A very, very long time ago there lived a prince called Llewellyn. He lived in a great castle in the hills of Caernarvonshire with his wife and baby son, and several huge hounds. His favourite hound was a dog called Gelert. Gelert was always at the prince’s side; always faithful, always brave. Many times, he had saved the prince from wolf attacks; he was fearless in protecting his master.

Now, Llewellyn was a great huntsman and swordsman. He often hunted in the forests that surrounded the castle for these were full of packs of wolves, who regularly caught and ate sheep belonging to the prince’s farms. Every day, sheep would go missing and Llewellyn was determined to rid his lands of the ravenous wolves. Each day, with his faithful followers and hounds, he would ride his horse throughout his kingdom hunting down, killing or capturing as many wolves as he could.

 One winter’s evening, Prince Llewellyn heard the howl of wolves nearby. Fearing for his sheep, he called his followers together and set off with his hounds into the murky forests. For many hours they tracked and caught wolves until darkness fell, forcing them to return to the castle. Llewellyn blew his horn to summon his hounds, but Gelert did not return. He blew his horn three more times but still Gelert did not return. 

He asked his huntsmen, “Where’s Gelert? He has not returned.”

“We haven’t seen him for a while,” they replied.

“I saw him in a fierce fight with a wolf earlier,” one of them said.

“I hope he has not been killed,” lamented Llewellyn. He blew his horn once more, but Gelert still did not return.

With a heavy heart, Prince Llewellyn reluctantly turned his horse and headed back to the castle. As he approached, his wife out to meet him sobbing “My baby, my baby.” Llewellyn jumped from his horse and ran into the castle.

What a sight greeted him when he entered his baby son’s room, Furniture was strewn around the room. The baby’s cradle was turned over and blankets with spots of blood lay on the floor. Gelert was lying whimpering by the upturned cradle. 

Llewellyn flew into a rage, shouting at the dog, “What have you done. You have killed my child.” He quickly drew his sword and immediately killed his dog.”

His wife ran into the room and finding poor Gelert dead, knelt down and cried mournfully by his side. She told her husband that Gelert had followed a wolf into the castle and, seeing it making its way to the baby’s cradle, jumped on its back and fought it bravely, even though his flesh was torn by the wolf’s teeth. Gelert had saved the baby’s life.

Prince Llewellyn turned the cradle over to find his baby unharmed, and the body of a huge wolf dead by its side.

“Oh, my Gelert, my Gelert!” cried the prince. “Oh, my favourite, what have I done. You have been slain by your own master.” The next day, Gelert was buried not far from the castle. Llewellyn planted a tree on his grave. You can still see it to this day in the village of Beth Gelert – Gelert’s grave.