In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, we explore a trio of larger-than-life Welsh women whose stories tow a fine line between fact and fiction, history and folklore.

There’s Jemima Fawr, the legendary heroine of Fishguard, who reportedly captured French soldiers during the last invasion of mainland Britain. There’s Megan Ferch Evan - hunter, fisherwoman, musician, boat builder, blacksmith, wrestler, and all-round local legend - whose reputation became so extraordinary she was remembered as the Queen of the Lakes.

And then things become stranger still… Victorian writers also tell of a travelling Welsh giantess who vanished to Texas with her much smaller husband. Press play for the full story!

Expect Welsh folklore, giants, warrior women, myths, invasions, and some truly *ahem* giant characters.

Tune in now… if you dare! 👻

ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

https://ko-fi.com/markrees

The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

• Mark Rees homepage
• Mark Rees on social media
• Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
• Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

Until next time, nos da!

Across Wales, there are legends of churches that refused to stay put.

Builders would spend all day raising walls and laying foundations… only to return the next morning and find everything gone - the stones carried off, the work undone and sometimes reassembled miles away.

In some places, voices were heard in the darkness, guiding where the church should stand. In others, unseen forces simply dismantled whatever humans tried to build.

From Carmarthenshire to Ceredigion, these stories appear again and again - too similar to ignore, too strange to explain.

Are they echoes of real disputes, lost buildings and forgotten histories… or something older, buried deep in the landscape?

In these tales, it’s not the people who choose where the church stands… it’s something else. 👻

(Plus a quick Paranormal Unpacked update)

ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

https://ko-fi.com/markrees

The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

• Mark Rees homepage
• Mark Rees on social media
• Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
• Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

Until next time, nos da!

In this episode, we head to Monmouthshire - an area packed with strange sightings, old stories and accounts passed down through local newspapers and word of mouth.

There are tales of phantom stagecoaches racing through the dark near Rockfield, said to appear only on stormy nights… and always ending in disaster. In Newcastle, people speak of spirits tied to a great oak tree, with a habit of punishing anyone who took more than they should.

And then there’s the Faceless Lady of Hadnock - seen late at night by the River Wye. Who is this glamorous spectre who walks after midnight?

Taken from a little-known mid-20th century collection, these Welsh ghost stories have been gathering dust for decades.

Lock the doors, dim the lights, and step into the local folklore and haunted landscapes Monmouthshire… if you dare! 👻

ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

https://ko-fi.com/markrees

The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

• Mark Rees homepage
• Mark Rees on social media
• Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
• Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

Until next time, nos da!