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But if this bridge, with its many lovely points of view, struck us with a sense of familiarity, we were startled, as well as delighted, by the exceeding beauty of the Fairies' Glen. A tributary stream here comes down to the Lugwy between high wooded banks, and over mossy rocks, which at many points can easily be crossed; the course of the rapid crystal stream for a long distance is almost straight, and the perspective from below is singularly fine.
The holiday, rich as it had been in delights, was now almost over, and the last day was mainly spent in a water excursion, which a railway, since constructed, has rendered less familiar, but which even yet we venture to commend. The pretty little town of Llanrwst being passed, we pursued a pleasant road between the river Conway on one side and bosky cliffs on the other, as far as Trefriw, where a small steamer was waiting the turn of the tide to proceed down the river to Conway town. The sail on a fine day is one of the most charming of excursions, the scenery on both sides being of much interest, and the quiet rest on board the steamer being very agreeable after three days' walking and climbing.
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From Trefriw, we were told, a very short excursion, up to Llyn Geirionydd, would have brought us to one of the very finest points of view in all North Wales, the range of Snowdon, and the scarcely less imposing Moel Siabod, being thence seen in all their majesty. But it is always at once a regret and an alleviation, in leaving beautiful scenes, that much is left unvisited—regret that so many fair scenes have been missed, alleviation, because the very fact may form so good a reason some day for revisiting the place! As it was, with some time at our disposal after reaching Conway, we visited the splendid ruins of the castle, then went by rail to Llandudno, and after a hasty glance at the promenade by the bay, finished the memorable four days' visit to Wales by a bracing walk of six miles, round the Great Orme's Head on the path overlooking the sea.