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To the right of the castle, and over the pass of Bwlch, we look down 

 upon the valley of Cwmdu, and of the Usk as far as Abergavenny, the Sugar 

 loaf and Blorenge mountains hemming in the valley on either side. 



Farther to the light is Buckland bill, or Mynydd Buckland, overhanging the 

 course of the Usk. The fine larch and Scotch fir woods in the foreground were 

 planted by the late Col. Holford, whose house is on the slope of the bill. They 

 are said to be arranged in the same form as the troops were drawn up at the 

 battle of "Waterloo. 



What do you ask throws this dark shadow across the valley of the Utk ? 

 The valley has changed into a glen ! On one side Buckland hill shuts out the 

 morning sun; on the other the black beetling brow of Tar-y-foel, towering with 

 its giant form to the sky, shelters the river from the noonday heat. Thus is 

 formed the gorge of the Usk ! Here we can readily believe until the river had 

 made its present deep channel the waters of the Usk were pent up above, until 

 they extended in a vast lake far up the valley. Beyond Tar-y-foel rises the 

 massive Llangynider mountain, interesting only for the mineral wealth it 

 contains'. At Penrhiwcalch, and other points we catch glimpses of the lime- 

 stone rock, which fringes the South "Wales coal basin. Still to the right opens 

 the picturesque valley of the Cavanell, called Glyncollwm, or the valley of 

 hazel bushes, up which the Brecon and Merthyr Railway creeps. Few 

 Breconshire people thought it possible to make a railway through or over 

 their grand old mountains. They had ignored the existence of this secluded 

 valley, which nature had, as it were, formed to suit the engineer's hand. 



Beneath our feet on the banks of the Usk is the grotesque beehive-like 

 tower of the quaint little church of Llansaintfread. 



" And well did holy Freda choose for prayer, 

 And heavenly worship this congenial spot." 



The patron saint, Saint Freda, or Saint Bride, was an Irish lady of great piety, 

 who came over to christianise the "Welsh. Her name is more honoured in 

 "Wales than that of any other saint, there being thirteen churches dedicated to 

 her within the Principality. 



Above, where the river is glistening in the sunshine, is the famous 

 Scethrog fishery, the best in the Usk. 



" Too fast for him the fleeting moments speed, 

 Who in Usk doth angle through the summer's day." 



How changed is the course of the river here ! Leaping from the rocks and 



overhanging trees, which have long been companions on her course, the river 



wanders through the fertile plain, meandering gracefully hither and thither 



Now it sweeps under the border foot of Pencelly Castle, anon beneath the 



precipitous height of the hill on which we stand. The fresh meadows, bright 



even now with their emerald green carpet, touch the very water's edge, and there 



is not a tree or scarce a willow to shade the wandering maiden in her course. 



" But thou art still the same in stream and pool, 

 Still ever varying, ever beautiful, 

 Now bright in sunshine, and now lost in shade, 

 Now hurrying onwards like some startled maid 

 Scared from her summer bower, again a deep 

 Still mirror, placid en that maiden's sleep." 



