Hi - thanks for clicking that link. Here is where you can listen to one of my favourite Welsh stories…
The picture below is where the story in the recording happens. It is called Llyn y Fan Fach (Little Mountain Lake) and it is in the Black Mountain, which is the western end of the Brecon Beacon mountain range. It is story of a magical encounter with the Otherworld and how, if you do come across beings from that place, you need to be very careful how you treat them and what you say. They may be magical but they take things very literally, as you shall hear. Just click on the player below to listen now or download for later.
Llyn y Fan Fach
The family of doctors remained in the area for many generations. A few years later I was working in a festival in Llanymddyfri/Llandovery and was introduced to a man about twenty years older than myself. He was a descendant of the Lady of the Lake. He wasn’t pulling my leg - his family had always lived in the house where she is said to have made her home. I asked him what his children were doing and he said he had just one son and he lived in London. His job? A doctor, of course!
The picture opposite is of an ancient breed of white cattle in the grounds of Castell Dinefwr Castle near Llandeilo, not far from the lake where the story happens. They are meant to be the descendants of some of the cattle the Lady of the Lake brought from Llyn y Fan Fach
Descendants of cattle from the lake
Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoyed that story. It’s one of my favourites. There are a number of versions dotted around Wales in different lakes, all with the same themes of mysterious and beautiful Otherworldy women who bring a gift of cattle and then, one day, disappear, taking their gift with them. I am curious to know If you have any landscape based stories near you - do drop me a line if you have.
Until next time - all the best, Michael.