TRAVEL NOTES
NORTH WALES To those who do not intend to go abroad this year, but want a quiet, yet delightful holiday, North Wales has much to offer. The scenery is on a scale. which is usually agreed to be magnificent, while many people declare that the estuaries of the Mawddach and Dovey are not to be matched for beauty anywhere in Great Britain. Shooting, fishing, and mountaineer- ing are of the best ; there are long stretches of yellow sands, and excellent bathing, particularly on the Denbighshire and Caernarvonshire coasts and Cardigan Bay. Of the smaller . resorts, one of the most charming is Llanfairfechan, which is situated between Bangor and Conway in a wooded valley at the foot of Penmaeninawr Moun- tain, yet enjoys cool breezes from the sea during the hottest weather. The district is an excellent one for those who like walking in delightful surroundings, and there is a very fine view across the Straits to Anglesey and Puffin Island. Recreations include golf, tennis, bowls, cricket, and trout fishing.' Portmadoc makes. an . excellent centre, chiefly because it is the termini's of the Festiniog Toy Railway, which makes claim to be both the oldest light railway in the world (it was built in the year 1836), and the pioneer of narrow-gauge railways. Starting from Portmadoc,. it crosses the estuary of the Glaslyn, and begins an ascent of approximately 14 miles to the terminus at Blaenau Festiniog, 700 feet above the sea level. From the bridge over the Glaslyn the view of Snowdonia is magnificent. The most famous of the beauty spots within the scope of this railway are the Gwyilt sub-tropical gardens, the Vale of Maentwrog, and the Port Meirion Peninsula. The railway is easily accessible from any of the North Wales coast resorts. Another beautiful centre will be found at Capel Curig, near that famous beauty spot Bettws-y-coed. The river Conway provides many delightful excursions from this centre. Llanberis has the only mountain railway in Britain, passengers being con- veyed to the summit of Snowdon, the line passing the Llanberis Waterfall. The view from the summit should not be missed; it includes the whole of Cardigan Bay, the distant Lleyn Peninsula, the Menai Bridge, Anglesey, and many ranges of mountains. It is possible on a clear day to see the Isle of Man and the Wicklow Mountains. Another interesting little railway is the Welsh Highland line which runs from Portmadoc through Glaslyn Valley, the Pass of Aberglaslyn, Beddgelert, the Gwyrfai Valleys, South Snowdon, and Quellyn Lake to Dinas. This railway is another means of reaching Snowdon : from South Snowdon there is an easy climb to "the Summit which takes about two hours. A small centre which has many claims to attention is Harlech, which possesses the most romantic castle in North Wales. The castle stands upon an imposing cliff; and the ancient village is charmingly picturesque. Since the days of warfare about the castle walls, the sea that once rose against the cliff has receded, leaving a dry plain which now provides an excellent golf-course. Between Barmouth and Towyh lies a chirming little village named Llwyngwril, trough which a trout stream runs to the sea. There is a fine stretch of bathing beach, and some inter- - esting prehistoric survivals are to be seen near the village. Fishermen will find much to their liking in the village of Trawsfynydd, where a lake three miles long furnishes excel- lent sport. The fishing is under the au- -thority of an enterprising Board on the same lines as those at Blagdoii and Loch Leven, and the iliitriet is 'a very: beautiful one, in- cluding the famous Precipice Walk- of Doi-, gelly, the Vale of Festiniog, and Cider Idris. The nearest stations for Trawcfynydd Like are Maentwrog Road, a distance of half a mile, and Trawsfynydd, which is about a mile from the lake. Another centre which is famous for its beauties is Llangollen. The ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey are near to the town, as is the prehistoric Casten Dinas Bran, which is said to have inspired one of
Wordsworth's poems. Those who like the more simple things, such as wide, sweeping sands, and low cliffs, with a tiny village iq which to stay, might do worse than choose Aberdaron, which is sixteen miles from PwItheli Station. Motor boats ply from Aberdaron to Bardscy Island, four or five miles out, and a motor service links the village with Pwllheli Station.
For those who like popular resorts, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, and Rhyl have long been favourites, offering amusements suited to every type of visitor.
LUXURY CRUISES BY ORIENT LINE The programme of spring and summer cruises by Orient Line offers a range of holidays from Egypt to the Fjords. Most of the cruises are confined to first class only, and the number of passengers carried is strictly limited and well below the capacity of the ship. These cruises are to be made by Orcades ' and 'Orion,' both of 23,500 tons. They are the two latest ships of the Orient Line Fleet and they are known for their comfort and the excellence of their cuisine. Designed for sunny voyages, these are ideal cruising ships, with open-air swimming baths and huge games decks. The cruises include visits to the Eastern Mediterranean, the Adriatic, or the northern capitals and the Norwegian Fjords. At all ports of call, time is given to visit the principal sights and to make inland excursions. The length of the cruises varies between 13 and 24 days, and the minimum prices range from 22 to 48 guineas.
The s.s. ' Orford ' (22,000 tons) carries both first class and tourist passengers at rather lower prices but even in the latter class single-berth cabins are obtainable. During July and August this ship will make four cruises of 13 days each to the Western Mediterranean. The minimum prices are £22 first class and £12 tourist class. Particulars may be obtained from the managers : Anderson, Green and Co., Ltd., 5 Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.C.3.
THE SOUTH AND EAST - AFRICAN YEAR BOOK AND GUIDE The 1938 edition of this useful guide contains over 1,16o pages of text. It has been carefully brought up to date, some 5,000 amendments and additions having been made to the previous issue. It contains a new Atlas of 64 pages of maps in colour. For the tourist or traveller this book (published at 2s. 6d. for the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company) is a mine of information which will be found a very good investment.
CRUISES BY VICEROY OF INDIA
The zo,000 ton cruising liner, Viceroy of India,' has a series of delightful cruises during June and July to the Baltic, Norway and Iceland, affording opportunities of visiting such cities as Stockholm, Copen- hagen, Visby, Danzig, Lubeck, Helsingfors and Gothenburg. Prices vary from 13 days from 22 guineas to 23 days from 39 guineas. Full particulars may be obtained from the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Co., Ltd., 122 Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.3, or any of the Travel Agencies.
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