The Radnorshire and West Hereford. 103 



enough, the Radnorshire-and- West-Hereford lies 

 between two great landmarks with very similar names, 

 to wit, the Black Mountain on the south, and (some 

 three miles outside its boundary) the Black Hill, by 

 Clun, on the north. Moreover a third Black Hill, by 

 Aymestrey on the river Lugg, marks its eastern limits. 

 But to return to Radnor Forest, a great resort for 

 spring and autumn hunting. Besides various patches 

 of gorse, a great mass of covert (some seven or eight 

 hundred acres) exist there under the name of Radnor 

 Forest Wood — owning, however, only a small propor- 

 tion of thick undergrowth — the main part being 

 hollow woodland, through which hounds and horses 

 make their way very readily. Its foxes, too, are very 

 willing travellers ; and will often go great distances. 

 All the country round the town of New Radnor is, by 

 the way — though hilly — very good going. There are 

 a certain number of dingles ; but the hillsides are 

 excellent galloping, with open heather on most of 

 the summits — as is the case also about Hargest and 

 Gladestry — and the coverts are anything but massive 

 till the Forest Wood is reached. Not far from this, 

 however, come the great woodlands of the Hunt — the 

 Presteigne Woods being as much a feature of the 

 country as is the Pembridge (or west Hereford) vale 

 above-mentioned. From the immediate vicinity of 

 Presteigne run at least three miles of woodland under 

 various denominations, belonging to several different 

 owners, and having branches in several directions. 

 A great part of it comes under the heading of Nash 

 Wood ; but it extends under one title or another as 

 far as Burva Camp. Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Bevan, and Sir 



VOL. II. E E 



