Loop 3. DOLGELLEY TO CEMMAES VIA TAL-Y-LLYN.
The road from Dolgelley passes, with many windings, from the town to the estuary at Penmaenpool, to which place excursion steamers run during the summer from Barmouth. Although the scenery upon the south bank of the Mawddach is not so fine as that upon the north, yet the mountains of Ardudwy, as the hinterland of Barmouth was anciently called, present an imposing aspect, and sometimes compose a pretty picture when seen through the umbrageous foliage which lines the road on both sides. If the tide be high, the view is accentuated by the reflections in the broad expanse of water, and singularly beautiful glimpses are at times displayed. The undulating road, flanked at times by the universal whitewashed cottages, reaches Arthog, a small village situated at the base of a finely wooded, diversified ground, about a mile from which are the Arthog Lakes, and at a short distance from the hotel a waterfall, of considerable beauty after a heavy fall of rain, but much attenuated in dry weather. At Friog the slate quarries are apparent on the left of the road, and a steady rise begins, leading to an excellent retrospective view of Barmouth, Harlech Castle, and the Lleyn Peninsula to Bardsey.
SNOWDON FROM TRAETH MAWR.
LLWYNGWRIL
is a small village, with the Dyffryn River passing through it under a bridge. Castell-y-Gaer lies upon its banks at a short distance up the stream, consisting of small masses of broken ivy-clad masonry, of an unknown fortress so far as history is concerned. Upon the bridge before mentioned on Sunday evenings after church or chapel the youths and maidens of the village congregate to sing the sweet Welsh refrains handed down through long generations, and harmonized with a beauty of feeling which only a music-loving nation can express. Among the men singularly rich basses prevail; north of Barmouth, strange to say, tenors predominate. The route turns abruptly inland beyond Llangelynin, and the village of
LLANEGRYN,