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CXII. AMBLESIDE-RYDAL-RASMERE-THIRLEMERR

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The view from the road near the head of the lake, looking forward, iaextremely fine. Silver How is seen over the southwest angle of the water; right onward, is Helm Crag, the summit of which is strewn with large blocks of stone, presenting, many eccentric forms. Green thought he saw a likeness to a lion and a lamb. West, to a mass of antediluvian remains, and Otley says, that viewed from Dunmail Raise, a mortar elevated for throwing shells into the valley, is no unapt eomparison. The road is seen to pass over Dunmail Raise, a de pression between two hills, tha on the left, is Steel Fell, the other, Seat Sandal.

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Armboth House, Late W. Jackson, Esq., on the west shore.

Half way down the lake on the right, are some houses called Fisher's Place, near which are some pretty cascades formed by a stream flowing off Helvellyn.

Pedestrians frequently cross Armboth Fell to the village of Watendlath, proceeding thence to Keswick. Splendid views of Derwentwater are obtained in the descent. Near the foot of Thirlemere, one extremity of the vale of St. John is passed. The views along it, with Saddleback beyond, are very fine. The celebrated "Castle Rock" stands at the entrance on the right. "From a field on the eastern side of the road, and a little short of the tenth milestone, the view of the vale of St. John presents a most singularly interesting, assemblage of the wild and the lovely."-Green.

Naddle Fell.

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Toll Bar.

The road rises gradually until it attains the height of 720 feet, at the pass of

DUNMAIL RAISE.

Enter Cumberland.

Steel Fell on the left.

Seat Sandal on the right.

8 Horse's Head, Wytheburn.

The village, called locally "the city," is half a mile, distant on the left.

THIRLEMERE LAKE, called also Wytheburn Water and Leathes Water, washing the base of Helvellyn.

6 Road on the right through St. John's Vale.

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Hence may be seen the three 2 mountains, Skiddaw, Saddleback, and Helvellyn.

From this place, there is the view of the vale of the Derwent and its two lakes, which Gray regretted so much to leave. Skiddaw is immediately before the eye.

cr. Smeathwaite Bridge over St. John's Beck, which issues from Thirlemere.

51 Fair Field. Seat Sandal.

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"They now have reach'd that pile of stones,

Heap'd over brave King Dunmail's bones,

He who once held supreme command,

Last king of rocky Cumberland; His bones, and those of all his power,

Slain here in a disastrous hour."

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-"Wytheburn's modest house!
of prayer,
As lowly as the lowliest dwell-
ing."

Eagle Crag is seen hanging over the upper end of the lake, a sheet of water, environed by frowning precipices, two and a half miles long, 500 feet above the level of the sea, and about, 100 feet in depth. There is a small island near the shore at its foot. It is so narrow as to allow a wooden bridge to be thrown across its middle. To obtain, some picturesque views, the lake should be crossed by this bridge, and the road on the west shore taken, which joina, the turnpike road, a little be 10 vond the twelfth mile-stone. Raven Crag is a fine object near the foot. This lake is the pro perty of T. S. Leathes, Esq., whose residence, Dalehead House, is in the neighbour hood.

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Shoulthwaite Moss, backedi by a rocky hill called Bend.

A farm-house on the left. shaded by wood, is named: Causey Foot

When the pedestrian reaches a piece of open ground in theị descent, he is advised to enter one of the fields on the left, ta obtain a view of the whole ex panse of Derwentwater.

-ESKDALE-

, 38 Miles

The whole of this route is seldom travelled continuously; but as most of it will be traversed in detached portions, it has been thought better to place the total distance under one description, from which the Tourist may select the sections he requires. In consequence of there being no inn at which post horses are kept between Ambleside and Calder Bridge, carriages cannot pursue this route.

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Loughrigg Fell.

Two miles and a half from
Ambleside, a road turns into
Great Langdale.

There is a waterfall a short 35
distance above the bridge 20
feet in height. The views of
Langdale Pikes are extremely
fine.

From the terrace attained soon after passing Skelwith Br. there is a superb view of Elterwater, and of Great and Little Langdale, separated by Lingimoor.

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From this summit there is a magnificent view of Seawfell 254 Pikes and Scawfell. On the left the Irish Sea is seen; and, in clear weather, the Isle of Man. Half way down the hill, and about 120 yards from the road, are the faintly visible remains of a Roman fortification called Hardknot Castle, once a place of importance.

that lone camp on Hard-
knot's height,

Whose Guardians beat the knee to
Jove and Mars.

The mountains encircling 24
Eskdale, are the Seathwaite
Felis on the left, and projec
tions from Seawfell on the
Tights

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10 The Duddon bends at this pince; and, passing through the beautiful vale of Seathwaite, enters Morecambe Bay, near Broughton. The distance between Cockley Beck and 12 Broughton by the road is 12 miles. The pedestrian is strongly advised to traverse this valley, unsurpassed in picturesque and retired beauty by any other, in the Lake district. It may be approached from Coniston by the Walna Sear road. There is an inn at Newfleld, 4 or 5 miles down the valley. The Duddon is the subjectof a series of sonnets by Wordsworth.

This beautiful vale is watered by the Fsk, which, after a 134 course of about 16 miles, enters the sea near Ravenglass. The valley is narrow at the spot where it is entered, but it widens rapidly towards the west. It contains two or three hamlets and a few scattered houses. Great numbers of sheep are pastured in it.

ON RIGHT FROM AMBLESIDE.

From
Whiteh.

From

Ambles

ON LEST FROM AGMLDN LUR

The Wool Pack, a small tan, 23 is a short distance from the road.

The inn is a little to the 22 right of the road. At this place a mountain road leaves Eskdale,and passing Burnmoor Tarn, enters Wastdale Head between the Screes and Scaw fell, 6 miles. The latter mountain may be ascended from Eskdale.

On elevated ground, 4 miles south of Bout, there is a lonely. Itarn, with a rocky island in its centre, called Devoke Water. About half a mile from its foot are some ruins called Barnscar, which, according to tradition, were a Danish city. The 18 situation is marked by several small piles of stones. No record of such a place has, however, come down to us. A number of silver coins have been found at it.

Dawson Ground.

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Bout vill

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cr. Bridge over the 20
Mite.

Fine view of the coast from the road between the two bridges.

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Birker Force, a fine cascade may be seen from the madj Jamongst the cliffs. The rocks around are very grand.

At the schoolhouse a roud] strikes off to the left, conduct ing to Dalegarth Hall, noW farm house, but formerly a residence of the Stanleys Ponsonby, at which directions will be given to a noble waterfall, called Stanley Gill or Dalegarth Force. The stream is crossed three times by wooden bridges on approaching the fall. The chasm is exceedingly grand. Returning, the Esk dale and Wastdale mountains, with Sawfell amongst them, are see in fine outline.

Road to Ravenglass, a small town, 19 miles from Ulverston, and 16 miles from Whitehaven, seated in an arm of the sea at the confluence of the Esk, Irt, and Mite. A small coasting trade is carried on as well as ship-building and oyster fishing. Muncaster Castle, Lord Muncaster's seat, is near it.

Black Combe, a lofty hill, 7

miles to the south of the town, commands an extensive view of the coast. The Welsh moun tains, and the Isle of Man, are within the boundary of the view.

In the churchyard is a stoun pillar of great antiquity, covered with illegible carvings. Ponsonby Hall, J.E.Stanley, Esq.

28 Here there are two good inn

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WHITEHAVEN.

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⚫ Egremont is a neat market town, containing about 1500 inhabitants, sented at the distance of two miles and a half from the coast, upon the banks of the Ehen, the stream which flows from Ennerdale Lake. It is stated to have been a borough at the period when Parliamentary representatives were remunerated for their services; and that, to avoid the expense of a member, the burgesses petitioned to have the burgh disfranchised, which was accordingly done. The Parish Church is an ancient edifice, dedicated to St Mary. It was granted by William de Meschiens to the Cell of St Bees. Upon an eminence to the west of the town stand the ruins of Egremont Castle, formerly a place of great strength and importance. It was built by the above named Williara de Meschiens soon after the Norman Conquest. In the lapse of time it passed into the possession of the Lucy family. There is a tradition, respecting the fortress whilst belonging to the Lucies, which Wordsworth has versified in some stanzas entitled, The Horn of Egremont Castle." General Wyndham is the present owner of both the Manor and Castle of Egremont. Large quantities of iron ore are excavated in the neighbourhood, which are conveyed to Whitehaven unsmelted, and thence shipped to South Wales, St Bees, at which there is a fine Conventual Church, in two and a half miles distant. A good road, of seven miles in length, conducta to the foot of Ennerdale Lake. The distances from Egremont to the neighbouring towns are,-Exver iginas, 11 miles; Broughton, 20 miles; Ulverston, 30 miles; Cockermouth, 13 miles; Maryport, 29 talles

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