No. 6. BANGOR TO DOLGELLEY.
The road from Bangor leads past the Menai Suspension Bridge over the Straits, once a wonder of the world, but now overshadowed by the Forth Bridge and others. It was opened in 1826. The total length of the roadway is 1,000 feet, which is suspended over the water at a height of 100 feet above the highest spring-tide. The view from the bridge is most picturesque, but it is hardly worth while to take a car over. (Motor-car 2s. toll; foot passengers 1d. each.) The bridge has a very distinct swing in a high wind. Farther on one sees the Britannia Tubular Bridge, opened in 1850, and carrying the railway across in two hollow tubes of enormous strength. No one can accuse this engineering feat of being beautiful, but it has thoroughly proved its efficiency. The Anglesey Column forms a prominent landmark at the farther end of the bridge; it was erected as a memorial of the Marquis of Anglesey who distinguished himself at Waterloo. The well-known Plas Newydd, the residence of the present peer, lies adjacent, and there also is the village of Llanfair, sometimes Llanfair Pwll Gwyngyll, and a full name of fifty-four letters if one is still more respectful. At Port Dinorwic vessels load up with slates from Bethesda. The view of the Anglesey coast is fine at first, but the shores gradually deteriorate as one reaches Carnarvon, eventually spreading out in mud flats.
Town Plan No. 6—Carnarvon.
CARNARVON
As the great Roman town and fortress of Segontium, the reputed birthplace of Constantine the Great, the site of a famous feudal fortress, and the birthplace of the first Prince of Wales, Carnarvon undoubtedly occupies a unique position in British history, and, as it still possesses tangible evidences of most of its past record, the traveller is unwise who passes by without a stay of at least a few hours' duration, though a few days would be more appropriate.
Ground Plan of Carnarvon Castle.