Great Western Railway revives forgotten folklore for a new generation with a new tale from Michael Morpurgo

To celebrate World Book Day today, Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced a campaign to secure traditional regional folklore, partnering with one of the nation’s greatest storytellers, Sir Michael Morpurgo, to bring the myths and legends of the South West and Wales to a new audience.

100 years since its iconic Legend Land series was completed, GWR is reissuing a new version featuring 11 myths. The collection is led by a personal introduction from the former Children's Laureate, who has also penned his own original legend for the volume – The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey.

Set in a Cornish harbour, this moving tale explores the life-saving bond between a fisherman’s son and a dolphin, adding a fresh tail for the new generation of readers.

The beautifully-illustrated collection brings to life classic legends from the South West and Wales, reshaped from stories that have been whispered and shared across these landscapes for centuries.

Readers will journey from the mountains of Snowdonia, where the young wizard Merlin reveals two battling dragons hidden beneath a crumbling fortress, to the epic rivalry of the giant brothers Goram and Vincent, whose ferocious battle carved the very cliffs of the Bristol and Avon Valley landscape. Each story was retold for a modern audience by Gloucestershire-based writer Brad Brookes, who lives among these age-old tales. 

To celebrate the book’s arrival, GWR is bringing these stories to life through five statues of some of the featured legends, inviting travellers to step out of the station and into a world of castles and mystical beasts.

Ranging from 5ft to 8ft tall, these statues – including the Red Dragon of Cardiff, the Giants of Avon Gorge, and the Faeries of Pennard Castle – have been installed at London Paddington before travelling to Bristol Temple Meads, Cardiff Central, Swansea, Castle Cary, and St Ives, forming a physical Legend Trail across the network. 

Alongside the new Line to Legend Land book, GWR is also sharing an online travel guide, featuring details for traveling to each location, so families can embark on their own legendary adventures.

From soaking in the very hot springs Prince Bladud discovered in Bath, to climbing the ancient ramparts of King Arthur’s Camelot in the heart of Somerset, scanning a QR code in the book will take you to a roadmap for travellers to experience the spirit of these stories in the very landscapes where they first took root.

Sir Michael Morpurgo said:

"Folklore is the lifeblood of our landscape; it’s how we connect the earth beneath our feet to the imagination in our heads. Living in Devon, I have always felt a profound connection to the stories that haunt these hills and coasts.

"A century ago, the original Legend Land series invited families to find magic in their journeys, and I am thrilled to help GWR revive that spirit. By retelling these ancient stories – including the addition of my own, The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey – we aren't just looking back at the past; we are ensuring that the giants, dragons, and mermaids of our heritage continue to live on in the hearts of children today."

GWR Sales and Marketing Director, Amanda Burns, said:

“A century ago, GWR’s Line to Legend Land book was an invitation to explore the magic of the South West and Wales. The tales in this book are inspired by the rich stories of these regions and the tales that have been shared and reshaped through generations.

"By reviving these legends, including the contribution from the iconic Michael Morpurgo, we are celebrating the power of storytelling and its deep connection to the regional landscape. Our goal was to create a truly immersive world where these myths step out of the stories and onto our stations, bringing the legends to life for everyone who travels with us.

"We want to encourage families to set off on their own adventures to discover the spirit of stories that have wandered across our hills, rivers, and valleys for centuries, ensuring they are cherished by generations to come.”

The new Line to Legend Land campaign supports Farms for City Children – founded by Sir Michael and Lady Clare Morpurgo – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Over that time, it has provided children and young people with life-changing opportunities to live, learn and thrive on working farms in Devon, Gloucestershire, and Pembrokeshire and experience the very countryside where many of the myths and legends were born.

What’s more, GWR has donated copies of the Line to Legend Land book to 500 primary schools across its rail network, to ensure the stories that surround the lands they live in are kept alive for years to come.  

Farms for City Children chief executive, Corinna Csaky, said:

“We are very grateful to GWR for its generous support and for shining a light on the extraordinary stories rooted in the landscapes surrounding our farms.

"At Farms for City Children, we see every day how powerful it is when young people step into nature, their confidence grows, their curiosity ignites and their imaginations flourish. We hope the legends in this wonderful book inspire even more young people to explore the beautiful natural environment of the South West and Wales, and discover the magic that lives within it."

The Legend Land Stories & Sculpture Trail

• The Red Dragon of Cardiff (Cardiff and South Wales): The young wizard Merlin reveals two battling dragons beneath a crumbling fortress, with the victorious Red Dragon becoming the eternal protector of Wales. Statue: The Red Dragon – Located at Cardiff Central Station.
• The Giants of Avon Gorge (Bristol and Somerset): Two giant brothers, Goram and Vincent, accidentally carve the spectacular Avon Gorge while competing for the heart of the giantess Avona. Statue: The Giants – Located at Bristol Temple Meads Station.
• The Mermaid of Zennor (Cornwall): A fisherman watches his son fall for a mysterious stranger, eventually finding them living happily beneath the Cornish waves. Statue: The Mermaid – Located at St Ives Station.
• King Arthur’s Camelot (Glastonbury): Following his destiny, King Arthur receives the mighty sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake to unify Britain from his seat at Cadbury Castle. Statue: Excalibur – Located at Castle Cary Station.
• The Faeries of Pennard Castle (The Gower): A cruel Lord’s daughter saves her people from a magical sandstorm triggered by her father’s disrespect toward the Gower Peninsula’s fairies. Statue: The Faerie — Located at Swansea Station.
• The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey (Cornwall): A young boy rescues a stranded dolphin named Smiler, sparking a magical friendship that ultimately brings a miraculous return of fish to a struggling Cornish village.
• The White Horse of Uffington (Uffington): A blind blacksmith helps a magical, invisible giant horse by removing a thorn from its hoof, restoring peace to the Uffington hills.
• The Ghost of Gloucester Cathedral (Gloucester): A kind priest helps the spirit of a playful apprentice become part of the cathedral’s architecture, ending a series of haunting disruptions.
• The Tale Of Prince Bladud (Bath): An exiled prince discovers the healing powers of Bath’s mineral-rich mud after watching his herd of pigs be cured of their ailments.
• The Ravens of the Tower (London): King Charles II rescinds an order to remove the ravens after a terrifying dream warns him that the kingdom will fall if the birds leave.
• Herne the Hunter (Windsor Great Park): A betrayed huntsman is transformed into a stag-headed forest guardian by a golden spirit, forever protecting the ancient oaks of Windsor Great Park.

How to get hold of the book

The ‘Line To Legend Land’ book is available to buy from gwrsouvenirs.co.uk or as a free PDF download from GWR.com/legends.