To mark World Book Day today, Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced a campaign to secure traditional regional folklore.

The operator revealed that it was partnering with one of the nation’s best-loved storytellers, Sir Michael Morpurgo, to bring the myths and legends of the South West and Wales to a new audience. 

One hundred years since its iconic Legend Land series was completed, GWR is reissuing a new version featuring 11 myths. The collection includes 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 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.”