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Literary Locations

Literary Places
EBK tries to see where those Arthurian places might really have been located.

Literary Kingdoms
EBK presents a map of Arthurian Britain as it might have been seen by medieval writers.


Arthur's Burial

Atherstone

Controversial last resting place of one of two King Arthurs according to Blackett & Wilson.

Glastonbury Abbey
Popular Tradition says Arthur was buried at Glastonbury. Or did the monks make it all up?

Mynydd-y-Gaer
Caer Caradoc of legend according to Blackett & Wilson. Discovery point of their famous 'Arthur Stone'.


Arthur's Sleeping Place

Alderley Edge
Merlin was the Wizard of Alderley in Cheshire & Arthur sleeps nearby.

Caerleon
One of the many Arthurian traditions from the town says Arthur still sleeps nearby.

Craig-y-Ddinas
Dramatic rock formation in Glamorganshire where Arthur sleeps.

Eildon Hills
Beautiful rolling hills, in the Scottish Borders, hiding King Arthur's secret cave.

Forest of Paimpont
The heart of Breton Arthurianism, where the great man still sleeps in a secret cave.

Ogof Arthur
Mysterious cave off the dramatic Anglesey coast where Arthur lies sleepily hidden.

Ogof Llanciau Eryri
"Cave of the Young Men of Snowdon," where Arthur & his knights repose.

Richmond Castle
Yorkshire cliff-top stronghold below which Potter Thompson discovered the sleeping Arthur!

Sewingshield Crags
Runaway ball of wool finds the sleeping King along Hadrians Wall!


Avalon

Bardsey Island
This mystical isle off the Welsh Coast could equally have been Avalon.

Glastonbury
Where was Avalon, where Arthur died? Popular tradition points to Glastonbury.

 

Camelot

Cadbury Castle
Did those excavations in the 60s really prove this ancient hillfort to be the great Camelot?

Caerleon
This place has so many Arthurian traditions, surely it must have been Camelot?

Caerwent
Little specific Arthurian tradition here, but compelling arguments suggest it was Camelot.

Camelford
The name speaks for itself. But is this proof enough?

Camelon
A Scottish Camelot? David Carroll revives a forgotten tradition.

Carlisle
Norma Goodrich suggests this ancient city as the seat of a Northern Arthur.

Colchester
The Roman 'Camulodunum'. Surely the original of the name, Camelot?

Graig Llwyn
Blackett & Wilson's unlikely Camelot claimant in the Cardiff suburbs.

Killbury
Small 'hillfort' in Cornwall thought to be Arthur's Court of Kelliwic. 

Llanmelin
Great hillfort of the Silures of Gwent. Barber & Pykitt think this was Camelot.

Slack
Little known Yorkshire town was Roman 'Camulodunum'. Northern Arthur ahoy!

Stirling Castle
Hill-top Scottish stonghold named as 'second' Camelot by Goodrich.

Winchester
Could the controversial Round Table at Winchester Castle possibly be the real thing?


Merlin's Prison

Bardsey Island
Where Merlin is said to reside in his invisible 'House of Glass'. 

Bryn Myrddin
Merlin's Hill near the town of his birth, Carmarthen.

Marlborough
Is this where Merlin is buried, or merely imprisoned?

Tombeau de Merlin
Merlin's megalith, still a place of mystery in the heart of Breton King Arthur Country.

Excalibur's Lake

Bosher
ston Lily Ponds
Lakes in West Wales which claim Excalibur to be within their depths.

Dozmary Pool
Most Famous last resting place of King Arthur's sword on bleak Bodmin Moor. 

L'Etang de Comper
Legends of the Lady of the Lake seem to centre on the Forest of Paimpont in Brittany.

Llyn Llydaw
Camlann was fought in the shadow of Snowdon. Bedivere threw Excalibur into the waters here.

Looe Pool
Dozmary is not the only place in Cornwall to claim Excalibur for itsself. 

Pomparles Bridge
Bridge near Glastonbury where Bedivere returned Excalibur to the depths.


Grail Castles

Castell Dinas Bran
The castle of the Kings of Powys appears to have been the original Grail Castle, Corbenic.

The Chalice Well
Glastonbury's candidate for the Grail's last resting place. Did Joseph of Arimathea hide it here?

Nanteos House
Monks fleeing Glastonbury are said to have ended up in Mid-Wales with the Grail.

Roslyn Chapel
This amazing Scottish Templar Chapel is said to hide the Grail within its foundations.

Whittington Castle
Did Sir Fulk FitzWaryn keep the Marian Chalice in his private chapel here? Was it the Grail?


Miscellaneous

Bamburgh Castle
The real Joyous Guard. Sir Lancelot's home in the North, snatched from wicked Sir Brian.

Glastonbury Tor
Guinevere was kidnapped by King Melwas. Find out where she was held captive.

Hentland Church
Home of St. Dyfrig who apparently officiated at King Arthur's Coronation.

Pendragon Castle
Cumbrian home of King Arthur's enemy, the wicked Sir Brian of the Isles. 

Tintagel Castle
Most famous of Arthurian sites. His dramatic island birthplace with archaeology to boot.

 

      © David Nash Ford 2001. All Rights Reserved.