[Illustration:  Photochrom Co., Ltd.

THE DOONE VALLEY, EXMOOR.

Associated with Blackmore’s Lorna Doone.]

LLANDOVERY, SOUTH WALES

A CENTRE FOR THE FINE SCENERY OF THE DISTRICT

=How to get there.=—­Train from Euston.  L. and N.W.  Railway. =Nearest Station.=—­Llandovery. =Distance from London.=—­228 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 6-3/4 to 8-1/2 hours.

                     1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—­Single 33s. 11d. 21s. 1d. 16s. 10d. 
          Return 58s. 9d. 37s. 0d. 33s. 8d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=—­“Castle Hotel,” etc. =Alternative Route.=—­Train from Paddington.  Great Western Rly.

The town of Llandovery, chiefly interesting by reason of the interesting and picturesque excursions in its vicinity, is situate in the county of Carmarthenshire, 24 miles north-east of Carmarthen.  The town stands on the river Bran, near its junction with the Towy, in a beautiful valley, surrounded by wooded hills.  Besides these two rivers, some smaller streams join in the neighbourhood, and from this fact comes the name of the place, a corruption of the Welsh Llan ym Ddy fri, or Church among the Waters.

There are two churches of some interest, the more important being the one in the main street, where the famous Rhys Pritchard was vicar in 1602.  The other church stands on higher ground to the north of the town, on the site of the old Roman station.

On a grassy knoll, adjoining the Castle Hotel and overlooking the river Bran, are the remains of Llandovery Castle, built about the twelfth century, and dismantled by Cromwell’s orders.

Llandovery is a good starting-place for the ascent of the Carmarthenshire Van (i.e. Beacon), about 13 miles distant, one of the highest peaks in South Wales.  The view from the summit of the Van in clear weather is magnificent.  Near at hand are the Black Mountains, a rather gloomy sandstone range, and in the distance are the mountains of North Wales, Swansea Bay, and the Devonshire coast.  An easy descent may be effected on the south-eastern side of the mountain to Penwyllt station, on the Brecon-Swansea line.  Just below this is Craig-y-Nos Castle, the home of Madame Patti-Nicolini.

Among other interesting excursions from Llandovery are those to Irecastle, a village in the valley of the Usk; Ystradffyn, near which a splendid panorama of the valley of the Towy is obtained; and Pumpsaint, a romantic village with a gold-mine near at hand.

[Illustration:  H.F.  Dann.

LLANDOVERY CASTLE.

It was built in the twelfth century, and dismantled by Cromwell’s orders.]

DARTMOUTH, DEVON

=How to get there.=—­From Paddington.  Great Western Railway. =Nearest Station.=—­Dartmouth (by steam ferry from Kingswear). =Distance from London.=—­229 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 5-1/2 to 7 hours.