Beddgelert

Introducing Beddgelert

The charming little community of Beddgelert is a conservation village at the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. The rough grey-stone buildings, overlooking the trickling river with its ivy-covered bridge, come alive in spring when flowers festoon the village – hence Beddgelert is a regular prize-winner in the ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition. Scenes from Mark Robson’s 1958 film, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, starring Ingrid Bergman, were shot here.

Beddgelert, meaning ‘Gelert’s Grave’, is allegedly named after the folk tale of the 13th-century Welsh prince, Llewelyn, whose faithful dog was killed by its owner because he thought it had savaged his baby son. In truth, Gelert had actually killed the wolf that was attacking the baby. The grave is now just a short walk from the village along a riverside trail and, according to the tombstone: ‘The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here. The spot he called Beddgelert.’

Today the grave is a major attraction but, some locals suggest that the dog’s grave was the invention of a canny 19th-century hotelier to boost visitor numbers. More likely the name refers to Celert, a 5th-century missionary preacher from Ireland, who is thought to have founded a church here.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009