The Lady of the Lake & The Physicians of Myddfai

Eight miles (13 km) south of Llandovery is the pretty village of Myddfai where you can read about the charming legend, the Physicians of Myddfai, that centres around Llyn y Fan Fach, south east of Myddfai.

One day the son and heir of Blaen Sawdde farm took his cattle to graze on the Black Mountain near the lake called Llyn y Fan Fach. To his astonishment he saw a beautiful woman sitting on the lake combing her hair. He offered her bread and cheese but she refused. On his third visit she accepted his gift of finely baked bread and agreed to become his bride.  

She brought a rich dowry of sheep, cattle, goats and horses but she warned him that if he struck her three blows without cause she would return to the lake with all her possessions. They lived together for many years and she bore him three sons. But slight reproofs were interpreted as blows and on the third occasion she returned to the Lake with all her animals.  

Her sons returned to the mountain to seek her out. On one occasion she appeared to her eldest son, Rhiwallon and told him that he was destined to be a healer and she showed him plants and herbs and revealed their medical virtues.

Although this starts as legend, there are records of Rhiwallon and his three sons who were well-known 13th century physicians and whose descendants continued the tradition of practising medicine. The "Physicians Valley" (Pan-y-Meddygon) is still rich in bog plants, herbs and lichens and is well worth visiting for its scenery.