Can dogs sense spirits in the home? What about hell hounds? And if so, can they protect against these ominous death omens? Corpse dogs are a combination of two more-commonly encountered types of phenomena: death omens, such as the corpse candles (y canwyll corff in Welsh), and supernatural dogs like the dreaded gwillgi. When they enter a property, sometimes in packs, they will often be invisible to human eyes, but not to the heightened senses of our four-legged friends. When the hell-hounds are ...
May 12, 2022•25 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast A paranormal investigation on the ghost ship so haunted the crew would not stay on-board. When a captain took control of a new navy vessel he laughed off the warnings that it was haunted. Little did he realise that he would soon experience all manner of poltergeist-like activity, and things really escalated when a full-body apparition manifested while at sea. What was the cause of this paranormal activity, and had the phantom come to a gruesome end as some suggested? Explore the lore with author...
Apr 28, 2022•29 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast There's something in the Welsh water - ghosts, monsters, and much more. Plunge into the magical wells of Wales where sacred fish and a monstrous eel are lurking, ghosts attack the mean hearted, and divination can be used to find true love and catch a thief. Explore the lore with author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he investigated the weird and wonderful on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast ... if you dare! What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast? The "Ghosts an...
Apr 14, 2022•21 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast A Victorian "Ghostbuster" faces the battle of his life as he attempts to banish an evil spirit causing havoc in a Welsh village. When a shape-shifting demon starts smashing up property and chasing people home in a Flintshire, the locals turn to a well-known man of God who might be able to help - a lay preacher known as Griffiths of Llandegla. But this is no ordinary demon, and it will take all of his skill and experience to outwit this deadly foe. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he ...
Mar 31, 2022•22 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast When a malicious fairy swaps your baby for a changeling, how do you break the curse? Across Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland, people have reported finding their children stolen and replaced with strange babies that were different in many ways - some were sickly, some failed to grow, others were intelligent far beyond their years. But after the tylwyth teg have made the switch, is there any way of reclaiming your offspring? Or what happens when unscrupulous parents actually try to swap their ...
Mar 17, 2022•29 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast Ghostly forms wail and scream in the night, while supernatural visitors offer words of comfort and terror. But what connection do these spirits have with the living, and what message - if any - are they trying to communicate to their nearest and dearest? While these paranormal visitors can offer comfort to their friends and family, they can also, as we’ll discover, be even more terrifying than poltergeists and other malicious entitles. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores a s...
Mar 03, 2022•22 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast A Welsh magician who defied witchcraft laws and turned detective in the 16th Century used his powers to defeat murderers and robbers. Huw Llwyd was famous - some might say infamous - for his fantastical acts of legerdemain during the reign of James VI and I. He could outwit the evilest of villains, and then party hard afterwards in the local tavern. A real-life character whose life is shrouded in fanciful legends, join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores his origins, attempts to ...
Feb 17, 2022•32 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast When ghost hunters explore a "haunted" castle in Carmarthenshire they uncover an old mystery that leads to a gruesome tale of a man hanged on a nearby hill. Spooks and spectres had long been reported in the mystical streets of Carmarthen, home of Arthurian wizard Merlin, but by the late Victorian age they were starting to fade away. When a group of curious reporters decide to go on a night-time paranormal investigation to see what spooky stories remain, they discover that not all of the ghosts a...
Feb 03, 2022•29 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast The Gwragedd Annwn are some of the more terrifying fairy folk to lurk in wilds of Wales. These ferocious fighting female fairies haunt the lonely Welsh lakes and streams, and are known in English as the wives of hell or the wives of the otherworld. Like feisty freshwater mermaids, these tylwyth teg are not to be messed with, as some have discovered the hard way. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores the fascinating history and folklore of the Gwragedd Annwn on the Ghosts and F...
Jan 20, 2022•23 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast Seeing a death omen is usually a quick, fleeting affair, but in this weird real-life ghost story it is far more intense experience. A death omen, in its simplest form, is a supernatural sign that somebody is not going to be on this earth much longer. In Wales, one of the more popular death omens is the corpse candle (y canwyll corff), a light which, much like the will-o’-the-wisp, floats in the darkness and glows a blue light. But in this tale, a much more unusual death omen makes an appearance,...
Jan 06, 2022•24 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast In Victorian Wales, the 12 Days of Christmas became the 12 Days of Carnage for some, with a little too much merriment leading to fisticuffs and debauchery. At the heart of the festivities was music, and it was during this period that Wales became known as the "Land of Song." There were mummers and Christmas carol singers in the streets, and a certain horse-skulled creature called the Mari Lwyd. But there was a fierce rivalry among the musicians to match any sporting rivalry, and the as bell ring...
Dec 23, 2021•22 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast One of the best Christmas traditions is telling creepy ghost stories by candlelight, but unlike the tales of Charles Dickens and M.R. James, what if these spooky yarns were not works of fiction, but real-life tales of terror? In one tale, a wife heads out into the wilds of Wales one chilly Christmas Eve in search of her missing husband, but finds something far more terrifying. In another, a family ghost appears every festive season with a warning from beyond the grave. But what does it all mean?...
Dec 16, 2021•25 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Explore Wales’s weird and wonderful Christmastime tradition, the festive "bone horse" that is the Mari Lwyd! The Mari Lwyd is a curious custom which sees a hobby horse-like like creature challenge people to a battle in verse - what some call a "rap battle" - and, if victorious, enters their home to eat their cakes and ale. But what began as a good-natured folk tradition soon descended into one of chaotic folk horror, and as we discover on this episode, it got so out of hand that the Mari Lwyd wa...
Dec 09, 2021•23 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast Ghosts of the living come in all shapes and sizes, from lost souls minding their own business to stone-hurling poltergeists. But what does it mean to see a spirit, of somebody who is still alive? In this creepy collection of "real life" paranormal encounters, they are seen in the middle of the day and the dead of night, some with messages, and some with somewhere to get to, and some who simply vanish into thin air. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores several such reports on ...
Dec 02, 2021•21 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast There's witchcraft, tormented spirits, curses, the well of evil and even a bit of good old-fashioned Wicker Man style paganism in this episode of watery folklore. These tales concern the folklore of wells, a source of water for centuries which could be used for good and bad magic. In some cases, a Pagan tradition could be used to summon rain in times of drought. But in other cases, a lost soul appears to be damned inside and calls for help. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explore...
Nov 25, 2021•21 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast A man of God is accused by his fellow reverends of making a pact with the Devil in return for supernatural powers. According to the tale, he would sneak off into the forest and summon evil spirits in a magic circle, and on one fateful night of conjuring it backfired on him and his co-conspirators. Is there any truth to this tale of a holy man turning to the dark side and committing the ultimate sin? And if so, what powers did he receive in return? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he ...
Nov 18, 2021•21 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast Dare you go on a "live" ghost tour at Wales's "most haunted" National Trust property? On Halloween, Mark Rees joined Ronnie - Wales' finest spooky tour guide - and a gang of unsuspecting members of the public for a creepy night to remember at Newton House, Dinefwr. Sitting in the heart of a medieval deer park near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, the property is said to be not only the NT's "most haunted" Welsh location, but their fourth in all the UK, and the grand manor house has a long and colourf...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast Newton House in Dinefwr has long been the scene of inexplicable paranormal activity – in fact, the National Trust call it their "most haunted" location in all of Wales, and their fourth "most haunted place" in all the UK. The estate in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, has a long and colourful history steeped in Welsh folklore, from the castle on the estate to the mythical white cattle which roam its lands. But the manor house itself has a more Gothic past, with tales of ghostly cigar smoking, tragic ...
Nov 04, 2021•21 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast Dare you go on a ghost hunt to one of Wales's "most haunted" places? Join Mark Rees and Welsh paranormal investigators Cymru Paranormal for a Halloween/ Nos Calan Gaeaf special as they go in search of restless wartime spirits. In the most ambitious episode yet, the team spend the night at Swansea's 1940s Museum, which is just like stepping back in time - outside there are Second World War air shelters, road blocks and barbed wire, and inside there are recreations of period settings, from trenche...
Oct 28, 2021•49 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast A monstrous black pig and the ghost of a headless white lady emerge to hunt the living on Halloween - but what do they want? When the shades of night fall on Nos Calan Gaeaf, as October 31 is known in Wales, there are two terrifying apparitions which appear to chase people home from the bonfires before the witching hour. More terrifying than the vampires, werewolves, zombies and demons commonly associated with the holiday, they are the Hwch Ddu Gwta (Tailless Black Sow) and Y Ladi Wen (The White...
Oct 21, 2021•28 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast Dare you visit these watery beauty spots where ghouls and ghosts appear on the spookiest night of the year? Explore several "haunted" lakes where the ghosts of spectral white ladies have been reported, or where a lake monster is said to dwell. In one case, a visit on Halloween - Nos Calan Gaeaf - could result in seeing those destined to die that year appearing before your very eyes. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores the ghosts and folklore of some of Wales' mysterious lake...
Oct 14, 2021•21 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast Halloween wouldn't be Halloween with a grinning jack-o'-lantern, but did you know that it was once far more sinister than a finely carved pumpkin? Nothing encapsulates Nos Calan Gaeaf - as we call Halloween in Wales - like the flickering face of a finely-carved lantern. But unlike the modern-day pumpkin which can be seen carried by trick or treaters, it was considered to be an all-too-real "dreaded ghost" which led people to their doom in the dark forests at harvest time. Its origins can be trac...
Oct 07, 2021•29 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Explore three creepy "real-life" accounts of restless spirits who seemingly can’t rest in peace until their hidden treasure has been discovered. There are countless tales of people being asked – or scared, rather – into helping unwanted visitors find their treasure so they can rest in peace and, in return, the living can return to living in peace as well. Some are these tales sound like folk tales, while others are taken more seriously, and in some cases cause great distress to those involved. O...
Sep 30, 2021•26 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast What happens when a fairy turns nasty? It becomes something of a poltergeist! On this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore podcast, explore the dual nature of the Bwbach, the Welsh hobgoblin with ghost-like powers which, on the one hand, was a nice, helpful, happy household fairy but, on the other, could quickly transform into a terrifying phantom. So terrifying, in fact, that it could scare people away from their homes and, and in some extreme cases, attack them and drive them to an early grave. ...
Sep 23, 2021•22 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast Does the ghost of a lady in white really haunt one of Wales's "most haunted" castles? When darkness falls on Oystermouth Castle, one of Swansea’s more mysterious inhabitants emerges from the shadows to peer out over the village of Mumbles. And, if you believe the tales, she can even be summoned in a similar way to saying Candyman or Beetlejuice more times that it is safe to do so. But who is this white lady, and who has see her? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he goes on a ghost hun...
Sep 16, 2021•28 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast When corpse candles and deathlike fingers materialise during a séance in Swansea, is it the work of spirits of the dead, or is something else going on? In this real-life account of a 19th century séance, a group of friends visit a spirit medium for what they believe will be a little light entertainment. But the paranormal activity spirals out of control, and soon they find themselves trapped in a waking nightmare. With tables (and heads) being banged, lights in the air, music being played and pe...
Sep 09, 2021•26 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast Did an old folk tale of a wicked witch and an evil giant really lead to the discovery of coal in the Welsh valleys? In this traditional story, a shadow is cast over a once-happy fairy-filled valley when a giant arrives to eat all of the small inhabitants. Their only chance of survival is to kill their unwelcome visitor, but that just poses an even bigger problem - how do you dispose of the rotting body of a giant? Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) for a fantastical trip to Gilfach Fargoe...
Sep 02, 2021•23 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast When people stopped believing in fairies, how could they explain the paranormal activity that continued? In the early 20th century, belief in the existence of fairies in Wales has almost died out. But the belief in ghosts and spirits had not, and that that belief in death omens in particular, such as the corpse candles and phantom funerals, remained ‘rather popular, even among educated people’. But if people were no longer believing in fairies, what were these supposed phantoms and poltergeists,...
Aug 26, 2021•26 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast Can poltergeist activity really destroy a building, or is it just local lore? When objects started moving of their own accord on a Welsh farm, it was assumed an evil spirit was at work. But following a botched exorcism there was no stopping its destruction, which including first destroying the contents of a building, followed by the building itself. Could this all have been the work of a single poltergeist, or was there something else at work? A local folk tale claims the property is cursed and,...
Aug 19, 2021•25 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast Dare you swim in the spirit-filled waterways of Wales? They might look calm and serene from land, but the rivers of Wales are steeped in accounts of strange creatures and trapped souls. There's the apparition of a wailing woman seen up and down the River Severn, the Taff whirlpool which is said to be the work of a giant serpent, and the unusual case of an image of the Virgin Mary being put on trial near the River Dee. Join author Mark Rees ( Ghosts of Wales ) as he explores the weird and wonderf...
Aug 12, 2021•23 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast 
