns and claims the chalice.
Funeral candles and ghost funerals
Will o’ the wisps have long been part of British folklore and Ceredigion has its own folklore.
In the marshes around Ceredigion, residents have reported a very unusual sight.
After the sun sinks below the horizon, small points of light appear and dance around the marshes as if guided by an intelligent force.
It is believed that these funeral candles, as they have been called for centuries, are the souls of those who died in the area. And they are not the only ones.
A large pale light floats across the ground and if you get too close it is said you will recognize the ghost before it disappears.
And to end this tour of the ghosts and legends of Ceredigion, we take a look at the Toili.
The Toili is a ghostly funeral procession that winds its way through the more remote streets of Ceredigion.
Legend has it that if you are unlucky enough to witness this dark and gloomy event, it will predict your own death and burial.
Ceredigion, like the rest of Wales, is a place full of ancient legends, magic and spooky stories.
If you ever find yourself in this ancient land, you would be wise to explore this timeless region. And it’s a lot of legends.
Did we miss your favorite Ceredigion legend or ghost? Tell us about it in the comments below!
