ΤΟ WALES & MONMOUTHSHIRE: CONTAINING OBSERVATIONS ON THE MODE OF TRAVELLING, Plans of Various Tours, SKETCHES OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, NOTICES A DESCRIPTION OF EVERY REMARKABLE PLACE, AND A Minute Account of the Wye. ILLUSTRATED WITH A MAP OF WALES, AND VIEWS OF THE MENAI AND CONWAY BRIDGES. THIRD EDITION: WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LEIGH AND SON, 421, STRAND. (Removed from 18.) M.DCCC.XXXV. PRICE NINE SHILLINGS. ADVERTISEMENT. To descant on the peculiar charms of Wales would be superfluous, since they have been long and universally acknowledged. The Principality has frequently been called Switzerland in miniature, as it bears a very strong resemblance to that romantic country, in the beauty of its fertile vales, and the rude character of its lofty mountains, wild rocks, rapid torrents, and numerous cascades. To the lover of the picturesque it is an exhaustless store of pleasure; nor is it without interest to the antiquary, who at every step may recognise, in the decaying ruins of ecclesiastical and castellated architecture, the traces of former grandeur. Both portions of the Principality are interesting; but North Wales is particularly distinguished for the grandeur of its mountain scenery, and South Wales for its ruined castles and busy manufactories. The vales of each are not exceeded in beauty by those of any country in the world. Many tours through Wales have been published from time to time, but their descriptions have generally been confined to some one particular route, the precise line of which the traveller was obliged to follow, or find himself destitute of information. This inconvenience has been obviated in the present volume, which is so arranged as to guide the tourist, whatever direction he may wish to pursue. Some persons, however, who are about to visit Wales for the first time, will be anxious to know which routes are the most interesting; and, for their assistance, Plans of several Tours are introduced, and the most remarkable objects pointed out. These are coloured in the map so as to be traced with greater facility. The traveller who follows the routes laid down in Tours I. and IV. will obtain a good idea of the prominent features of the country. By adopting this method, unnecessary repetitions and perplexing references b have been avoided; and it is hoped that advantages are combined not to be found in preceding works. In describing the various places, the Editor has aimed at brevity, and has endeavoured to shun the high-flown encomiums which so frequently raise expectations never to be gratified. The beauty of scenery can only be adequately appreciated by the eye. The principal object has been to point out what is worthy of notice, leaving the spectator to form his own opinion of it. Tales of legendary lore or poetic fiction have almost invariably been excluded, as they would have added considerably to the size, without increasing the utility, of the volume. Many descriptive passages have been introduced from preceding writers, and these are generally acknowledged; though the Editor, during a recent tour through the Principality, found it necessary to make considerable alteration, in order to adapt them to present circumstances. At all the chief Inns throughout Wales the Tourist will find English spoken; but if he propose to deviate from the high roads, and to explore the recesses of the mountains, it is probable that he will occasionally experience some difficulty in making himself understood. In this emergency he will find a little work by Mr. Roberts, published under the title of the "Welsh Interpreter," a valuable companion. It contains familiar phrases in English and Welsh, with the mode of pronunciation. To the Vice-Principal of St. David's College, Lampeter, the Editor is indebted for some valuable information inserted in the present edition; and he also begs to acknowledge many interesting particulars furnished by Mr. Cox of Aberystwith. |