WCP94

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

July 1^st. 1904

My dear Will¹

A gentleman known to me through a friend, & with whose daughter I have been in correspondence about photos of Neath &c. has very kindly offered us the use of his cottage among the wild mountains of the Vale of Neath, one of my most favourite early hunting grounds. He also offers "one of his motor cars" in which one of his sons will drive us from Cardiff to the Cottage (about 30 miles), or from Heriwain the nearest station, about 6 miles. Also he (the son) will take us anywhere we [2] like about the country while we are there, on the motor. As this seems too good an offer to miss I think of accepting for me & Ma² for a week or two according to circumstances starting probably next week or the week after. I therefore write to ask if you will like to join us there for a week or few days, & then come on here. You can come by Great Western through Shrewsbury Hereford & Abergaveny to to[sic] Heriwain Station. We shall shall go via Salisbury to Chapstow & perhaps on to Heriwain by G.W., and it is possible they may [3] issue tourist tickets to take you the round as it Is not much out of the direct route, but that you can see by their time tables & tourist bills.

It is a country I think you would enjoy & from the cottage as a center you could walk all round it, to the Beacons in one direction & to the waterfalls in another — about 8-10 miles.

The cottage is one mile North of the village of Ystrad Helta, which you will find marked on Map 32 of the 20th. Cent. Atlas, 5 miles N.W. of Heriwain. I have the Ordinance of all the district. Let us know as soon as possible if you will [4] come that way, & we will then fix our visit accordingly.

We have had blazing sunshine here lately, but every night chilly wind, which with the drought has injured many of our flowers & garden crops.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

P.S. Mr. Neale, who offers the Cott[age]. is a colliery owner or Agent, living at Penarth over Cardiff, — & is cordially a sensible man as he says he keeps "all the ordinance Maps" up at the cottage.

A.R.W. [signature]