The castle at Conway is one of the noblest fortresses in the kingdom, the only one to approach it in size being the famous building at Carnarvon. The present town of Conway has gradually sprung up round the castle, built by Edward I. in 1284 to intimidate the Welsh. It was unsuccessfully besieged by them in 1290. At the commencement of the Parliamentarian War, the castle was garrisoned for the King by Williams, Archbishop of York, but was taken by Mytton in 1646. The building was comparatively unhurt during the war, but the lead and timber were removed at the Restoration by Lord Conway, who dismantled the beautiful fortress in a most barbarous manner, and the edifice was allowed to fall more or less into decay. The castle stands on the verge of a precipitous rock on the south-east of the town, one side bounded by the river, a second by a tidal creek; the other frontages overlook the town. It constitutes part of the walls of Conway, which, with the castle, form the finest examples extant of thirteenth-century military fortification. The castle itself was a perfect specimen of a fortress, with walls of enormous thickness, flanked by eight huge embattled towers. There are some traces still remaining of the royal features of "Queen Eleanor's Oratory." Near the Castle Hotel, in a side street, stands _Plas Mawe_, the "Great House," a rich example of domestic Elizabethan architecture, built in 1585 by Robert Wynn of Gwydir. The rooms contain much oak panelling and carving. A charge of 6d. is made for admission to the house. Conway has a station of its own within the walls of the town, but the visitor will do well to get out at Llandudno Junction, where a walk of a few hundred yards leads to the famous Suspension Bridge, designed by Telford in 1826. The charge for admission to the castle is 3d. [Illustration: _Photochrom Co., Ltd._ CONWAY CASTLE. It is one of the finest of the ruined castles England possesses. The suspension bridge was designed by Telford in 1826.] THE DOONE VALLEY, EXMOOR ASSOCIATED WITH "LORNA DOONE" =How to get there.=--Train from Waterloo _via_ Barnstaple. L. and S.W. Railway. =Nearest Station.=--Lynton (about 6 miles distant). =Distance from London.=--225 miles. =Average Time.=--7 hours. 1st 2nd 3rd =Fares.=--Single 37s. 10d. 24s. 0d. 18s. 10-1/2d. Return 65s. 6d. 42s. 0d. 37s. 9d. =Accommodation Obtainable.=--Lynton--"The Tors Hotel," "Valley of Rocks," "Royal Castle," "Kensington," "Crown," "Globe," etc. Minehead--"Métropole," "Beach," "Plume of Feathers," etc. Porlock--"The Ship," "The Castle," etc. =Alternative Route.=--Train from Paddington to Minehead, Great Western Rly. By coach from Minehead _via_ Porlock, 12 miles.