I kicked off 2026 with an exciting new sideline: travelling the world as a cruise ship speaker. To say it’s been an adventure – a cultural adventure, even – would be an understatement. I’ve been lucky enough to set foot in Africa for the first time, hang out with the free-roaming monkeys on the British…
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…
Across Wales, there are legends of churches that refused to stay where they were built, with some suggesting they were removed by supernatural agency… In episode 165 of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast, Mark Rees explores some of these curious cases, drawn from traditions across west and mid-Wales, including Carmarthenshire, Radnorshire (now Powys),…
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the very first Paranormal Unpacked Live! in Swansea on Easter Saturday – wow! 👻 And a huge apology to those who couldn’t get in or had to stand. We hoped it would be busy, but didn’t expect it to be overflowing. The response to the…
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 episode 164 of the Ghosts and Folklore…
I’ve just wrapped up a week-long series of gigs celebrating Wales’s patron saint himself, Dewi Sant Entitled Ghosts & Folklore of Wales: St David’s Day, most of them were private talks held behind closed doors for some amazing charities, with one public appearance at the Croeso Festival in Swansea. Attention now turns back to the…
The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast is back – bigger and better than ever (well… nearly)! I’ve been off gallivanting about the world, but normal spooky service resumes VERY soon – in two weeks, in fact (12 March 2026). On this quick video update (click below to watch, or listen on the podcast) I…
Join Mark Rees for a FREE Ghosts & Folklore of Wales talk in Swansea this St David’s Day/ Dydd Gŵyl Dewi! Mark will be appearing at the Croeso Festival at 10am (yes, 10am – in the morning, set the alarm) on the “Pabell Pawb a Phopeth” stage (full line up here), at the top of…
Christmas in Wales has always been a season for ghost stories, and few places offer stranger, richer tales than Dinefwr and Llandeilo. In this episode of Ghosts and Folklore of Wales, Mark Rees is joined by Ronnie Kerswell-O’Hara of the National Trust — a storyteller, ghost-tour guide and expert on local folklore. Witch Baubles and…
