I860.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES PROM NORTH WALES. 51 



from a cross which was erected on the summit, or the entrance 

 to Llan-y-Mowddy from Bala, is one of the most imposing scenes 

 in all North Wales. It is not like the pass of Llanberis nor like 

 that of Llangynog ; though it is more like the latter than the 

 former. 



On the right are the craggy spurs of the Arrans, the loftiest 

 mountains in Wales, except those of Carnarvonshire. On the 

 left there is a tremendously deep, narrow dell, bounded by the 

 rounded mountains which lie between this point and Garthbibio, 

 the prolongation of the Berwyns. These mountains on the left 

 are partly well covered with greensward, and partly with the 

 stony debris which has been rolling down and accumulating for 

 ages. The sheep graze on these green stripes with impunity, 

 for they are as sure-footed as goats. It would be extremely dan- 

 gerous for other animals not so agile as goats and mountain- 

 sheep to venture where the footing is so precarious. 



This part of the mountain is intersected by narrow, deep, fear- 

 ful fissures, which are almost at right-angles to the ravine at the 

 base. A wilder or a more awful mountain scene can hardly be 

 conceived. 



In less than two miles from the summit the traveller reaches 

 the vale of Llan-y-Mowddy. The church and parsonage are 

 about two miles further on towards Dinas Mowddy. 



The latter-named town stands in a most extraordinary spot, 

 surrounded as it is on all sides by lofty hills, where the vales 

 unite. This vale and village of Llan-y-Mowddy is somewhat 

 like a cup or basin, the sides of which are formed by four or five, 

 bluflf, rounded, green mountains, with no apparent egress. The 

 pass to Dinas is not visible till the traveller has passed beyond 

 the church. 



On returning by the same road there is a fine view of the rocky 

 vale of the Dovey ; the first or upper falls are but a short distance 

 from the road on the right, going from Bala to Dinas, and on 

 the left in returning. They are near the entrance of the vale, or 

 about two miles from the church of Llan-y-Mowddy. 



We chose the left, or west side of the lake of Bala, for our re- 

 turn journey. This gave us the opportunity of seeing \h.e three 

 streams which supply the Llyn Tegid, viz. the Twrch, probably 

 the most considerable, and the Dee, which rises between Arran 

 Pen Llyn and Arran Fowddy, and the Lliw, which rises in the 



