Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast: Dive deep into ghost stories, ancient lore, myths, and legends from haunted Wales. Join author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) – ”arguably Wales’ leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country’s history” – for a journey through the weird and wonderful history of Cymru and beyond. From “most haunted” Welsh castles to fairy-filled forests, each episode explores spine-chilling topics like pesky poltergeists and uncanny apparitions; seasonal traditions such as the Mari Lwyd and Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf); real-life ghostbusters and paranormal investigators who venture into the unknown; and eerie customs like the Sin Eater and corpse candles. Listeners who enjoy uncovering unexplained mysteries, delving into the supernatural like The X-Files, or exploring haunted locations similar will love the tales lurking within. Discover the real-life hauntings behind legends, like the Skirrid Mountain Inn, or eerie events in the remote hills and forests of Wales, where legends like the mystical Ceffyl Dŵr or the dreaded Gwyllgi roam the night. If you’re a fan of horror classics, the ghostly atmospheres of Gothic stories, or the folklore and mythology found in The Mabinogion, this podcast is perfect for you. These gripping accounts will take you from ancient Druid rituals to modern-day Welsh witchcraft. Expect exciting ghost hunts, interviews with paranormal experts, and plenty of spine-tingling stories that will transport you to the haunted corners of Wales, where magic and the supernatural blend with history. Whether you’re fascinated by the macabre traditions of phantom funerals or intrigued by the legends of mythical creatures, the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast offers a captivating exploration of the unknown. Don’t miss an episode – subscribe now and unlock the paranormal secrets of haunted Wales with Mark Rees, where history, myth, and magic still cast a spell over the land.

Episodes

September 25, 2024 27 mins
What happens when a quiet life in rural Wales is shattered by an unseen force? In this spine-chilling episode, join Mark Rees as he delves into the haunting tale of a poltergeist that escalated from harmless mischief to terrifying violence.

Through a remarkable diary kept by a local vicar in the early 18th century, we uncover the shocking events that led a family to flee their home in fear. From stones raining down on unsuspecting ...

Mark as Played
Could this be one of Wales' most terrifying hauntings? How did a dream home turn into a living nightmare? Why did its residents retreat to the kitchen, and who—or what—joined them there? 

Join Mark Rees as he delves into the spine-tingling haunting of Craflwyn Hall, a National Trust property nestled in the shadow of Eryri's (Snowdonia’s) peaks. Was it the decaying grandeur, the overgrown garden, or the ghostly apparition of a Victo...

Mark as Played
What dark secrets lie in this picturesque corner of Wales? Why was it once known as the 'village of the dead'? And what horrifying events drove a family to the brink of despair in the mid-seventeenth century?

Journey to the breath-taking Gower Peninsula to uncover the terrifying tale of the Demon House of Gower. Explore the mysterious and malevolent forces that plagued the Bowen household, where a spectral figure, or a demonic dopp...

Mark as Played
What connects Gothic ghost stories, Dylan Thomas, Frankenstein, Swansea Castle, and shadow people that don't rest easy?

Swansea Castle is a site brimming with contradictions and untold stories. Is it haunted or unhaunted? Easy or challenging for ghost hunters?

Discover why this iconic landmark, steeped in history and surrounded by folklore, defies simple explanations.

Unearth the secrets behind the Blue Lady—an apparition with a du...

Mark as Played
The tragic story of Mallt-y-Nos (Matilda of the Night), the female spirit cursed to hunt and ride for eternity.

What drove this Norman lady to such a fate? How did her passion for the hunt lead to everlasting torment?

Discover the dark wish that sealed her destiny and how her ghostly cries still echo through the Welsh countryside.

Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if yo...

Mark as Played
Join your host, Mark Rees, as he uncovers age-old secrets designed to protect against the otherworldly forces that lurk in the shadows. Don't let the spirits catch you unawares—listen now!

Explore three traditional methods of warding off spirits, fairies, and even werewolves. Can invoking the name of God or Jesus truly banish malevolent entities? Discover how gorse forms an impenetrable barrier against fairy intruders. And what abo...

Mark as Played
Delve into the eerie world of corpse birds, winged entities said to foretell impending death. Are these sightings mere coincidences or something more sinister?

Uncover the chilling tales behind these supernatural avian visitors as we explore first-hand accounts like the tale of Miss Griffiths and the mysterious "little grey one," or the tragic fate of Mr Powell, who encountered the ominous bird on the high seas.

Discover how corpse...

Mark as Played
Ghostly encounters that defy explanation are reported at two haunted houses. Are you brave enough to explore these mysterious cases where the line between the living and the dead blurs, and every shadow holds a secret?

In our first story, we delve into the grisly crimes of a house shrouded in a sinister past. Who—or what—haunts its halls, leaving guests trembling in fear? What secrets lurk within the walls, and why does the specter...

Mark as Played
Mischievous spectral beings wreak havoc in a Welsh mansion that promises thrills and chills at every turn.

Fact with folklore intertwine in this mysterious tale that blurs the lines between reality and the paranormal. Was it truly the work of supernatural forces, or merely the imaginings of a frightened community?

As we explore the remnants of a once grand Welsh mansion, now reduced to ruins since the tragic fire of 1807, we encoun...

Mark as Played
Spectral hounds roam the land at night. Some possess the bodies of half-humans, with eyes like moons and mouths that emit smoke. What do these unearthly creatures signify? And why do they haunt the valleys and mountains of Wales?

In our exploration, we'll encounter tales of evil fishermen chased into the sea, lost travelers saved by the power of prayer, and clergyman harassed for their sermons. But amidst the terror, there's a thre...

Mark as Played
Step into the realm of the uncanny and delve into the mysterious world of death omens and supernatural secrets.

From the infamous corpse candles to chilling premonitions, uncover the spine-tingling tales that have haunted communities for generations.

What do these strange signs really signify? How do they choose their harbingers of death? And could you be the next witness to an otherworldly phenomenon?

Explore the lore with Mark Re...

Mark as Played
Unravel the mysterious realm of exorcism, a practice as old as time itself, employed to banish ghouls, ghosts, and goblins from our world.

Is there a safeguard against the forces of darkness? Could your daily piety be the key to repelling the bogeys and fairies lurking in the shadows? Are you ready to unravel the secrets of exorcism, spirituality, and the age-old battle between light and darkness?

Delve into the very fabric of Wels...

Mark as Played
Can the most terrifying paranormal activity also be the most boring? Are dull ghosts really the scariest of all?

In this chilling episode, Mark Rees unravels a paranormal theory that turns the mundane into the terrifying. What if the most ordinary ghost stories held a power that could send shivers down your spine?

Delve into a "dull" ghost tale in a Romantic, Gothic house shrouded in eerie charm that may, in fact, be the scariest e...

Mark as Played
Picture this: snarling spectral dogs traversing the air in hot pursuit of their prey. Their haunting howls are harbingers of death, and their appearance cannot be easily defined, ranging from small white creatures with rose-coloured ears to "ugly beasts" with fiery eyes.

On this chilling episode, we delve into the eerie realm of the Welsh otherworld to unravel the spine-tingling tales of the Cŵn Annwn — the Hounds of the Underworld...

Mark as Played
Dive into the Christmas revelry with singing and dancing, but beware: there's a darker side to these Victorian traditions involving a frightening hag and a horse-skulled Christmas visitor.

Uncover strange tales of festive celebrations, the Welsh love for singing in the 'land of song', the long-standing links between Morris Dancing and the Mari Lwyd, and introducing the bizarre Aderyn Pig Llwyd, a horse-headed creature adding an eer...

Mark as Played
Christmas Gremlins have struck the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast HQ.

Sadly, there is no new episode this week due to some potentially paranormal technical difficulties.

Instead, here's a quick update from Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) in which he explains what you can expect over the festive season, and calls on the Mari Lwyd to deliver some seasonal good luck.

See you soon - merry Christmas/ Nadolig llawen!

 

ORDER PARANORMAL...

Mark as Played
A haunting described as "one of the biggest poltergeist cases ever" saw a Welsh business plagued by paranormal activity.

The chilling case of Peter the Poltergeist/ Pete the Polt is one of the most significant poltergeist cases documented. A haunting that spanned a decade, mysterious objects were thrown around a workshop in Cardiff that led the bewildered owners to suspect a paranormal presence.

What sets this case apart is its inv...

Mark as Played
Can an "uncanny piece of furniture" really suck your blood like Dracula? Is this vampire bed possessed by Nosferatu? 

When a young family in seventeenth-century Cardiff acquire a heavy four-posted bedstead at a bankruptcy sale, little could they have known it was the soon-to-be infamous "vampire bed."

It caused a four-month-old baby to scream in terror, and the man of the house was lost for words - could their bedroom be haunted by...

Mark as Played
Dare you join Mark Rees and a team of paranormal investigators for an "as-live" spine-tingling ghost hunt in Wales?

Nos Calan Gaeaf - as Halloween is known in the Welsh language - is the perfect time of year for ghost stories and, of course, ghost hunting.

The "most haunted" location for this year's eerie exploration is a live music venue in the heart of Swansea city centre just off the Kingsway that has never featured on a recorde...

Mark as Played
Halloween folklore of Wales and the world: explore the haunted history of Nos Calan Gaeaf with Mark Rees and a special guest on this eerie seasonal special.

Nos Calan Gaeaf, as Halloween is known in the Welsh language, has long been a time for tradition and festivities. But how did Victorian celebrations differ from modern-day parties?

By teaming up with fellow cultural writer Chris Carra (Planet Health), they aim to investigate th...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    2. Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

    3. Crime Junkie

    If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

    4. The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    5. The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc.