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

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!

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

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!

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 doors for whispered names, discover how spooky games revealed secrets about love, death, and the unknown.

Uncover the folklore behind Halloween in Wales — where witches, spirits, and uncanny tricks weren’t just stories, but a part of everyday life.

Explore the lore... 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

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!

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 quite human, and why this terrifying encounter has echoed through generations — a story steeped in mystery, murder, and the spirit of Nos Calan Gaeaf, the Welsh Halloween.

Explore the lore... 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

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!

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, ghostly wailing in the night, and an uncanny sense that something is coming.

Witnesses hear it too. The knocking grows louder. And then it reaches a crescendo…

But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s only when news arrives from across the Atlantic that the full meaning of these uncanny spirit sounds becomes clear.

On this episode, Mark explores a chilling tale of death omens, haunted houses, and the old folk belief that death itself gives warning — if you know how to listen.

Explore the lore... 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

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!

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 lore.

Is this neolithic tomb truly connected to King Arthur? Did Merlin himself walk these lands? And what really happens at midnight when the capstone stirs and the spirits rise?

From love-seeking rituals involving ghostly cakes, to tales of Dylan Thomas invoking the dead, this is one eerie pilgrimage you won’t forget.

Explore the lore... 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

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!

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 now a hotspot for chilling encounters, Craig-y-Nos Castle has a spine-tingling history of ghostly sightings and supernatural tales.

Join us at this milestone moment… who knows what you might see — or hear?

Explore the lore... 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

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!

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 — tormented a hardworking farmer until he uncovered a buried secret? And did a goblin really make a house vanish from sight, or were two young women led astray by something darker?

From ghost dogs and death omens to haunted bridges, mischievous poltergeists, and vanishing homes, this episode weaves together a chilling patchwork of Wales' most unsettling folklore.

Are these forgotten legends mere superstition — or do they hint at a deeper truth buried beneath the soil of haunted Wales?

Explore the lore... 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

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!