RIVER DIHONW-ABEREDW. 79 are occasionally given, and other accommodations are provided for visiters, who are often very numerous. The abundance of game among the neighbouring hills, the fine fish in the Wye and other rivers, together with the picturesque and highly salubrious situation of Builth, have induced many families to erect residences in the vicinity. Continuing the Wye tour from this place, I crossed the little river Dihonw, a short distance from its junction with the Wye; after passing which, the high road runs parallel with, and close to, the river, through avenues of fine trees, among which are many noble old oaks, that, 66 Stretching their gnarled arms Across the road, o'erarched it like a bower With rich, dense foliage, while their ponderous trunks Through which the sunny river and the sky Gleamed in successive pictures." The now wide and full-rolling stream of the Wye is here plentifully strewn with fragments of rock of all shapes and sizes, from the huge mass, like an overthrown tower rising high above the swelling water, to the groups of weed-grown stones that only serve to chafe the impetuous torrent into momentary foam and fury. Huge mountains on either side confine the valley of the river as we advance. Aberedw Hill rises. on the left bank; and Allt Mawr, on the right, erects its stern precipitous front high and frowningly over the shadowed path. The lower portion of the hill-side is here and there decked with orchards, whose trees, laden with fruit, are backed by the grand oak woods which robe it higher up, from among which the rocks peep out, and as they consist of horizontal blocks of compact slate or flag-stone, similar to those I described at Pont Herwid, and appear just on the high and commanding points of the eminence, they have the precise aspect of a grand, but ruined fortress. The same character is observable in the rocks on the opposite side of the river, near Aberedw, where the romantic and beautiful stream of the Edw, or Edwy, flows into the Wye. The situation of Aberedw is most lovely; its retired village, decayed castle, and simple church, all on the banks of two rivers renowned for their scenery, form subjects for the poet's dream, or the artist's study, inferior to few places on this famed track. Aberedw Castle, though not so utterly razed as the others I have lately visited, has but a few dilapidated fragments remaining, and the plough has been carried into the very heart of these. The site of the castle is a scene of wondrous beauty; between, and closely overlooking, the junction of the rivers Wye and Edwy, it commands a lovely and diversified prospect on all sides. The space occupied by the buildings does not appear to have been extensive. Aberedw was a residence of the last Llewelyn, probably a huntingseat, and not few or unthinking are the pilgrims who come to trace the spot, where, for a few brief days, the gallant hero was wont to relax from the fatigues of his life-struggle for his country. A calm, radiant sunset shed its rich subdued light over the landscape, tinging the trees on the hill-sides, and pouring a dazzling glow of reflected clouds on the broad rolling river, which, hastening on along its rocky channel, seemed to my fanciful eye a kind and eloquent companion, murmuring forth stories of her mountain home, and singing gladsome lays of Nature's majesty and love. So we journeyed together, the Wanderer and the Wye, only parting for the night at Erwood, where I remained. Let no other wanderer follow my example, for I can promise him no one item of that precious English sum-total, comfort, in the way-side hostel he will find there; but, as I am no lover of grumbling, I shall avoid the recapitulation of my sorrows, and proceed on my next day's journey. Opposite Erwood, on the north side of the Wye, is Garth Hill, a small eminence, on which remain the vestiges of an old British camp. Three miles from Erwood appears Llangoed Castle, as it is termed, though the plain, comfortablelooking mansion, so named, has nothing in its outward sceming consonant to its title. The adjacent grounds are richly wooded, and some of the trees remarkably fine. Boughrood Castle is another misnamed dwelling of the square sashwindowed kind; but part of the old castle and moat may yet be seen below the ford, from which, probably, the place derives its name. Near Boughrood is a singular horseshoe bend of the river, a curve of which runs by Llyswen, now a poor village, formerly, as its name (white palace) imports, a royal residence of the South Wales princes, and the scene of stately festivities in days of yore. At Glasbury the Wye is spanned by a rude, singular bridge, partly consisting of stone and partly of wood, giving a very picturesque appearance to the village-like town; above which, on a lawny hill, stands Macslough Castle. Verily, castles abound here, and this is an imposing looking edifice, adorned with turrets, towers, and terraces, surrounded by ornamental grounds, and so placed as to form a chief object in the landscape for several miles. The town of Hay is pleasantly situated on the rising bank of the Wye, and, from the vestiges of a Roman camp, near the church, appears to have been of ancient origin. The manor of Hay was given by Bernard Newmarch to Sir Phillip Walwyn, who, probably, built the castle, of which little remains but a gateway, a dwelling house having been erected out of the ruin's materials. M CHAPTER VI. CLIFFORD CASTLE-WYE SCENERY TO HEREFORD-HEREFORD CATHEDRAL, ETC.-ACONBURY HILL. O WHAT a goodly scene!-here the bleak mount, Had built him here a temple! No wish profaned my overwhelmed heart. Coleridye. THE little town of Hay is written down in the Norman records as Le Hay, and is now almost uniformly called, The Hay. Its early history is involved in some obscurity; but Leland says, that "Roman coignes have bene ofte founde theare, wherby it is likelye to have bene somwhat of price in the dayes of the auncient Brytons." Its castle was destroyed by Henry II. with many others, during the time of the rebellion raised by his undutiful children, to chastise, as old Lambarde writes "the insolencie of his sone, and such as egged him forwarde, bycause he founde that the opinion reposed on |