320 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALFX 



went to the right for near three miles fur- 

 ther to fee Dolwyddelan Caftle, an old 

 Britifh place of defence. It's mountainous 

 iituation rendered it difficult to find, and 

 it was not till after numerous enquiries 

 that we were put into the track that led 

 us immediately up to it. 



This Caftle ftands on a rocky fleep, 

 nearly perpendicular on one fide, and in 

 a vale entirely clofed in by mountains. 

 The name feems to have been originally 

 D61 Gwydd Elen*, the meadow of Helen s 

 wood; there having been an antient mili- 

 tary way which pafled through the coun- 

 try, not far from hence, towards the fea- 

 coaft of Merioneth/hire, called Sarn Helen, 

 or Helen's way, fuppofed to have been 

 originally made by Helen, the daughter of 



* It may, though with lefs probability, have 

 been D61 Gwydd Elain, the meadow of the wood 

 of the doe. 



Octavius, 



