Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees
Mark Rees 175 episodes Oct 29, 2026
A monthly podcast in which writer and historian Mark Rees explores Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths, and historical customs. Episodes cover haunted castles, fairy-filled forests, apparitions, corpse candles, the Sin Eater, and creatures such as the Ceffyl Dŵr and Gwyllgi. The show blends supernatural storytelling, folklore research, and history with a Gothic style and tongue-in-cheek humour. It also examines seasonal Welsh traditions such as the Mari Lwyd and Nos Calan Gaeaf.
Episodes
Cardiff Castle: Ghost-Hunting Marquess | Halloween Special | Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast 172
Did the world's richest man go ghost hunting in Cardiff? Who is the mysterious figure said to wander between Cardiff Castle's chapel and library after dark? And what does a phantom horse and carriage have to do with death in the Bute family?
For this Halloween special, we're heading to Cardiff Castle - Castell Caerdydd - to explore some of the ghosts said to haunt one of Wales's most famous - and
The Ghosts of Powis Castle | Halloween Special | Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast 171
Powis Castle is one of Wales’s great medieval-castles-turned-fancy-mansion-house – and it also has a rather impressive collection of ghosts.
For this Halloween special, I’m heading to Welshpool to explore the stories of the ghosts and strange happenings said to haunt Powis Castle, from a mysterious man in a gold-laced suit who appeared to a poor woman in 1780, to a lady in black, a ghostly piano t
The Haunted Ironworks | Cyfarthfa After Dark | Ghosts & Folklore of Wales Podcast 170
Did the dead ironworkers return to work after dark? Can an ironworks itself be haunted? And what would you make of the sound of machinery coming to life when the works should have been silent?
In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, we travel back to Victorian Merthyr Tydfil and one of the strangest industrial ghost stories.
In 1881, a "remarkable account" emerged from Cyfarth
The Fairy Body Snatchers: When Fairies Stole Babies... and the Dead (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP169)
Why were fairies said to steal healthy babies? What happened to the children they left behind? And could the fairy folk return at the end of your life... to steal the dead as well?
In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, I explore one of the strangest beliefs in Celtic folklore. Alongside the familiar tales of changelings and stolen children, we'll uncover an extraordinary tra
Haunted Hills of Monmouthshire: White Ladies, Haunted Bushes & Death Omens (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP168)
Did a ghost haunt the grounds of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant? Why was a man in a top hat seen walking a Monmouthshire hillside? Can a thorn bush really be haunted? And who was the Woman in White said to appear near Penallt?
In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, I return to Monmouthshire to revisit accounts collected in the 1960s by archaeologist Stephen Clarke in his book Gh
Welsh Death Omens: Ghost Dogs, Phantom Birds & Strange Warnings (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP167)
What do you do when phantom hounds howl outside your home? What does it mean when a bird appears at the window? And are Wales's - and England's - death omens mere superstition... or something more?
In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, we explore the eerie world of Welsh death omens - from ghost dogs and phantom hounds to mysterious birds said to bring warnings from beyond.
Welsh Giantesses and Warrior Women: The Queen of the Lakes & Other Legends (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP166)
Who was the mysterious Queen of the Lakes said to rule the waters of north Wales? How did one Pembrokeshire woman armed with only a pitchfork help defeat French invaders? And did Welsh folklore really tell of women strong enough to wrestle grown men, fight invading armies, and become giants?
In this episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, we explore a trio of larger-than-life Welsh wo
Spirits That Move Churches: Welsh Legends of Vanishing Buildings (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP165)
Who - or what - was moving the stones in the dead of night? What were those uncanny voices? Why would a church be built in one place… only to appear somewhere else the next morning? And why do so many Welsh villages share the same unsettling story?
Across Wales, there are legends of churches that refused to stay put.
Builders would spend all day raising walls and laying foundations… only to retu
Ghosts of Monmouthshire: The Faceless Lady, Phantom Coaches & Tree Spirits (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP164)
Who is the faceless figure drifting silently along the banks of the River Wye? What happens if you anger the spirits said to live within an ancient Welsh oak tree? And what crashes through the night on a long-lost road… even after the road itself has vanished?
In this episode, we head to Monmouthshire - an area packed with strange sightings, old stories and accounts passed down through local news
Back After a Break: New Ghosts, New Books & New Series – Paranormal Unpacked! (A Quick Update from Mark Rees) 👻
GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE IS BACK - BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER! 👻
*** PLEASE NOTE: The video version of this episode is available on YouTube only, despite what I said - you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/DRvNwVVFSyw - sorry! ***
I’ve been off gallivanting about the world, but normal spooky service resumes VERY soon - in two weeks, in fact.
You can check out the new YouTube series Paranormal Unpack
Christmas Ghosts: Haunted Dinefwr & Llandeilo – Welsh Ghost Stories for the Darkest Nights (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP163)
Which Christmas decoration began life as a witch-repelling charm? What haunted Welsh mansion has glowing fog drifting through its corridors even in summer? And who is the mysterious Boy in Blue said to appear in an unnerving old painting?
This Christmas, we return to Dinefwr and Llandeilo - some of the most haunted locations in Wales - with storyteller and National Trust guide Ronnie Kerswell-O’Ha
Christmas Folklore: The Mari Lwyd – How to Make a Welsh Ghost-Horse (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP162)
How do you build a Mari Lwyd? Where do you find a horse skull? How heavy is it really – and how on earth do you dance with one?
This Christmas, we go behind the folklore of Wales’s most iconic winter visitor – the Mari Lwyd – to uncover the practical secrets rarely talked about: construction, decoration, materials, performance, and the surprisingly tricky art of bringing a skeletal horse to life.
Halloween at a Haunted Welsh Castle: The Curse of Pennard Castle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP161)
What happens when you spend Halloween night in one of Wales’s eeriest ruins? Who – or what – haunts the sand-blown walls of Pennard Castle? And could the terrifying Gwrach y Rhibyn still be keeping watch?
It’s Halloween Eve, and Mark Rees heads to the haunted remains of Pennard Castle on the Gower Peninsula – a place steeped in ghostly sightings, fairy-folk legends and one of Wales’s most ch
Halloween Folklore: Ghostly Games & Welsh Spirits on Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP160)
🎃👻 What dangerous games did people play on the night when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest? Who walked the dark lanes of Wales on Nos Calan Gaeaf long before modern Halloween lights flickered?
In this special Halloween episode, Mark Rees explores centuries-old Welsh traditions that mixed fun, fear, and fortune-telling. From sowing hemp seeds in graveyards to listening at church d
Halloween Ghost Rider: Haunted History, Murder Road & Jack-o'-Lanterns (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP159)
Who is the mysterious Ghost Rider haunting a lonely Welsh road plagued by Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns? What dark link ties this spectral horseman to an old murder, a flickering light in the darkness, and the Devil himself?
On this episode, journey into the shadows of rural Wales, where folklore and fear merge on moonlit lanes.
Discover the chilling tale of a ghost rider whose hooves are not q
When Death Knocks: Haunted Farmhouse, Uncanny Warnings & Spirit Sounds from America (Ghosts & Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP158)
What if death could knock on your door — quite literally — before claiming a life? Would you answer? Would you believe it? And what strange thread connects these events in Wales to a death in America?
In this eerie real-life account from 19th-century Wales, a tailor living in a remote farmhouse near Newcastle Emlyn is disturbed by strange and persistent sounds — knocking at doors and windows
King Arthur’s Stone: Wales’s Most Haunted Tomb? Paranormal Knights and Midnight Rituals (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP157)
Why do people report ghostly knights, phantom horses and spectral visions during the full moon in this Welsh beauty spot? What ancient force still lingers atop Cefn Bryn?
On this episode, Mark journeys to the windswept heights of Gower during the summer solstice to investigate one of Wales’s oldest and most mysterious sites — a place steeped in druidic ritual, pagan legend, and haunting lor
Secrets of Craig-y-Nos Castle: Wales’ Most Haunted Gothic Mansion? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP156)
Why has Craig-y-Nos Castle drawn ghost hunters, psychics and TV crews for decades? What secrets still linger in its shadowy halls? Find out in the 5th anniversary episode of Ghosts and Folklore of Wales.
This month, Mark returns to one of the UK’s most famously "most haunted" sites — a place so notorious it’s become part of British paranormal legend. Once home to opera star Adelina Patti and
Ghosts, Goblins & Graveyard Dogs: A Paranormal Lucky Dip (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP155)
What kind of spectral creature leaps onto a corpse, rides in the hearse, and disappears into the mourners at the graveside?
In this folkloric lucky dip of ghostly odds and ends, Mark Rees unearths the eerie tales too strange, too short, or too scattered to fit anywhere else… until now.
Why did a grand Welsh mansion blaze with phantom lights long after its owner had died? Who — or what — torm
They Came at Midnight: The Uncanny Changeling Mystery (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP154)
Who knocks at midnight—and what do they want? Are these visitors of the night bringing gifts or a curse?
When a knock came at midnight, the family inside had no idea the supernatural visitors weren’t just visiting—they were hunting.
A seemingly generous call from the Tylwyth Teg—the fairy folk of Welsh folklore—soon unravels into one of the darkest changeling tales ever recorded in Wales. W
The Headless Warrior Princess Haunting Kidwelly Castle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP153)
What lurks in the shadows of one of Wales’ most striking castles? What happens when a medieval battlefield becomes a haunted ruin? And can a headless ghost really ask for help?
In this spine-chilling episode, we uncover the eerie legends of Kidwelly Castle - an ancient fortress steeped in bloodshed, rebellion and restless spirits.
From the tragic tale of Gwenllian, Wales’ first warrior princ
Ghost Dogs: Haunting Encounters with Phantom Hounds (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP152)
What would you do if you came face to face with a ghostly hound? Would you reach out to pet it, or run the other way? And what if that spectral dog wasn’t just a harmless apparition, but a chilling omen of death?
In this episode, we explore two terrifying real-life encounters with ghost dogs in Wales - one a faithful spirit bound by loyalty, the other a sinister harbinger of doom.
What happe
Fairy Gold: Secrets, Curses and the Price of Magical Riches (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP151)
What would you do if you stumbled upon a stash of gold in the forest, knowing it might vanish with just one word? Could it be the legendary fairy gold of folklore, a treasure bound by secrecy and mischief?
In this episode, we dive into enchanting tales of the mysterious wealth bestowed by the fairy folk—fortunes that could disappear in a puff of smoke if their origin is revealed.
What makes
Wales' Eerie Christmas Death Omen: The Ghostly Tolling of the Tolaeth (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP150)
The Ghosts and Folklore Podcast is celebrating a monumental milestone – Episode 150 – with a festive, eerie twist. For this special Christmas edition, host Mark Rees blends the magic of the holiday season with haunting tales and mysterious folklore.
Get ready for a journey into the strange and supernatural, featuring festive ghosts, ancient traditions, and a mystery that will (OK, might!) keep
Wales’ Most Terrifying Death Omen: The Haunting Cry of the Cyhyraeth (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP149)
Have you ever heard a chilling, disembodied moan carried on the wind, growing louder and softer like waves crashing on the shore? What if that sound wasn’t just the wind but a sinister harbinger of death?
This episode, Mark delves into the eerie Welsh death omen known as the Cyhyraeth - a ghostly sound that strikes terror into those who hear it. Could it be warning you of a tragedy in your home? O
Halloween Hauntings: Mysteries of Margam Castle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP148)
This Halloween, are you ready to uncover the chilling secrets of Margam Castle? Who - or what - haunts this iconic Welsh landmark? Could it be the ghostly monks seen gliding through the night, the playful spirits of Victorian children, or the vengeful presence of a tragic gamekeeper?
In this spine-tingling Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) episode, we dive deep into the haunted history of Margam Park, e
The Poltergeist Diaries: Stone-Throwing Spirit Unleashed (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP147)
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 s
The Haunting of Craflwyn: A Gothic Nightmare in North Wales (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP146)
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, o
Demon House of Gower: Secrets of Swansea's "Village of the Dead" (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP145)
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
Macabre Mysteries of Swansea Castle: Shadow People & Unexplained Deaths (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP144)
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 th
The Doomed Spirit of Matilda of the Night: Eternal Torment and Haunted Legends (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP143)
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
Paranormal Protection: Supernatural Safeguards Against Spirits and Fairies (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP142)
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 ag
Supernatural Corpse Birds: Winged Harbingers of Death in Welsh Folklore (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP141)
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
Murder Most Foul in Haunted Houses: Eerie Encounters in Gothic Mansions (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP140)
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
When Evil Spirits Attack: Demonic Hellfire Strikes a Welsh Mansion (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP139)
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 Uncanny Were-Dog and Other Canine Terrors: Paranormal Pooches of the Wild Hunt (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP138)
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. Bu
The Ghost of a Grave and Other Death Omens: Supernatural Secrets of Life After Death (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP137)
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 phenom
The Dark Art of the Exorcist: Banish Spirits, Goblins & Fairies with Exorcism (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP136)
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?
Terror of the Mundane Ghosts: Are Ordinary Spirits the Most Frightening? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP135)
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 t
Hounds of the Underworld: Dare You Join the Wild Hunt? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP134)
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 A
Christmas Special: The Other Mari Lwyd – Wales' Uncanny Yuletide Visitor (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP133)
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
A Quick Update from Mark Rees: Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
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/
Pete the Polt: Inside One of the Biggest Poltergeist Cases Ever (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP132)
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.
W
Curse of the Vampire Bed: Is Dracula Lurking Under the Duvet? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP131)
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
Halloween Ghost Hunt: Paranormal Investigation at a "Most Haunted" Swansea Pub (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP130)
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 t
Halloween Folklore Special: Haunted History, Welsh Traditions & Uncanny Jack-o’-Lanterns (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP129)
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
Deadly Death Omens: The Mystery of Welsh Corpse Candles (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP128)
Journey into the haunted heart of Welsh folklore, exploring eerie accounts of encounters with mysterious apparitions known as corpse candles (canwyll corff).
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, innocent individuals walking through the Welsh countryside found themselves face to face with ghostly lights that foretold impending deaths. Tales from Maesydderwen and Silian talk of enigmatic lights tha
Corpse Candle Chronicles: Secrets of the Ghostly Harbingers of Death (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP127)
Corpse candles were once a common sight in Wales. What's truly spine-tingling is that sometimes these lights were carried by ghostly figures, believed to be the very souls soon to depart.
This episode delves into historical cases of individuals who regularly witnessed corpse candles, shedding light on the eerie prevalence of this phenomenon. We also explore the belief that St. David himself praye
Sunken Cities of the Damned: Lake Monsters, Dragons & Dark Folklore (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP126)
Were witches, devils and fairies responsible for destroying cities? And what about the lake monsters and dragons lurking in the depths?
Events that some people might describe as an act of god have been blamed on all manner of supernatural creatures. What do you believe?
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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Sensing Spirits: Musical Ghosts and Haunted Places That Tingle the Senses (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP125)
Can you see, hear, smell and feel a ghost? Can you trust your senses in a haunted location?
The waft of lavender might suggests a Victorian woman’s perfume; a fleeting white shape might suggest the death shroud of a tormented soul; and the sensation of being touched by icy fingers might suggest that somebody, or something, is reaching out to grope you from beyond the veil.
Explore the lore with M
Strange Secrets of the Supernatural Soil: Witchcraft, Death Omens & Funeral Portents (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP124)
There's witchcraft in the earth, death omens in the dirt, and all manner of gothic graveyard traditions associated with the soil beneath out feet.
Can these strange superstitions and unusual traditions bring good luck, bad luck, and a whole lot more?
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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The Noisy Ghost: Baffling Poltergeist Activity in a Welsh Beauty Spot (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP123)
Sceptics and believers are divided when a "violent" entity targets an unassuming home and and transforms it into a haunted mansion.
Can you solve the mystery of the Pembrokeshire poltergeist?
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts: The “Most Haunted” Fence & Deadly Death Omens (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP122)
A trio of "real life" ghost stories including a young lover who pays a heavy price for sneaking out late at night, an extremely deadly death omen, and a series of haunted mansions in a Welsh town.
Three eerie tales from Carmarthenshire that featute a "most haunted" fence (!), a rare spectral premonition that was thought to lead to multiple deaths, and a series of haunted mansions in Llanelli.
Expl
Devil in Disguise: An Evil Spirit vs. The Local Exorcist in a Welsh Church (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP121)
How can you tell if there's an evil spirit in your church? And if the demons attack, who can repel them?
On this episode we investigate the ways in which Satan can deceive even the most faithful of churchgoers, and take a closer look at one of his fiercest battles with a man of God which left permanent scars in the Welsh landscape, the Legend of Llandaff.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of
Crazy Lore of the Fairy Folk: Welsh Fairies, Vampires & Demons You Need to Defend Against (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP120)
Folklore so absurd it can't possibly be true... can it?
On this episode we investigate the ways in which the fairy folk can be stopped from committing such crimes as kidnapping children with all manner of ingenious - and bizarre - superstitions. It also works on repelling vampires, demons, and all manner or supernatural intruders.
Explore the fairy lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghos
The Deadly Ghost Train: Haunted Locomotives & Real-Life Death Omens (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP119)
All aboard the phantom funeral train for a ride you'll never forget... if you survive!
In this episode we explore eerie first-hand accounts of death omens that predict bad news for the good folk of Wales. There's phantom trains, phantom funerals, and phantom singing - yes, singing - along the way.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if y
Haunted Mansions: Ghostly Encounters in Carmarthenshire’s Most Haunted Area (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP118)
Dare you take a ghost tour around the dark streets and haunted mansions where headless ladies and coughing poltergeists lurk around every corner?
In this episode we head to Carmarthenshire and a road outside Carmarthen for a quarter of uncanny accounts in search of clues to unsolved paranormal mysteries.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast
May Day Magic & Madness: Beltane Rituals, Folk Horror & Summer’s Uncanny Arrival (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP117)
Summer and winter do battle in some weird and wonderful folk horror-like traditions to celebrate the coming of brighter days.
In Welsh folklore, the May Day celebrations emerge from the great fire festivals of the ancient druids in which the king and queen of May are crowned. All manner of rites are performed for a bountiful harvest and fertility in the natural world, ranging from the magical to
Sacred Fire of Beltane: Strange Superstitions and Magical Rites of May Day (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP116)
What happened during the biggest fire festival of the ancient druids of Britain?
Welsh folklore tells us that the British pagans loved nothing more than a big bonfire to mark special occasions, from the Summer Solstice to the Winter Solstice, and Midsummer to Samhain. But there was one fire festival to rule them all, the biggest fire festival of all, and precursor to May Day: Beltane.
Explore the
Welcome to Haunted Wrexham: Ghostly Goings-On in a City Worthy of the Ghostbusters (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP115)
A paranormal hotspot has attracted spooks for centuries. What is going on in Wrexham?
In this centuries-spanning haunting, what began as something of a grisly urban legend becomes a terrifying modern-day ghost story when a poltergeist is disturbed from their slumber.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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Crimes of the Changelings: When Fairies Steal Babies and Leave Uncanny Doubles (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP114)
The frightening fairy folk known as changelings steal babies from their mothers and replace them with something far more sinister.
If you suspect your children have been swapped for uncanny doppelgangers, what can you do? Maybe it's time to visit the local witch or conjurer for some magical help.
Explore the creepy lore of the fairies with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of
Funeral Phantoms: Eerie Death Omens and Uncanny Visions of the Afterlife (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP113)
Death omens come in many guises, from eerie dark spirits to psychic visions witnessed only by mediums.
Some are phantoms who foreshadow a death in community and appear in the form of spirits, others in the form of sounds. Sometimes they after the shades of night have fallen, others in broad daylight.
Whenever and wherever they manifest, the result is always the same – to encounter these harbinger
Strange Skies and Shooting Stars: Uncanny Welsh Lore of Comets, Rainbows and Witches (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP112)
Explore the mysteries of the skies, where gods and witches battle in the heavens.
Learn how to avoid turning your children into lunatics, being targeted by thunder and lighting, the real meaning of rainbows and comets, and much more.
Explore the cosmic lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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Ghosts of Gwent: Haunted Houses, Castles and Wells from Newport to Newcastle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP111)
There's paranormal activity in the ancient Welsh county. Is Gwent haunted?
From Newport to Newcastle, there are reports of giant phantoms, spirit-infested trees, magical wells, and even a friendly apparition or two.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
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The Gwyllion: Frightful Fairy Spirits That Haunt the Welsh Mountains (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP110)
Dare you follow the "Old Woman" who laughs with a weird, uncanny, crackling old laugh?
The Gwyllion are the mountain fairies of Wales who are said to lead weary travellers astray in the fog and mist. Friends of the goats who take delight in your plight, when the shades of night fall beware their fairy tricks.
But there are ways to protect yourself, such as the Welsh Ghostbusters favourite weapon,
Secrets of Wales’ Haunted Houses: Paranormal Mysteries You’ve Never Heard Before (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP109)
Three haunted house with very different paranormal activity - what connects them?
A trio of "real-life" hauntings are seemingly linked by haunted objects: a centuries-old conspiracy concerning a vicar, a sinister old lady who hates visitors, and the skeleton of a man who came to a rather unfortunate end.
Explore the lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast.
The Fiendish Christmas Folklore Quiz: Mari Lwyd, Welsh Witches & Festive Traditions (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP108)
Dare you tackle this fiendish festive quiz? 10 questions, from the Mari Lwyd to Welsh witches!
If you think you know your strange superstitions and weird Welsh traditions, try and beat the score of special guest Chris Carra on this Christmas and New Year's Eve quiz.
If you win, the Mari will bring you good luck for the next 12 months...
Explore the festive lore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on
Welsh Ghost Stories for Christmas: Uncanny Footsteps and Poltergeists in Paranormal Cardiff (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP107)
Is it Santa Claus or an evil spirit disturbing a family home at the witching hour on Christmas Eve?
Christmas is the best time of year for ghost stories, and it's even better when those ghost stories are real.
In this selection of real-life accounts from Cardiff, pesky poltergeist and a lady in white haunt the streets of the capital, but unlike the spectres in the works of Charles Dickens and MR J
Dark Folklore of Death Omens: Phantom Funerals and the Welsh Toili (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP106)
To see a death omen is never a good sign. But to see a phantom funeral? That was extra terrifying.
With the possible exception of the Corpse Candle, the most prominent death portent in Wales is the “Toili” or spirit funeral; a kind of shadowy funeral which foretold the real one.
Explore the dark folklore with Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!
Paranormal Power of the Sun and Moon: Death Omens, Dragon Lore & Druid Magic (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP105)
The sun and the moon have long been associated with good and bad luck, but what is their supernatural power?
In this episode, the folklore of the skies is examined with tales of ancient druids, terrible death omens, Welsh dragons, and traditions that may have connections with modern-day Christmas and Easter.
Join Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) for a folkloric investigation in search of the folklore o
Wales’ “Most Haunted” Pub? Halloween Paranormal Investigation at the Prince of Wales (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast – Nos Calan Gaeaf Special with Mark Rees EP104)
In the 1980s, an idyllic pub was named the "most haunted" pub in Wales, and possibly the world. But what was happening at this serene beauty spot?
Strange sounds were captured, audible phenomena that experts debated but could not explain, and some believed it might be an early example of the so-called "Stone Tape" theory in action.
Whatever it was, the media attention died down, but the activity d
A Halloween Haunting: Whisked Away by a Hideous Apparition on Nos Calan Gaeaf (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP103)
A mischievous spirit terrorises a Welsh valleys' "most haunted" cottage on Nos Calan Gaeaf.
It was just before Halloween in 1893 that this fantastical tale emerged from the Rhondda Valleys. A group of locals were being spooked by "hideous apparitions" and one woman claimed that she was – quite literally – swept off her feet.
There were no Ghostbusters to save the day, but the brave men and women f
The Edwardian Ghostbusters: How to Banish Spirits, Goblins & Devils This Halloween (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP102)
Paranormal investigation tips from Edwardian ghost hunters .
Ghostbusters in Edwardian times - long before the invention of proton packs - needed some crafty tricks to rid themselves of pesky poltergeists. In this guide "How to Get Rid of Ghosts, Spirits, Goblins, and Devils, etc." their secrets are rediscovered to aid modern-day ghost hunters ahead of any Halloween hauntings.
Join Mark Rees (Ghos
Animals from Hell: Devilish Pets, Demonic Beasts & the Headless Horseman (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP101)
In many of the Welsh Ghost Stories, the spirit or ghost was supposed to have been none other than the evil one himself...
The Devil takes on many forms, but could he really disguise himself as a pet? In these accounts Satan, or another demon from hell, appears to mere mortals as cats, dogs, horses and more.
Join Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) for an adventure in search of the demonic animals on the G
The Swansea Spook: Ghostly Apparition Haunts Caswell Bay – Can the Mumbles Ghost Hunters Solve the Mystery? (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP100)
A strange white apparition is terrifying a Welsh village. Can the local ghostbusters solve the mystery?
On the golden sands of Caswell Bay a ghostly visitant is sending shivers up the spine of young and old alike after the shades of night have fallen. A group of Mumbles ghost hunters set out to put an end to the haunting of this Swansea spook, and what they find surprises all of them.
Join Mark Re
The Witch in the Moon: Ceridwen, King Arthur & the Cosmic Battle of Welsh Mythology (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP99)
The ancient druids, so folklore tells us, believed the goddess Ceridwen was personified in the moon, and fought a never-ending battle with a Satan-like force for evil with great black wings that inhabited the sun.
In fact, the night sky in full of connections to great figures from Welsh mythology, from the tales of the Mabinogion to the legends of King Arthur, with each celestial body mysteriously
Possessed at the Séance: Real Victorian Ghost Stories from Haunted Wales (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP98)
Talking to the dead doesn't always go to plan, and sometimes spirits from the past can shock us in unexpected ways.
In Victorian Britain, psychic mediums were plying their trade up and down the country, and in these first-hand accounts from Cardiff and beyond we get to relive the spooky action through the words of those who were there.
If you're brave enough to take a seat at the séance table, joi
Apparitions of the Devil: When Paranormal Activity Turns Truly Evil (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP97)
When the Devil walks the earth, he often does so in disguise.
The 'Evil One' appears takes many forms, but possibly the most diabolical is when he appears as one of us - as human. But whatever forms Satan takes, in Welsh folklore at least, there is usually a wise old woman or crafty farmer to test their wits against his.
Explore the Devilish lore in these centuries-spanning tales with author Mark
Ghosts in the Water: Spirits, Dragons, Serpents and Fairy Folk in Haunted Welsh Waters (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP96)
Why are the lost souls of sinful spirits trapped in the wild waters of Wales?
And ghosts aren't the only things lurking in the wells and streams - there's water-ogres, guardian dragons, giant serpents, the mischievous fairy folk, and even a tenuous link with Tolkien and Bilbo Baggins.
Explore the watery lore of these curious tales with author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he investigates the weir
Warnings to the Curious: The Baby-Stealing Ghost and Other Welsh Hauntings (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees EP95)
A phantom horseman, a baby-stealing ghost, a warning from the future and even miniature fairy-sized spooks.
In this episode we explore a series of short but sweet and seemingly unconnected supernatural tales collected from the wilds of Wales. Can you unlock their paranormal mysteries? And should they serve, to quote MR James, as a warning to the curious?
Explore the lore of these curious tales wit
