The Cotswolds is much-loved for its picture-perfect villages, like Bourton on the Water – which perhaps offers the quintessential English village experience.
However, it has a doppelganger just a four-hour drive away, which is surrounded by some of Britain’s most breathtakingly beautiful countryside.
Beddgelert is a sleepy village in North Wales – and it has been named one of the most beautiful places in the UK by travel experts.
Situated in the heart of Snowdonia, Beddgelert is home to a beautiful stone bridge. The village was reportedly named after a bloodstained dog that was falsely accused of murder.
Once upon a time, Prince Llewelyn the Great was the most powerful man in Wales. He went everywhere with his trusty companion, his dog Gelert. One day, the Welsh Prince left his baby son at home sleeping while he went out hunting.
Llewelyn returned to find his son motionless – and his dog covered in blood. The prince wrongly assumed his dog had murdered his child and immediately killed the blameless animal.
However, it later transpired that the baby was still alive, thanks to his faithful hound – who had protected it from a large wolf, whose blood had fooled the prince.
Some maintain the legend of Gelert is little more than a shaggy dog story, but Gelert’s grave – or Bedd Gelert in Welsh – can be found near the village that now has this name.
However, it turns out that a cairn of stones marking the grave are less than 200 years old. Historic UK says the story was brought to Beddgelert in 1793 by a pub landlord who wanted to drum up some business at his hotel, the Royal Goat Inn.
David Pritchard knew of a similar Norse myth about a brave dog that had been badly wronged. He adapted it to fit the village in a masterstroke marketing move.
However, Beddgelert and Snowdonia don’t really need to be sold by cheap tricks. They really are jaw-droppingly pretty.
Travel blog Big 7 Travel polled some of the UK’s leading snappers on their favourite villages to capture. Beddgelert came in the top 20, despite having a population of just over 450 people.
Another independent travel blog, wanderyourway.com, gushed: “Beddgelert Wales is one of those villages that will charm your pants off.
“I know the whole of the United Kingdom is filled with quaint and charming towns and villages – you’re probably thinking about the Cotswold towns right now. But Beddgelert may be at the top of the list.”
It’s also been also been described as being one of Britain’s “prettiest autumn villages”. Fine and Country said Beddgelert is an incredibly welcoming place to visit due to its “captivating landscapes” and “charming cottages.”
