The road is for some miles in the vale of the Derwent. This river takes its name on issuing 203 Brigham Chapel on the left. 6 Road to Workington. from Derwentwater. It subsequently enters Bassenthwaite Lake, and finally, after winding through a pleasant country, enters the sea at Workington. A description of this town is 13 appended to No. VII. Sale Fell. The valley through which the road passes, is watered by a small stream, which enters the large bay, near the foot of Bassenthwaite Water, called Peel Wyke. The opposite shore is pleasantly indented with several promontories, the three principal of which are called Scarness, Braidness, and Bowness. There is a fine breadth of cultivated land, sprinkled with hamlets and solitary houses, between the lake and the mountains. The road traverses a thickly wooded country, at the base of Wythop Fells, Barf, and Lord's Seat. One of West's stations is at Beck Wythop, whence, says he, the whole cultivated land, between the lake and the mountains, is seen in all its beauty, and Skiddaw appears nowhere of such majestic height as from this place. Many pretty villas adorn this little village. From eminences in the neighbourhood, views both of Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake are commanded. 10 8 The village is half a mile to the right. COCKERMOUTH, seated on the Derwent, at the junction of the Cocker. Wheat Sheaf. BASSENTHWAITE LAKE. 14 17 18 Junction of the road from Workington to Cockermouth. These towns are eight miles from each other. The former is a sea-port, carrying on a considerable coasting trade. There are several extensive collieries in the neighbourhood, chiefly belonging to H. C. Curwen, Esq. of Workington Hall. Road to Carlisle, skirting the foot of the lake. This lake is approached at its widest part. It is four miles 19 in length, about three-quarters of a mile in breadth, and seventy-two feet in extreme depth. Skiddaw on its east side,fur20nishes, in combination with the water, many splendid views. Beyond the head, are Wallow and Falcon Crags, backed by Bleaberry Fell and High Seat. At the foot of Skiddaw, is Dodd Fell, and in the distance Helvellyn is visible. In front of s portion of Skiddaw, called Long Side, and near the margin of the lake, stand Bassenthwaite Church and Mirehouse, the re234 sidence of John Spedding, Esq. Grange Bridge, and the vil- 213 lage of Grange. The road returns to Keswick by the west 20 margin of Derwent Water. Borrowdale, a valley 6 miles long, and containing 2000 acres, is now entered. It is watered, in its whole length, by the river Grange, which, after it issues from Derwent Water, takes the name of Derwent. At Castle Crag the road and the bed of the river occupy all the level portion, but beyond the vale widens considerably. Above Rosthwaite the valley divides into two branches; the eastern branch is called Stonethwaite. Borrowdale formerly belonged to Furness Abbey. Here is a small inn. This is 19 the widest part of the valley. The mountain Glaramara is seen in front. Scawfell Pikes, Scawfell and Great Gavel are seen over Seathwaite. tarn in a desolate and narrow vale. Thrang Crag. The celebrated fall lies behind the inn, on the stream running from Watend lath Tarn. Its height is 100 feet.) Gowder Crag on the left, Shepherd's Crag on the right of the fall. Grange Crag. There is a good view from this eminence. Shortly before reaching this point, a road deviates to, and passes, Bowder Stone, re-entering the main road a little beyond. This mass of rock has been likened to A stranded ship with keel upturn'd that rests Careless of winds or wave. It is 62 feet long, 36 feet high, and 89 feet in circumference. It has been estimated to weigh! 1971 tons, and to contain 23,000 cubic feet. The view hence is exquisitely beautiful. Half a mile beyond, near Borrowdale Chapel, a road diverges to the valley and village of Stonethwaite. Eagle Crag is a fine rock near the latter. mountain path proceeds over the Stake, a lofty pass, into Langdale. A Near this bridge the road into Wastdale, by Sty Head, strikes off. The well known black lead mine, and the immense Borrowdale Yews, are near Seatollar. The former is the only mine of the kind in England. The largest of the yews is 21 feet in girth. Honister Crag, 1700 feet high. Here are some valuable slate quarries belonging to General Wyndham. A few houses placed half a 134 mile above the head of Buttermere Water, "under the most extraordinary amphitheatre of mountainous rocks that ever eye beheld." This lake is one and a half miles long, and half a mile broad; and at its deepest part Honister Crag. Gatescarth. On the eastern margin of BUTTERMERE LAKE. The lofty mountains seen above the opposite shore are Hay Stacks, High Crag, High is 90 feet deep. Char is taken 12 Hasness; (General Benson) 13 Stile, and Red Pike. Between plentifully. The distance be tween this lake and Crummock Water is about three quarters of a mile. The Chapel has been lately rebuilt; before, it was the most diminutive in the kingdom. A road, nine miles in length, climbs a steep Haws upwards of 1000 feet high, and descending into Keskadale and Newlands, proceeds to Keswick. This lake is about three miles long by three quarters of a mile broad. Its depth is in some parts 120 feet. It abounds with char and fine trout. There are three small islands close to the shore at the head of the lake. 111 A little before reaching Longthwaite, a few houses to the 8 left of the road, some high ground is interposed between the road and the lake. The road afterwards passes between Haws on the left, and Whiteside on the right. Lowes Water, which sends a 'stream into Crummock Lake is about one mile and a half distant. This lake is three quarters of a mile long, scarcely one quarter broad, and about 60 feet in extreme depth. It lies between Low Fell in the south, and Blake Fell in the north. The scenery round its foot is, contrary to the general rule, finest at its foot, and here it is very grand. Melbreak forms a striking feature in the views. Road under Whiteside to Keswick which shortens the distance by two miles. For horsemen and pedestrians it is the preferable route. Deviation of the road through Lorton vill. to Keswick. The famous yew tree," pride of Lorton vale," stands near the junction of this road with that from Keswick to Cockermouth. 7 4 3 on the left. Buttermere vill. With a good Inn. Along the eastern shore of CRUMMOCK WATER. "The mountains of the vale of Buttermere and Crummock are no where so impressive as from the bosom of Crummock Water." WORDSWORTH. Longthwaite vill. Scale Hill. To Whitehaven, 14 miles by Ullock and Moresby. To Calder Bridge, by the Enter the Keswick and Cockermouth road. 9 miles from Keswick. COCKERMOUTH. Inns, Globe, Sun. 14 17 the two latter is a tarn, the stream running from which makes a pretty waterfall. Scale Force, the loftiest waterfall about the lakes, is 2 miles distant to the west of Crummock Water. Its height is 156 feet. A mountain path leads by this fall, and Floutern Tarn into Ennerdale, 6 miles. Having wound round a bold promontory called Rannerdale Knott, a splendid view of the lake is presented. Melbreak is a grand object on the other margin. From its foot there juts a narrow promontory, a little above which there is a remarkably fine view. The mountains on the east shore are Whiteless Pike, Ladhouse, Grasmoor, and Whiteside. Four miles from Buttermere, the road from Scale Hill to Cockermouth is entered. A turn must be made to the left. 18 There is a good inn at this place, where the tourist would do well to stay a few days. The village is about a quarter of a mile from the river Cocker, which flows from Crummock Water, and is here crossed by a bridge of five arches. A good prospect is obtained from an eminence in Mr Marshall's wood. The pedestrian may make his way by the stream issuing from Floutern Tarn be hind Melbreak into Ennerdale, seven miles. 194 The road to Cockermouth passes through the vale of Lor ton on the east bank of the Cocker. This vale presents many richly picturesque views. It is three miles in length, with 21 many elevated hills around; but not lofty enough to cast a gloom upon the smiling aspect 22 L. Bragg, Esq. of the scenery. Lorton Hall, 25 COCKERMOUTH is an ancient borough and neat market-town of 4500 inhabitants, seated at the junction of the Cocker with the Derwent, from which circumstance it derives its name. It sent two representatives to Parliament as early as the twenty-third year of Edward I., and, by the Reform Act, it has still the privilege of returning two members. The honour and castle of Cockermouth belong to General Wyndham. The ruins of this ancient fortress, formerly a place of great strength, are seated on a bold eminence which rises from the east bank of the Cocker. It was built soon after the Norman Conquest by Waldieve, first lord of Allerdale, of whose successors it was for many centuries the baronial seat. In 1648, it was garrisond for King Charles, but being afterwards taken by the Parliamentarians, was dismantled by them, and has ever since lain in ruins, except a small part which the late Earl of Egremont sometimes inhabited. The Gateway Tower, embellished with the arms of the Umfravilles, Multons, Lucies, Percies, and Nevilles, is a striking object. On the north side of the town is a tumulus, called Toots Hill; one mile to the west are the remains of a rampart and ditch of an encampment, 750 feet in circuit, called Fitt's Wood. On the summit of a hill at Pap Castle, a village one mile and a-half south-west of Cockermouth, are the traces of a Roman castrum. A great number of antique remains have been discovered at this place, and in the neighbourhood. The castle was subsequently the residence of the above-mentioned Waldieve, by whom it was demolished, and the materials used in the construction of Cockermouth Castle. Tickell, the poet, Addison's friend, was born at Bridekirk, two miles distant.* The seats in the neighbourhood are-Dovenby Hall, (F. L. B. Dykes, Esq.,) three miles north-west. Tallentire Hall, (William Browne, Esq.,) three and a-half miles north. Isel Hall, (William Wybergh, Esq.,) three and a-half miles northeast. Woodhall, (J. S. Fisher, Esq.) two and a-half miles north. The best inns are, the Globe, and the Sun. The distances to the principal towns in the neighbourhood are—Maryport, seven miles, Workington, eight miles, Keswick, by Whinlatter, twelve miles, by Bassenthwaite Water, thirteen and a-half miles, Whitehaven, fourteen miles, Wigton, sixteen miles, Carlisle, twenty-seven miles. • Cockermouth is the birth-place of the poet Wordsworth, who was born on the 7th April, 1770. A mountain road of six miles 17 conducts from Wastdale Head, between Lingmell and the Screes, into Eskdale. The pedestrian and horseman may reach Ennerdale by the pass of Black Sail, or, by traversing another pass called Scarf Gap, may enter Buttermere dale at Gatescarth. This path is six 15 miles in length. Overbeck makes a pleasing cascade some distance above the bridge. The finest view of the valley is observed from the northwest extremity of the Screes. The road winds precipitously up Aaron End. From Keswick. ON LEFT FROM KESWICK. Sty Head. 12 Bay's Brown. Taylor's Gill Band. Saddleback is seen over Borrowdale. A magnificent pass elevated 1250 feet above the valley. The road descends very steeply be tween Great Gable on the right, and Great End and Scawfell on the left, to Wastdale Head, a level and secluded valley, of a few hundred acres, at the head of Wast Water, shut in by lofty mountains that rise like walls from it. Here is a chapel but no inn. Garnets are found embedded in the slate of Gable and Lingmell. This lake is 3 miles in length, and about half a mile broad; its extreme depth is 270 feet. 14 cr. Overbeck Bridge. 16 The grand mountains and bare Strands is a pretty little vil- 11 lage with two inns. The tourist making it his head quarters for a few days, will find many pleasant excursions in the vicinity. The view of Wast Water commanded from Latterbarrow, a rocky hill in the neighbourhood, is extremely 73 fine. A curious ravine called Hawl Gill, in the south-east extremity of the Screes, is worth Ja visit; and those who are fond of mountain rambles, may pass along the summit of the Screes and descend to Wastdale Head. The views from this elevated situation are magnificent. rocks around this lake, invest it with a peculiar air of desclation. The Screes, whose sides "shiver in all the subdued! colours of the rainbow," extend along the whole length of the opposite shore, whilst the road passes under Yewbarrow and Buckbarrow Pike. From a field fronting Crook, there is one of the best views, not only of the head, but of the whole body, of the lake. From no other point of view are the colours of the Screes more beautiful, more majestic the 231 outline, more magnificent the frowning cliffs. 7 cr. Bleng Bridge. Gosforth vill. 4 WILSON. The road from Gosforth to Egremont has been described in No. V. |