The Berwyn Mountain Incident
One winter evening in Wales, a loud bang shook a village, lights glowed on the mountain, and rumours spread of a crashed craft.
What was reported
On the evening of 23 January 1974, people around Llandrillo in north Wales heard a loud explosion and felt the ground shake. Some reported a bright light in the sky, and others saw glowing lights on the hillside of the Berwyn Mountains.
A nurse who drove up the mountain said she saw a large glowing sphere. Rumours grew over the years of a crashed craft and a military cover-up, and the case became known as the 'Welsh Roswell'.
Explanations offered
Researchers found that a small earthquake of about magnitude 3.5 struck the area at that moment, and that a bright meteor was seen across Britain at almost the same time. The lights on the hill were probably from hunters using lamps. Together, these explain the events, though some still believe more happened.
- When
- 23 January 1974
- Where
- Berwyn Mountains, near Llandrillo, Wales
- Witnesses
- Villagers, a nurse and police
- Status
- Mostly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.