Have you heard of Beddgelert?

[Dalekbuster523Bluray]

My Dad keeps insisting it is a popular place but I hadn't heard of it before my parents kept mentioning it. It sounds like a sleepy little village in North Wales and I can't imagine many have heard of it.

But have you heard of Beddgelert?

[Doomlord]

I'm practically on its doorstep. (pronounced 'Beth-Gelert')
It is a sleepy little village in the county of Gwynedd, situated in a majestic area that is swamped in myths and legends (see: The Mabinogion), including its own and the reason the village is so-called.
Gelert was the loyal hound of Llywelyn the Great, a 13th Century Prince of Wales, leader and warrior.
Legend has it that Llywelyn whilst out hunting left his baby child sleeping in his cot with Gelert on guard. After coming back from the hunt, Llywelyn sees that his baby is missing, the cot tipped, blood on the blanket, the hay and also upon the lips of Gelert as he sits panting by his master's bed! Believing his dog had savaged the child, Llywelyn draws his sword and kills the hound. As Gelert yelps his last as he dies, Llywelyn hears the cries of his baby from under his bed, the baby unharmed. The blood was from a wild wolf hidden behind the cot, a wolf that now lay dead, killed by Gelert as he defended the baby.
Legend says that from that day on, the prince was so full of remorse that he never smiled again.
In honour of his faithful hound, he named the place in which he was buried after him, 'Beddgelert' (Gelert's Grave).
It is a popular tourist attraction due to the ancient story.
It's an extremely well-known and popular ancient story that is probably told in every primary school within Wales but also told in many schools throughout the world too, hence the many tourists that seek the grave and surrounding villages.
I took Doctor Who actors Frazer Hines (a Yorkshireman) and Anneke Wills (a Berkshire and London girl) up there to see it some years ago as they personally requested it.

[Dalekbuster523Bluray]

Originally Posted by Doomlord

I'm practically on its doorstep. (pronounced 'Beth-Gelert')

I've been calling it 'Bed-Gelurt'.

I was walking around Beddgelert tonight and I must admit, it's a lot busier than I expected for a village.

[Doomlord]

Oh, you're down this way now?! Very good.
Make sure you get to visit Portmeirion, the Italian style village as you're pretty close to it, not only for the great continental vibe you get from it and the surrounding Jurassic Park type gardens and strange trees and great beach but also that it has a some wonderful TV show history to it. The 1960s show The Prisoner was filmed there doubling as 'The Village' and Doctor Who's The Masque of Mandragora doubling as 15th century Italy.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Portmeirion >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/locations/portmeirion

My brother and I and a few friends also took Frazer and Anneke there too (I'm at the front in dark grey shirt, stooping)







Again, near Beddgelert, up the Nant Ffrancon Pass (location of The Abominable Snowmen). It was the first time Frazer had been up there since filming in 1967. He got quite emotional as I remember.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Nant Ffrancon Pass >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/lo...ntffranconpass

[Doomlord]

The Eye of Orion (The Five Doctors) is only 5 miles from Beddgelert.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Plas Brondanw >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/lo...s/plasbrondanw

[Dalekbuster523Bluray]

Originally Posted by Doomlord

Oh, you're down this way now?! Very good.
Make sure you get to visit Portmeirion, the Italian style village as you're pretty close to it, not only for the great continental vibe you get from it and the surrounding Jurassic Park type gardens and strange trees and great beach but also that it has a some wonderful TV show history to it. The 1960s show The Prisoner was filmed there doubling as 'The Village' and Doctor Who's The Masque of Mandragora doubling as 15th century Italy.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Portmeirion >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/locations/portmeirion

My brother and I and a few friends also took Frazer and Anneke there too (I'm at the front in dark grey shirt, stooping)







Again, near Beddgelert, up the Nant Ffrancon Pass (location of The Abominable Snowmen). It was the first time Frazer had been up there since filming in 1967. He got quite emotional as I remember.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Nant Ffrancon Pass >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/lo...ntffranconpass

Thanks for the recommendations. Looked up Portmeirion and I'll definitely be going there given it's an Italian village and I love pizza.

Originally Posted by Doomlord

The Eye of Orion (The Five Doctors) is only 5 miles from Beddgelert.

Doctor Who Location Guide / Plas Brondanw >> http://www.doctorwholocations.net/lo...s/plasbrondanw

Wow, that's so cool. I had no idea they filmed The Five Doctors in North Wales. If only you could actually find the fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough there trying to relax!


Also: just out of interest, how do you know Frazer Hines Anneke Wills? Jealous...

[Doomlord]

Originally Posted by Dalekbuster523Bluray

Also: just out of interest, how do you know Frazer Hines Anneke Wills?

From organising DW conventions in the past and simply striking up friendships with them.
I haven't seen them both for a couple of years but we're in contact with each other via email and facebook. I get a phone call from Anneke every year at Christmas. She's a hoot on the blower, a really hippy at heart. Grows her own

[Dalekbuster523Bluray]

Originally Posted by Doomlord

From organising DW conventions in the past and simply striking up friendships with them.
I haven't seen them both for a couple of years but we're in contact with each other via email and facebook. I get a phone call from Anneke every year at Christmas. She's a hoot on the blower, a really hippy at heart. Grows her own

That's nice of her. I bet Frazer Hines' quite a character to talk to.

[civiclx]

Not sure when you'll be back on...but Dalek, where are you from? And I'm assuming this was a vacation you were on and you were already on it when you posted this question? I didn't look at the dates of your first two posts until after I read them. I was thinking you had asked the question like a year or six months in advance and then made it there...