Not far from this Bridge is shewn a stone, by the road side, called Rhys Goch o Eryri’s chair, where it is said he used to sit and compose his Poems; and not far from Meillionen, in this Parish, was discovered in 1784, a curious Shield; supposed to be British. There is an excellent road from Pont Aberglaslyn to Tremadoc, along the Western Banks of the Glaslyn, the distance about five miles; as also over the Bridge to Tan y Bwlch and Festiniog, which is about seven or eight.
We shall now return once more to Carnarvon, and proceed nearly along the Sea Coast, round the Promontory of Lleyn.—We have already conducted the stranger as far as the small Bridge (Pont Afon Rhyd), where the road branches off for Llanllyfni; having proceeded about a mile further, observe on the right Mount Hazel, the seat of the Rev. Glynne Bodvel Lewis, and between it and the sea Llandwrog Church, where there are several handsome Monuments, to the memory of the Wynne’s of Glynn Llivon, particularly that of Sir John Wynn, (grandfather of the present Lord Newborough,) who built that house, which is now much neglected, and greatly out of repair, owing to the minority of the proprietor. Glynn is on the left of the road, and near the little river Llifon, issuing from the Cilgwyn Mountains. Cilmin Droed-ddu, or Kilmin with the black foot, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, and nephew to Merfryn Frych, Prince of Wales, slain 841, was the founder of this family, and is said to have had his residence near this spot; they bear, in allusion to the name of their Ancestor, a man’s leg coupe a la cuisse, sable: he is said to have injured his leg in some dangerous encounter, and that it became discoloured, and that he continued lame in consequence of this unfortunate circumstance. Glynn Llifon came into possession of the late Sir John Wynn, by the marriage of his father, Thomas Wynn, Esq. of Boduan, in Lleyn, with Frances, second daughter to John Glynn, Esq. of Glynn Llifon.—The Glynns of Lleiar, and Plas Newydd, near Glynn Llifon, were branches of this family: the latter afterwards became the property of the Owens of Bodowen, in Anglesey. The principal Roman encampment, in this neighbourhood, is Dinas Dinlle, situated upon the verge of the Irish Channel, and almost in the centre of Carnarvon Bay; the Western part of it is washed by all the higher tides, and it is not more than ten or fifteen yards above the sea at any other time; it not only commands the Bay itself, its Creeks and Harbours, but has also a boundless prospect towards the Main Ocean, or Irish Channel, anciently called Mare Vergivium, and in Welsh, Môr Werydd, insomuch that no Vessel can pass to the Southward, without being observed by those who keep a good look out at their station. The following Roman and British Posts and Encampments, being not far distant from the road, may be conveniently visited by the curious Tourist, as he proceeds on his journey.—Many of them appear to have been out-posts and appendages to the principal Dinas’s, and to have had a regular connection and communication with Segontium:
1. Dinas Dinoethwy, near Pont Newydd, now the residence of Captain Jones.—Length, 180 paces; Breadth, 60; South side slope, 20; North ditto, 30.
2. Hen Gastell, on the brook Carrog, half a mile South of the above, and in the Parish of Llanwnda.—Length, 40 paces; Breadth 30.
3. Dinas Efrog, or Franog, near Collfryn, in Llandwrog.—Length, 70 paces; Breadth, 30.
4. Dinas y Prif, hot far distant from the last, a Square Fort, 50 yards by 50.
5. Craig y Ddinas, a considerable Fortification, on the River Llyfni, a little to the N.W. of Lleiar.—Length, from N. to S. 120 yards; Ditto from E. to W. 90 yards; Slope of the Inner Rampart, on the North side, 10 yards; Ditto of the Outer ditto, 8 yards; Slope on the Sooth side, 40 yards.
6. Caer Ffridd, a Stone Fort, near Ffrwd Ysgyfarnog, not far from Glynn.
7. Bwlan, a fortified eminence, near the same place.
8. Brynn y Gorseddau, an eminence where there are some Druidical Remains.