The tragic legend of the dog behind one of the prettiest villages in Wales

With a population of 455, a church and a few shops, Beddgelert is an unassuming village in Gwynedd, north Wales.

But in the southern part of the village, following the footpath along the banks of Glaslyn, you might come across a stone monument to a legendary dog.

That dog, Gelert, is said to have given its name to the village in the 13th century, having once belonged to the medieval Welsh Prince Llewelyn the Great.

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Welsh folklore says that Llewelyn had a palace at Beddgelert and one day he went hunting without his trusty Irish Wolfhound, Gelert.

When Llewelyn returned after the hunt, Gelert bounded up and greeted him but he was stained and smeared with blood.

The picturesque bridge crossing the River Colwyn (Shane Wallker)

The prince rushed inside to find his baby son’s cot empty, bedclothes on the floor and blood all around.

Frantic and believing Gelert had killed his son and heir, Llewelyn thrust his sword into Gelert’s side.

It was then that a child’s cry made the Prince spin round to find his son, unharmed. Nearby was the body of a mighty wolf Gelert had slain.

The Prince was overcome with remorse and is said to never have smiled again. He carried Gelert’s body to bury by the river in the village, where the memorial remains.

It is a story of tragedy and grief, but overarchingly it is a tale of the loyalty of dogs. Gelert has been nicknamed “the faithful hound”.

The grave of Gelert on the southern edge of Beddgelert, by the river (Google maps)

Beddgelert translates in English to Gelert’s grave and the memorial has two headstones, one in Welsh and one in English.

Different versions of the tale crops up in different cultures, bringing its validity into question, for example there is one in India where a mongoose protects a baby from a venomous snake.

In his book Bedd Gelert: Its Facts, Fairies and Folklore , D. E. Jenkins theorised that the 18th century landlord of the Goat Hotel in Beddgelert fabricated the story to attract more tourism.

Prince Llewelyn was real historical figure, however, and was linked with the village and the nearby Abbey.

Either way, it put Beddgelert on the map and people are still visiting the beautiful village in Snowdonia today to see the grave of Gelert, the faithful hound.

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