Away with the Fairies

Once upon a time, in a magical castle in south Wales, fairies appeared before our very eyes. And I, as your Fairy Godmother, have persuaded them to reveal themselves to you!

One of my latest projects has been the creation and launch of the Castell Coch Fairy Trail – an Augmented Reality fairytale. Find ten Welsh fairies (the mystical and legendary ‘Tylwyth Teg’) hiding around Castell Coch, near Cardiff, using your smartphone or tablet and win a special prize!

Castell Coch, originally a medieval castle but rebuilt in Victorian splendour, is known as Wales’ ‘fairytale’ castle, with turrets peaking out from the treetops just a few miles north of Cardiff. Once inside it is actually staggering how lavish it is!

Now, by downloading the Cadw app, your phone will tell you when a fairy is near and you can spot them using your phone’s camera, logging them in the special fairy grid as you go.

Tanwen Fairy

Each individual fairy has been inspired by their traditional Welsh name. Tanwen, for example, is alive with flames as ‘tân’ in Welsh means ‘fire’. Seren, meaning star, is a beautiful golden shining beauty. Haf (summer) is playful, in cut-off dungarees and Non (mother of our patron saint, St David) has wings the colour of daffodils!

You can find out more about the fairies and how to use your digital device to find them at Castell Coch on the Cadw website http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/castell-coch/castell-coch-fairies-2017/?lang=en

The Western Mail, WalesOnline, also did a really great story on the launch of the trail. See if you recognise the side profile in one of the pictures! http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/how-you-can-spot-fairies-13059322