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ROUND THE TOWN.

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ROUND THE TOWN. VIII. The Coast Walk to Borth. Of the many walks round Aberystwyth none is ef greater interest than this one from the Terrace, over Consti," along Clarach Cove, over the cliffs to Wallog, then inland through the wood. and finally out on the road which leads down over the hill into Borth. For grandeur of scenery it is unsurpassed. Passing over Consti" we get the full magnificence of Cardigan Bay, with peeps of Cader ldris and of Snowdon; then there is the Clarach Vale, noted for the heaviness and early ripening of its crops, especially, of its barley. At Wallog, St. Cynfelin's Causeway--Sarn Cynfelin-begins its length of seven miles into the Bay, and at the top of the mountain after emerging from the Wallog Woods, there burst upon the tourist the magnificent view of the Merionethshire hills, with Borth below him, and Aberdovey and Towyn in the near distance. The various causeways, or ridges of foul ground, that extend from the mainland into the sea, and are so plainly visible are objects of numerous con- jectures. One thing is certain, namely, that much of what is now covered with the waters of Cardi- gan Bay, was in remote times, arable pasture lands, with forests, villages, and farms thereon. Hear what was said by that eminent authority, the Rev. James Yates, M.A., F.G.S., of London. In a paper read at a meeting of the Geological Society, on 7 Kay., 1832. entitled An Account of a Submarine Forest in Cardigan Bay," he says :— The forest extends along the coasts of Merioneth- shire and Cardiganshire, and is divided into two equal parts by the estuary of the Dovey, which separates those counties." Among the trees of which the forest consisted, is the Pinus Sylvestris, or Scotch Fir, and it is shewn that this tree "abounded anciently in several north- ern counties of England. The remains of this forest are covered by a bed of peat." It is bounded on the land side by a sandy beach, and by a wall of shingle, beyond this wall is a track of bog and marsh, formed of streams and watel- which are partially discharged by oozing through sand and shingle." Mr- Yates argues that as the position of the walls is liable to change, it may have enclosed the part "\1rhich is now submarine, from all which facts we ink it may fairly be inferred that all the exten- sive sands on the borders of our coast, were form- erly forests, or else cultivated land, which have been swallowed up by the sea. There are several Sams in the Bay; there is Sarn ^adrig or St Patrick's Causeway, which runs out 40 sea like a serpent for 22 miles, from Mochras, on the coast between Harlech and Barmouth. This is a wonderful work, being described as 24 feet thick, and very 'deep on the north side, but sheltering and shoaling on the other side. At the end of it are 16 large stones, one of which is four J'ards in diameter. Another causeway, which becomes dry at the ^t>b of spring tides is Sarn y Bwch, or the Goat's Causeway, which extends about a mile and a half Into the sea, a little to the north of the mouth of 44le Dyssini river. Our near neighbour is Sarn Cynfelin, which the jurist can inspect for himself at Wallog, where it ^gins its seven miles' journey into the sea. At the nd of it is Caer Gwyddno, very foul, rocky ground, locally called the Patches." Then there is Sarn Dewi, or St. David's Cause- way, extending about a quarter of a mile into the in a line from the Church of Llanddewi ■^berarth. Lastly there is Sarn Cadwgan. or Cadogan's Causeway, about one mile from Sarn Dewi, and ear Aberayron. Cardigan Bay is nowhere of such depth as inlets f the sea usually are, soundings are procured at a ew fathoms depth. The church, of which the turret is seen from ^Wach shore, is that of All Saints, Llangorwen. The design of its east end and communion table is ^•ken from J. H. Newman's (afterwards Cardinal ■Netvman) church at Littlemore, near Oxford. It J^as consecrated on 16th December, 1841, by the ^•te Bishop Thirlwall in Welsh, and the sermon ^as preached in English by the Rev. Isaac Williams. In cutting the foundation for this church an urn, Containing human bones, was dug up on the south 81de, between the porch and the eastern gable of the nave and since then in digging a grave about ry yards from the church, and between it and the little river, more bones were found. In both places earth was blackened, and appeared to have acted on by fire. The presumption is that his spot was anciently a place of burial. Clarach sands afford the best. and safest bathing ^ear to Aberystwyth. The spot has long been held ^cred for students and gentlemen to bathe there. he water is at times wonderfully warm, and ;peaking as one who has bathed there with but ew interruptions from early January to the last in December, my experience is that the water *aries but little in degree and maintains a wonder- equitable temperature all the year round. Wallog Woods are full of interest; the path ^•kes you through the thickest part, and long ls^as 'are afforded of over-arching trees, shewing Plainly how the idea arose of our vaulted stone °° £ s in cathedrals and in churches. 9 Borth sands skirt a large fen containing between j. a»d 10,000 acres of marsh land, called Gors ?°chno, and are only separated from it by the a&k of shingle, on which the houses of Borth are The hotel will always be memorable as the gilding to which, at a few hours notice, the boys Jf Uppingham School were removed when fever ^"°ke out. Here they remained for a year, and ^^fiy are the pleasant memories still treasured of noble master, Thring, and the army of lads "der his excellent rule. If walking be not yet quite a lost art amongst ?Ur Aberystwyth visitors they will do well not to without taking this cliff tour. Needless to y it is out of the question to attempt it with Cycles. PHILIP SIDNEY.

WIT AND WISDOM. ---

[No title]

CARDIGAN EISTEDDFOD. --

DEAN HOWELL.

BITTEN BY A VIPER.

WORLD IN A WEEK.

YR WYTHNOS.

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