Nant Ffrancon.—Scenery wild and grand.
Llyn Idwal and the Devil's Kitchen.—Stern rock and lake scenery.
Llyn Ogwen.—A wild lake among the mountains.
Capel Curig.—The Cyfyng Falls; grand view of Snowdon.
Bettws-y-Coed (see [p. 84]).—A charming village in a steep leafy valley.
Loop 2. BANGOR TO BETTWS-Y-COED.
Those who wish to see Wales in all its aspects should on no account miss the twenty-mile run from Bangor to Bettws. It has been termed the most impressive pass in North Wales, and poetically referred to as 'Beauty sleeping in the lap of Horror.' To fully grasp the feeling of the place a walk through it on a mild winter's day is desirable, and on January 1 of last year one of the writers experienced that sensation, when flying scud and wild lashing torrents of occasional rain from whirling masses of black clouds upon the sombre peaks added a realistic force to the wildness of the scene.
The road leading to Penrhyn Castle and Llandegai is that which should be taken. At Bethesda a typical slate-quarrying town is reached, with great 'tips' of refuse encircling it; the continual roar and rattle of engines, dragging tramloads of slate, high above the roadway, is punctuated with the occasional boom of the blastings. The quarries may be visited if desired, when a memorable sight will be witnessed.