WHITEHAVEN, 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 posthorses are kept between Ambleside and Calder Bridge, carriages cannot pursue this route. From this summit there is a magnificent view of Scawfell 254 that lone camp on Hard- Whose Guardians bent the knee to The mountains encircling 24 Eskdale, are the Seathwaite Fells on the left, and projeotions from Scawfell on the right. The road winds steeply to the summit of WRYNOSE, (Pronounced locally Raynuz.) Enter Lancashire. Descend to Summit of HARD KNOT. Descend into ESKDALE. cr. Esk Bridge. 8 7 Tarn is perceived. Wetherlam, a stupendous mountain, rises on the south of the tarn. Mountain road through Tilberthwaite to Coniston,5 miles. The toilsome ascent of Wrynose is commenced at this place. The retrospective views are fine. Wansfell Pike is seen in the distance. The Carrs, and Coniston Fells. Traces of a Roman road over both Hardknot and Wrynose are yet remaining. 10 The Duddon bends at this place; and, passing through the beautiful vale of Seathwaite, enters Morecambe Bay, near Broughton. The distancel 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 Scar road. There is an inn at Newfield, 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 Esk, 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 From Ambles. ON LEFT FROM AMBLESIDE. The Wool Pack, a small inn, 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 Scawfell, 6 miles. The latter mountain may be ascended from Eskdale. On elevated ground, 4 miles south of Bout, there is a lonely tarn, 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 tradi tion, were a Danish city. The 18 cr. Bridge over the 20 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. Mite. Fine view of the coast from the road between the two bridges. Birker Force, a fine cascade, may be seen from the road amongst the cliffs. The rocks around are very grand. At the schoolhouse a road strikes off to the left, conducting to Dalegarth Hall, now a farm house, but formerly a residence of the Stanleys of 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 Eskdale and Wastdale mountains, with ScawfeH amongst them, are seen 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. Here a road diverges to 163 cr. Santon Bridge, 21 Black Combe, a lofty hill, 7 Strands, a small village, one mile from the foot of Wast Water. From Latterbarrow an eminence, under which the road passes, there is a fine view of the lake. Road to Strands, four miles. 13 across the Irt, which flows miles to the south of the town, commands an extensive view of the coast. The Welsh mountains, and the Isle of Man, are within the boundary of the view. In the churchyard is a stone pillar of great antiquity, covered with illegible carvings. Ponsonby Hall, J.E.Stanley, Esq. Here there is a good hotel. 35 Linethwaite. WHITEHAVEN. 38 Inns, Black Lion, Globe. Hensingham House, Henry *Egremont is a neat market town, containing about 1500 inhabitants, seated 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 William de Meschiens soon after the Norman Con quest. 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, is two and a half miles distant. A good road, of seven miles in length, conducts to the foot of Ennerdale Lake. The distances from Egremont to the neighbouring towns are,- Ravenglass, 11 miles; Broughton, 20 miles; Ulverston, 30 miles; Cockermouth, 13 miles; Maryport, 20 miles. 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. 1 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. A handsome freestone arch, with an entablature adorned with the arms of the Lowther family, spans the road on leaving the town for the north. Moresby Church: Moresby Hall, Miss Tate. Parton and Harrington, two small sea-ports,are near Moresby. At the south-end of the village, are the ruins of Hayes' Castle, once the residence of the, Moresby family. 6 Road to Workington. 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. A road, nine miles in length, Buttermere. The lower part of the vale is picturesque, the 25 upper, wild. 27 Grisedale Pike, a fine object. Greta Hall, Robert Southey, Esq., P. L. 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 the two latter is a tarn, the stream running from which makes a pretty waterfall. in 90 feet deep. Char is taken 123 Hasness; (General Benson) 13 Stile, and Red Pike. Between plentifully. The distance between this lake and Crummock Water is about three quarters of a mile. The Chapel has been lately 113 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. A little before reaching Longthwaite, a few houses to the 84 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 ivery 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 6 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 Egremont, 15 miles by Lamplugh and Ennerdale Bridge. To Calder Bridge, by the same places, 17 miles. To Keswick by Lorton and Whinlatter, 12 miles. Enter the Keswick and Cockermouth road. 9 miles from Keswick. COCKERMOUTH. Inns, Globe, Sun. 14 17 Scale Force, the loftiest waterfall about the lakes, is 2 miles distant to the westof 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 The remarkably fine view. 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. 181 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 behind Melbreak into Ennerdale, seven miles. 194 The road to Cockermouth passes through the vale of Lorton 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 of the scenery. Lorton Hall, 22 R. L. Bragg, Esq. 25 |