What do you do when the ghosts of policemen start patrolling the streets? That was the problem facing a Welsh town in the Swinging Sixties when late at night the local bobbies were seemingly back on the beat from beyond the grave. What was happening in Neath that fateful night? Find out more on this "real life" ghost story... Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as, following a series of strange coincidences, he goes in search of the Ghost Police on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast....
Aug 05, 2021•26 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast What supernatural creatures were scaring the miners of Wales deep underground? For centuries, those working hard in the dark have reported strange sights and sounds lurking in the mines. From the deadly stare of the basilisk to evil spirits and fire demons, this was not a place for the faint of heart. And yet the coblynau - the mine fairies of Wales - were said to be helpful souls who could lead the colliers to treasure buried deep in the caves. From friendly to deadly, were these creatures mere...
Jul 29, 2021•31 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Why is a disembodied hand haunting a secluded mansion on the wind-swept coast of Wales? Staff working at the house have long reported seeing the severed hand in one of the bedrooms, as well as other spirits besides, but what does it all mean - and does it have anything to do with the smugglers caves nearby? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) for a paranormal investigation as he goes in search of the supernatural secrets on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts and F...
Jul 22, 2021•21 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Multiple reports of paranormal activity in a Welsh parish lead to the residents calling in the ghost hunters and exorcists. From a spectral nun to an oyster-eating monk, the activity - including bangs in the dead of night and a ghost circling the bed - continue to mount, and lead to some "gruesome" and "macabre" discoveries. But what does it all have to do with the skeletons discovered in a nearby wall? And how does Saint Nicholas - jolly Saint Nick - fit in with it all? For some of the answers ...
Jul 15, 2021•25 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Can you really solve a mystery by digging up skulls in a graveyard? That seemed to be the case when notorious Welsh wizard Robin Ddu (Black Robin) was hired to solve a riddle using his psychic powers. But appearances and reputations can be deceiving, and not all is as it seems with this master of witchcraft. To find out all the secrets, join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he goes in search of the gothic truth of this macabre master of magic on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. W...
Jul 08, 2021•23 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Do werewolves really roam the wilds of Wales? That certainly seemed to be the case for one Oxford professor who encountered a strange creature while on a fishing trip in the Welsh mountains. Far from an idyllic holiday, it soon began to resemble a horror film when a dog-like creature with hellish red eyes laid siege to the cottage one night. The professor, however, did discovered a way to send the wolf packing with its tail between its legs... or did he? For all the details, join author Mark Ree...
Jul 01, 2021•25 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast Can a witch really curse somebody who refuses to assist them? That certainly seems to be the case in this old Welsh folk tale in which Bethan Jones - the accused witch - is blamed with striking down a woman. But is it really evil witchcraft, or is it all in the victim's mind? And if it a real curse, how can it be broken? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) who goes in search of clues on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcas...
Jun 24, 2021•25 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Can a ghost really carry a person across the world in the blink of an eye? That seemed to be the case in Wales in the 18th century when a man was seemingly whisked away across the Atlantic from his home in Ystradgynlais to a secret location in the USA. In this "real life" ghost story, the American apparition - a "well-dressed" woman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - tasked him with completing a task for her is he wished to return home once more. What does it all mean? Join author Mark Rees ( Gho...
Jun 17, 2021•23 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Water has many uses in Welsh folklore, from repelling evil to bringing good luck. Some of these traditions are practical, such as not spilling this most valuable of commodities, while others are more gothic in nature, and concern vampires, spirits, and witches. Do any of these old customs still work today? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he goes in search of the watery secrets on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcas...
Jun 10, 2021•23 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast If there's something strange in the graveyard, who ya gonna call? In the Victorian age, two tales of paranormal activity in the grounds of churches spooked the locals in the north of Wales. In Wrexham cemetery, the police paid a visit to try and solve the mystery of floating flaming heads. Just outside the town, there was an eerie white mist spooking the unsuspected. But are these tales paranormal fact, or paranormal fiction? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he goes in search of the ...
Jun 03, 2021•22 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Does elf fire - so-called fairy lights - really lure weary travellers to their doom at night? For centuries, strange glowing lights have been reported in the wilds of Wales and around the world. Sharing similarities with fellow elf-like creatures, from the English Will-o’-wisp to the Breton sprite, they are blamed for leading people off the beaten track and into dangerous marshy lands where they might come to a sticky end. They also have a connection with one of William Shakespeare's more famous...
May 27, 2021•24 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Is there really a haunted artefact in London's British Museum? And what connection does it have with an ancient Welsh burial site? The so-called "Golden Ghost" has been sighted in Mold, Flintshire for centuries. But where did it come from, and what does it want? Believed to be a soldier wearing golden armour, some say it haunts the area after road-building works disturbed its remains. Others say it has been luring people off the beaten track for centuries. Maybe they are all right? On this episo...
May 20, 2021•23 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: don't disturb the fairy folk as they party by night! The fairy folk of Wales (y tylwyth teg) don't take kindly to being interrupted by nosy humans. In these cautionary tales, find out exactly how they react when curious people get a little too close to their merrymaking for comfort. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he celebrates 50 episodes of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with a party with the fairy folk, and explores some of the pranks they play on unsuspecting ...
May 13, 2021•28 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Can church bells really protect your soul from evil spirits, fairies, trolls, plague, and the Devil himself? Bells have long been a familiar sight and sound at funerals. From the passing bell at the head of the procession to the church bells reverberating throughout the graveyard, we've come to expect their incessant ringing on such sombre occasions. But far from just being a means of breaking the silence at such sad times, there are also countless superstitions attached to these age-old traditi...
May 06, 2021•24 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Not all strange glowing balls are corpse candles or death omens - some are the wandering souls of those with scores to settle. Can a soul really leave the body to complete a task, and then return to the body afterwards when finished? In these four eerie accounts from Wales and the border with England, strange lights are said to enter homes, attract the attention of ghostly characters, and even fight other lights under the shadow of darkness. What does it all mean? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts ...
Apr 29, 2021•27 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Warning: don't mess with fairy women, and don't mess with fairy cows! In this cautionary Welsh folk tale, a greedy farmer finds out the hard way that you shouldn't look a gift horse - or, in this case, a gift cow - in the mouth. When the dark waters of Llyn Barfog provide him with a cash cow he can't believe his luck. But when madness takes over, and darkness descends... To discover all the secrets, join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores this fascinating old folk-horror fairy t...
Apr 22, 2021•24 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Why does the apparition of a woman return to haunt a love-sick traveller? In this "real-life" ghost story from 18th century Wales, a man's ill-fated visit to his sweetheart' ends with a "terrifying" encounter with the so-called Hanged Lady. But this was not an isolated incident - why did she return again and again to haunt him? And how can he end his ordeal? One person who attempted to solve the riddle was a man of the cloth, but far from solving the case the mystery only deepened when the churc...
Apr 15, 2021•25 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast From nautical corpse candles to swashbuckling Devils, explore the folklore of the high seas on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast. In times gone by, the brave seafaring men who set sail from Wales needed all the help they could get for a trouble-free voyage. What would the weather be like? Would it be calm sailing? And were there any evil entities in the waves looking to cause them mischief? In the folklore-packed episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast , author Mark Rees ( Gho...
Apr 08, 2021•31 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Who is the mysterious Lady in Grey haunting Victorian Cardiff? In October 1893, strange events were reported in the village of Tongwynlais. The country house owned of Mr and Mrs Lewis was said to be haunted by many a ghost, including the so-called Lady in Grey who was heard, felt, and even seen - a full body apparition. Its activity included wrapping her arm around an unsuspecting victim, stomping around in her high-heeled shoes, and there were even accounts of clairvoyance in the home. Luckily,...
Apr 01, 2021•31 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast The Secret Origins of the Ellyllon, Wales' mischievous fairy folk If you think all elves are tall and noble like in a J.R.R. Tolkien Middle Earth book or a Games Workshop Warhammer game, think again! The ellyllon - Welsh fairy folk - are small and goblin-like, dwelling in misty and sleepy hollows where they can help you make your fortune, or take it away again at the drop of a hat. But how can you tell them apart from the other fairies, y twylwyth teg? For all the secrets join journalist and aut...
Mar 25, 2021•25 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Mystery of the Ghost Ship and Phantom Funeral The town of Milford Haven is well-known for its harbour. What might be less well-known are the eerie ghost ships which are said to dock there at night. Oh, and there's also been sightings of a phantom funeral nearby. Is there a connection between these two real-life ghost stories? To find out more, journalist and author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) explores the spooky history of the town, which is also known as a favoured spot of the tylwyth teg, th...
Mar 18, 2021•21 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Beware the Devil Goats: A cautionary folk horror fairy tale They might look friendly enough, but you should never mess with a goat. We've all heard tales of how they might - just might - be in league with the Devil or some other diabolical characters, and it pays to keep on their good side. As this cautionary folk horror fairy tale reveals, a Welsh farmer who acted rashly pays a heavy price for his actions, which culminates in one of the most terrifying goat-related scenes ever to be committed t...
Mar 11, 2021•21 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast The Haunted Highway: Phantom Coaches and the Ice-cold Ghosts For centuries, a phantom coach has been spotted travelling along the same Welsh road. And while the times might have changed, this carriage with it's black horses and eerie passenger continue to travel at speed after night has fallen. If that wasn't eerie enough, ghostly women have also been seen along the same route, seemingly waiting for their coach to arrive. What does it all mean? Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) for a p...
Mar 04, 2021•20 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast St David's Day Special: How to fight evil spirits and other uses for the leek, Wales' national vegetable St David's Day is celebrated in Wales and around the world on March 1, but why do people wear a leek to commemorate Wales' patron saint? Welsh folklore tells us that the leek has many important historical uses, from winning wars to fighting off evil spirits, and all is revealed by Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) on this St David's Day special of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast...
Feb 25, 2021•21 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Vampires of the Valley and Other Strange Creatures There are strange creatures lurking in the Vale of Neath. There are vampires, witches, dog demons and the devil, not to mention the poison fish and the magical frog. Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) as he goes in search of the weird and wonderful entities that inhabit Wales' "waterfall country" and home of the Welsh fairies, y tylwyth teg, in which the sound of a vampires can be heard sucking through walls, and diabolical calves follo...
Feb 18, 2021•22 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Pesky Poltergeists in Wild Wales Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) for some eerie tales of "evil spirits" - what we might call poltergeists nowadays - from Wales' oldest collection of "real-life" ghost stories. Dating from as far back as the seventeenth century, while these "most haunted" tales might be old, they are just as terrifying - if not more so! - than modern-day accounts. Because not only do these apparitions go bump in the night, they hurl missiles and even beat the unsuspect...
Feb 11, 2021•22 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast Ghosts, Devils and Death Omens; or, A Wild Night by the Romantic Lakes In this long-lost ghost story from the archives, Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) explores a real-life account of an apparition which haunted the sublime lakes and mountains of Wales. It was one moonlit night that a Victorian painter, who was in Wales to capture the romantic landscapes, discovered something far more haunting. The spectre itself, however, would be the least of his worries, for this haunted spot was also ...
Feb 04, 2021•28 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast The Dark Fairy Tale of Rhys and Llewellyn Have you ever heard sweet music drifting on the breeze as you walk home through the woods at night? And what would happen if you followed that music, and were lured into an endless dance with the Welsh fairy folk - y Tylwyth Teg? All is revealed as Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) investigates the dark fairy tale of Rhys and Llewellyn, an old Welsh story from the days when not everyone lived happily ever after. What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wale...
Jan 28, 2021•24 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Witchcraft by the Sea; or, A Tragic Prophesy Do you believe in clairvoyance? What about fortune telling? One Welsh man thought it was all a load of rubbish, but soon changed his mind after a chilling death omen was sent his way from an all-seeing 19th century witch. To find out more, join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) as he investigates this seaside tale in which Witch's Point on the south Wales coast really does live up to its name. What is the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees...
Jan 21, 2021•24 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers and the 'island of love' According to the legend, the life of fifth-century saint St Dwynen was far from easy. She is said to have forsaken love for herself in order to bring it to others, and was granted wished by angels, and a magic potion, in order to make it happen from a church off the coast of Anglesey. Join Mark Rees (author of Ghosts of Wales ) as he investigates her former home and site of pilgrimage on the island of Ynys Llanddwyn, and how s...
Jan 14, 2021•20 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast 
