Location: Beddgelert, Snowdonia National Park
Beddgelert is famous for the legend of the faithful hound who gave the village its name. According to legend Gelert was the faithful hound of Llywelyn who was a 13th Century prince of North Wales.
One day Llywelyn went out hunting leaving Gelert to guard his infant son's cradle. On his return The Prince was horrified to discover the cradle empty and Gelert rushing to greet him with blood dripping from his jaws.
Fearing the worst Llywelyn plunged his sword into the dog whose dying whimpers were answered by the cries of an infant. Llywelyn looked behind the crib to find his son unharmed and the body of a great wolf Gelert had slain.
Llywelyn buried his faithful hound on the spot where the village of Beddgelert (Literally Gelert's Grave) now stands. The Prince was inconsolable and it is said he never smiled again.
But today this macabre tale of dog murder is not the only thing one of North Wales' most picturesque villages has going for it. The abundance of brightly coloured window boxes on display has won Beddgelert a series of national awards for the general loveliness of the place. And visitors with a sweet tooth can indulge at the famous Glaslyn Ice Cream shop.