Lead Ranger, Dewi Roberts said: “We were just resurfacing a section of the path when a glint caught my attention. We weren’t sure what it was to begin with so we carried on digging, even though it was covered in mud it was obvious that we’d found a sword.
“We all tried pulling it out carefully, but it was actually Iolo’s tug that released the full length of the sword into the air. Looking back it was quite a surreal moment. We’re all aware of the legend, and instinctively, almost immediately started teasing him, that he must be the chosen one, the reincarnation of King Arthur. We had no idea at the time that the sword could actually be that old and could potentially be Excalibur - we haven’t seen Iolo for a few days, we think he’s busy researching his family tree!”
We are continuing to work with Arthurian experts and archaeologists to verify the exact age of the sword and whether the faint embellishments along the hilt match the sword described in the Mabinogion.
The sword will be on display at Ogwen Cottage with more information available from the rangers base.Visitors can also embark on a walk around Llyn Ogwen, taking in the discovery site for themselves.