Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees cover art

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

By: Mark Rees
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 Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast: Step into the weird and wonderful world of haunted Wales with this monthly podcast that explores ghost stories, Gothic tales, uncanny encounters, ancient lore, and the rich folklore of Wales. Join Welsh storyteller, writer, and historian Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) – “arguably Wales’ leading authority on the curious and paranormal aspects of the country’s history” – as he guides listeners through chilling legends, real-life hauntings, and otherworldly mysteries from Cymru and beyond. Each episode is a spine-tingling (and often tongue-in-cheek) journey through the eerie landscapes and haunted heritage of dark Wales. You’ll hear tales from the “most haunted” castles, real ghost stories from Wales, and spectral horse parades like the Mari Lwyd. Poltergeists, uncanny spirits, corpse candles, and phantom funerals are just the beginning. You’ll also discover mystical creatures like the Ceffyl Dŵr, the Gwyllgi, and other ghostly beasts said to roam the valleys and mountains. Whether you’re fascinated by uncanny spirits, Halloween traditions (Nos Calan Gaeaf), ancient Druid rituals, or modern-day paranormal investigations, this podcast offers a captivating blend of supernatural storytelling, folklore deep-dives, and historical curiosity – all delivered with a Gothic flair and a dry sense of humour. Listeners who love uncovering mysterious Welsh history, exploring haunted locations, or unraveling legends of mythical creatures will feel right at home. These gripping episodes transport you to the haunted corners of the country, where myths, ghosts, and magic continue to cast their spell. Expect interviews with ghost hunters, eerie seasonal specials like Halloween ghost stories, and plenty of spine-chilling tales that blend history, horror, and humour in every episode. Don’t miss an episode—subscribe now to unlock the paranormal secrets of haunted Wales, where nothing is ever quite what it seems… and the past is never truly dead.Copyright 2020 All rights reserved. Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Christmas Ghosts: Haunted Dinefwr & Llandeilo – Welsh Ghost Stories for the Darkest Nights (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP163)

    Christmas Ghosts: Haunted Dinefwr & Llandeilo – Welsh Ghost Stories for the Darkest Nights (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP163)
    Dec 18 2025
    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’Hara, who previously joined us for last week’s Mari Lwyd folklore episode.

    Ronnie reveals the eerie objects found in Newton House (including witch balls, witch marks and mummified cats), unexplained static like something from Poltergeist, and the chilling stories behind haunted paintings and ghostly children seen on the stairs.

    She also shares tales from her Llandeilo ghost walks: tragic carriage accidents, a mysterious fall from a window… or was it a push?

    Expect Welsh hauntings, cursed objects, spooky art, local legends and even a Scooby-Doo-style mystery.

    Settle in for Welsh Christmas ghost stories on the darkest nights of the year… if you dare. 👻🎄

    ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

    Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

    BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

    If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

    https://ko-fi.com/markrees

    WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?

    The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

    Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

    From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

    Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

    Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

    For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

    • Mark Rees homepage
    • Mark Rees on social media
    • Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
    • Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

    Until next time, nos da!
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Christmas Folklore: The Mari Lwyd – How to Make a Welsh Ghost-Horse (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP162)

    Christmas Folklore: The Mari Lwyd – How to Make a Welsh Ghost-Horse (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP162)
    Dec 4 2025
    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.

    Mark Rees is joined by Ronnie Kerswell-O’Hara of the National Trust at Dinefwr, Llandeilo – a maker, performer, dancer and seasoned guide to both Halloween ghost hunts and New Year Mari Lwyd events. Ronnie lifts the veil on what it takes to create a Mari from scratch, the realities of handling the skull, and the magic of a full Mari Lwyd troupe.

    Along the way, we meet a mysterious Green Man, uncover tips and tricks from years of trial and error, and explore how a centuries-old tradition is kept alive today through craft, community and a little seasonal mischief.

    Explore the lore this Christmas... if you dare! 👻

    ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

    Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

    BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

    If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

    https://ko-fi.com/markrees

    WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?

    The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

    Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

    From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

    Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

    Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

    For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

    • Mark Rees homepage
    • Mark Rees on social media
    • Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
    • Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

    Until next time, nos da!
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • EP161 Halloween at a Haunted Welsh Castle: The Curse of Pennard Castle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees) 🎃🏰

    EP161 Halloween at a Haunted Welsh Castle: The Curse of Pennard Castle (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast with Mark Rees) 🎃🏰
    Oct 30 2025
    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 chilling curses.

    From the night a witch-like death omen was said to strike a man mad, to a modern eyewitness who saw something moving in the mist, this episode weaves folklore, history and first-hand encounters into one unnerving tale.

    Explore the lore this Halloween... if you dare! 👻

    ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:

    Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and Gower" now! You can order it online here.

    BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:

    If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi - thank you/ diolch!

    https://ko-fi.com/markrees

    WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK REES?

    The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.

    Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes.

    From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along the way.

    Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.

    Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru. Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the way!

    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.

    For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit https://markreesonline.com/:

    • Mark Rees homepage
    • Mark Rees on social media
    • Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)
    • Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast

    Until next time, nos da!
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
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