Once there was a traveler in Wales who grew weary and decided to rest for a while near a waterfall. Amazingly, from out of the water there emerged a beautiful white horse. It snorted and tossed its mane for a moment, but it stood calm and still as the travel approached the animal.
Overcome by temptation, the traveler climbed onto the horse’s back, and away they rode.
At first the ride was enjoyable, but as they began passing objects faster and faster, the traveler looked down and saw that the horse’s hooves were no longer touching the ground, but they were flying through the air.
The traveler panicked, and as he did so, the horse vanished, and the rider fell crashing to the ground. Although he was not seriously injured, he was astonished when he discovered he was miles away from the waterfall where he had first seen the ghostly horse.
“Ceffyl Dwr” is Welsh for Water Horse, and there are several different variations of this ancient legend. Sometimes it’s a shape-shifter, capable of taking the form of a beautiful woman who lures victims to their deaths. Sometimes it has wings, and other times it has the tail of a mermaid. Although they are said to inhabit the seashore and mountain pools, their favorite haunts are waterfalls.
Wales is a land that is rich with legends, but one of the richest areas is the Gower Peninsula in the Welsh Southwest. In 1956 it was honored as the first part of the United Kingdom to be declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Ancient sites on the Peninsula include standing stones, holy wells, ritual cairns and megalithic burial tombs. Just as colorful is its rich tapestry of folklore, ghost stories and faery tales. And few people know as much about the history and folklore of Wales as Laurence Main.
Laurence, a Druid, is the author of several books, including Walks in Mysterious Wales, The Spirit Paths of Wales and In the Footsteps of King Arthur. Laurence will be a Special Guest on an up-coming tour of Wales now available from Body Mind Spirit Journeys. If you join this small group, you will be able to ask him if he’s ever seen the ghostly Water Horse.
“Mysterious Wales, Land of Merlin, a Mystical Tour in the Realm of Dragons, Druids and Saints” will be held August 14 – 23, 2021. Some of the highlights are:
- Snowdonia and the Fairy Glen at Betws y Coed
- Druid ceremony at the Moel ty Uchaf stone circle
- Beddgelert and Dinas Emrys with its legends of Merlin, dragons and hidden treasure
- Stone circles and dolmens – Mitchell’s Fold, Pentre Ifan, Arthur’s Stone, Trelleck stones
- Bryn Celli Ddu and Beaumaris Castle on the Druid Isle of Anglesey
- St David’s Cathedral
- Gower Peninsula and Carmarthen, the city of Merlin
- Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley
- Plus personal Tarot card readings for each tour member
Get complete details of Body Mind Spirit Journeys’ August, 2021 Wales tour at THIS LINK.
Horse image credit:
https://www.deviantart.com/