Jim Cowan, Tour guide of Llandaff Ghost Walk

AS DARKNESS fell, mist crept through Llandaff cemetery and a shiver ran through the spines of the gathered crowd. Chilled breath hovered over the stone graves as Jim Cowan began his tale. By day, Llandaff is a delightful village, just outside of Cardiff city centre. By night, however, the moon rises high, the streets are silent and it is the setting of the Llandaff Ghost Walk.

Brave souls are invited to join a group walk through the grounds of Llandaff Cathedral pausing every now and again to listen to tales of the ghosts, witches and mysterious creatures said to roam the muddy paths around the building.

At one point the group paused, torches switched off, and we heard the story of the witch who lurked in the caves behind the cathedral. Whether she was a madwoman cast out by her family for being deformed or something more menacing, we cannot be sure.

Feet crunched across the path down towards the graveyard and whether it was the bitterly cold night, or the tales of children haunting the fields, I could not help but pull my scarf a little tighter around my neck and try to suppress another shiver.

Jim Cowan, the mastermind behind Llandaff Ghost Walk, came up with the idea after realising there was a rich history of the paranormal around Cardiff. A former tour guide in Cardiff Castle, he said: “I was amazed that nobody had done this before. I’ve always loved ghost stories and people from Llandaff have learned stuff they never knew.”

“I love the idea of ghosts and we live in such a clinically proven scientific world it is lovely to have something that in all that time people have been unable to prove or disprove.”

Mr Cowan started the tours last October and they have been a hit ever since. Cardiff’s most daring have trod the paths around the ageing cathedral and been thrilled by the stories Jim has researched in archives, books and Cardiff Central Library.

He said: “Young people tend to enjoy being really scared. Young people are looking for something more sensational. The old people love the stories.”

Mr Cowan illuminated a barely known history of the paranormal in the city. He mentioned a ghost who haunts Cardiff Castle, a young matron called Sarah, who he believes pulled his trouser leg twice whilst he worked as a tour guide in the castle.

A fellow ex-tour guide of the castle, David Thompson, 44, also mentions Sarah.

He said: “Cardiff Castle is one of the most haunted buildings in Wales. There’s a very well reported ghost there called Sarah. When she died she was about 19 and she does very mischievous things like at three o clock in the morning she’ll switch lights off and bang doors.”

After finding out about the ghosts of Cardiff Castle, and realising the city lacked ghost tours such as those in cities like Bath or London, Mr Thompson established Creepy Cardiff. He takes groups around the city, pointing out the most haunted sites and thrilling crowds with ghostly tales, such as the story of Dunbar Smith, the architect of Cardiff Museum whose ghost roams the ancient halls and chambers, it is said.

Spooky stories, or true tales? It’s difficult to be sure. Mr Thompson said: “If people believe in ghosts they go away happy because they’ve heard some ghost stories. If people don’t believe in ghosts they’ve had a good time because they’ve had a laugh and heard some stories.”

The tours are an opportunity for residents and visitors to explore Cardiff’s history and test their bravery as they hold their breath, waiting to hear the laughter of long forgotten children in Llandaff graveyard.

If ever there was an ideal place to go in search of ghouls Llandaff would be it and Mr Cowan said his tours offer people an enjoyable scare.

As I shone my torch out into the night and watched the beam arch over the gravestones, a flicker of either bravery or sheer madness overtook me and  I found myself desperately hoping to see a transparent figure wandering around in the shadows.