Introducing our new yurt – Blodeuwedd
First things first….
Why call the new yurt Blodeuwedd?
Snowdonia – or Eryri to use the Welsh name – is a land of high peaks, ancient forests, and deep mythology. Among its many legends, few are as captivating as the tale of Blodeuwedd, the woman created from flowers, whose fate became entwined with the wild landscapes of Eryri. We like to reflect local characters and stories in the names of our accommodation. So Blodeuwedd is the name of our new yurt.
Blodeuwedd’s story comes from the Mabinogion, Wales’ ancient collection of myths. Some of these legends were set in our local landscapes.
Lleu was a man who had been fated never to marry a human woman. So powerful magicians crafted Blodeuwedd specially for him, from the oak trees, golden broom, and meadowsweet flowers you will see growing around Eryri.
Blodeuwedd, with her flower face, was bewitching and Lleu married her.
But trouble was brewing.
However Lleu had a superpower. He could only die if he was stabbed by a magical spear – and, somewhat bizarrely, when he had one foot in a bath and one on a goat. Okay…..
So, one day, Blodeuwedd asked her husband to show her exactly how he had to stand in order to be killed. Just out of curiosity of course.
As Lleu stepped in the bath and placed his other foot on a handy goat, Gronw suddenly appeared and stabbed his rival.
But their plan failed – maybe the spear was not magical enough. Lleu transformed into an eagle and soon returned to seek vengeance. Gronw tried to shield himself behind a stone, but Lleu’s weapon pierced the very rock and killed him.
As for Blodeuwedd, for her betrayal she was transformed into an owl, forever banished into the night, unable to show her face in daylight again.
Blodeuwedd’s Snowdonia
The landscapes of Eryri (Snowdonia) are woven into this tale:
In the ancient woodlands where Blodeuwedd’s spirit is said to linger, her presence is felt in the calls of owls at dusk
In rocks in hidden valleys – Remember that stone that Lleu pierced with his spear to kill his rival? For those who care to look, you can still find this stone in a valley not too far away.
In the yellow broom flowers and frothy meadowsweet you can find around the meadows here at Graig Wen.
In Alan Garner’s 1967 novel, The Owl Service, the legend of Blodeuwedd is reimagined as a modern psychological ghost story set in rural Wales. Alan Garner was inspired during his holidays in North Wales just over the mountain pass near Dinas Mawddwdy. When The Owl Service was made into a supernatural children’s TV series (1969), many of the scenes were shot around there. The story spooked the heck out of Sarah when she watched reruns as a youngster!
A few years ago we went on a special guided tour to find The Owl Service TV locations. Our suitably bizarre transport for the day was the tour guide’s 1960’s Mini Moke! Click the image below for more pictures.
Blodeuwedd joins our family
So we decided to invite Blodeuwedd to join our family of extraordinary places to stay. The new yurt is pitched in a glade of ancient oak trees haunted by tawny owls.
Come and listen for the call of Blodeuwedd at dusk…you may just make out her face in the trees.
Graig Wen, nestled in the heart of this mythical landscape, is the perfect base to explore Wales’ legendary past. Stay in our cosy yurt, wander hidden trails, and let the magic of Snowdonia’s folklore surround you.
