Hafod y Llan is located in the stunning Nant Gwynant valley in the midst of the Snowdonia National Park. The campsite here offers the chance to stay in an ideal place to explore this stunning corner of north Wales. The area is owned by the National Trust, who state that with "countless waterfalls, wooded valleys and quaint towns and villages, the area around the campsite is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle". It's also the place to discover some curious tales.
During the early 19th century, locals complained that during the hours of darkness, their homes would be broken into and food stolen, their livestock would be milked and sheep taken without trace. The sighting of an unusually tall man covered in "thick reddish-coloured hair" that ran from locals, did nothing to ease the minds of the superstitous community.
However, one night a farmer's wife was disturbed by a noise outside. She ventured outside with a hatchet and struck out at a figure lurking in the darkness. A terrible scream followed and on raising a lantern, the woman discovered that she had severed a large hairy hand. Even though the locals followed the trail of blood in the morning, they did not manage to locate the strange figure. However, the mysterious thefts stopped. The cave near here is still known as Ogof y Gwr Blewog - "The Cave of the Hairy Man".
Hafod-y-Llan,
Nantgwynant,
Caernarfon,
Gwynedd, LL55 4NQ.
For further information, please read Ghosts: Mysterious Tales from the National Trust by Sian Evans.