From Harlech an excursion may be made to Cwm Bychan (the little hollow), about four miles distant.—One mile from the town may be seen a circle of stones, thirty yards in diameter, probably one of those druidic circles in which were held the gorseddau, or bardic meetings. Cwm Bychan is a grassy dell, about half a mile in length, surrounded by desolate scenery. On the right, at its entrance, is the small pool called Llyn y Cym Bychan, from the edge of which Carreg y Saeth (the Rock of the Arrow), towers in dreary blackness; yet the landscape extends hence in great magnificence. Descending into the hollow, past an ancient mansion, and ascending on the other side, a deep mountain hollow occurs, called Bwlch Tyddiad. Passing upon this rocky cleft beyond the higher mountains, a fine prospect of all the country eastward suddenly opens, bounded by the majestic Cader Idris, the two Arrenigs, and other ranges of commanding grandeur.
Out of the track, two miles south of Harlech, is a cromlech, in a farm called Gwern Einion; and on the side of the hill, where the road passes, in the recesses of a wood, is a considerable cataract. Between the cromlech and the town of Harlech is another druidic circle.
At the ebb of the tide, part of a long stone wall, which runs out into the sea from Machran, a point of land a few miles south of Harlech, may be seen. It extends in a W.S.W. direction for nearly twenty miles, and is called Sarn Badrig, or Sarn Badrwyg (the Shipwrecking Causeway), an astonishing work, being throughout 24 feet thick. Sarn y Bwlch runs from a point N.W. of Harlech, and is supposed to meet the end of this. The space between is said to have formed, several centuries ago, a habitable hundred of Merionethshire, called Cantref Gwaelod (the Lowland Hundred). Those walls, as it is supposed, were built to keep out the sea.
The principal inn is the Blue Lion, where post chaises may be had, and a guide procured to conduct the tourist to the many objects of attraction in the neighbourhood. The parish church having become very dilapidated, a new one, more conveniently situated, has been built, on a site given by the late Sir R. W. Vaughan, of Nannau. It was consecrated in 1841; the expense of its erection being defrayed by subscriptions, aided by grants from the Incorporated Society for building and repairing Churches, and from the Bangor Diocesan Church Building Society. The service is occasionally performed in the English language.
Angling Stations.
Distance fromHarlech. | Miles. |
Llanvihangel, on the Dwyryd | 5 |
Llanbedr, on the Bychan | 3 |
Lakes.—Llyn y Vedw | near theDwyryd. |
Llyn Eidaw | |
Llyn Glyn | |
Llyn y Cym Bychan | 5 |
Llyn Trewyn. |
HAWARDEN,
(Flintshire.)
| Chester | 7 |
| Flint | 8 |
| Holywell | 11 |
| Northop | 5 |
This prosperous little town, pronounced Harden, consists of one continuous street, more than half a mile long, and has a neat and cleanly appearance. The British name was Pennardd Halawg, or Pennardd-y-Lâg, corrupted probably from Pen-y-Lwch (the head-land above the lake), the surrounding marshes having been once covered by the sea. It has a weekly market and the population of the parish is rated at somewhat above 6000 inhabitants. The Glynne Arms is the principal inn where the traveller may be comfortably accommodated.
Extensive collieries are worked in this parish, and there are also several large brick and tile works, besides numerous potteries for the manufacture of the coarser kind of earthenware. An extensive foundry is carried on at Hawarden by Messrs. Williams & Co., and has become celebrated for the manufacture of steam-engines, iron steam-boats, and other works of mechanical science which modern enterprise has brought into active requisition. The river Dee, or Chester channel, passes within about two miles of the town, and thus affords every facility of water conveyance.