262 HILLSBOROUGH. 



bits. Thus we have Saxon's hurroWy at the entrance 

 to Watermouth, and Brauntou Burrows ; and the 

 word is continually used as an appellative, synonymous 

 with rabbit-warren. 



Hillsborough is sure to catch the eye of a stranger 

 from nearly all points of the vicinity. From the 

 promenade of Capstone its gigantic form is broadly 

 conspicuous ; its loftiness brings its summit into 

 view the first of the eminences that surround the town, 

 as you mount any of the other hills ; and as you 

 Avalk down the steep and narrow street that leads to 

 the quay, there is the bold and picturesque mass 

 sti'aight in front, filling the field of view. There is 

 something particularly grand and noble in its appear- 

 ance : the highest point is nearly 500 feet above the 

 sea, and from this point there descends to the water's 

 edge one broad ample face of cliff" almost perpen- 

 dicular, its naked majesty unbroken from top to 

 bottom, except by the variations of light and shadow, 

 and the slight diversities of the warm brown tints 

 that mark its surface. It is the character of the 

 friable shale which is the prevalent formation here, to 

 form great breadths of surface, and to this I think is 

 owing much of that grandeur for which the coast 

 scenery of North Devon is so remarkable. 



It is a pleasant, though somewhat toilsome exer- 

 cise, to climb to the summit of this hill in summer, 

 and enjoy the wide expanse of prospect visible thence. 

 I do not mean that you must climb the precipice, for 

 you might almost as well essay the side of a church, 

 but ascend the grassy slope from the landward side, 

 which, though steep, is not impracticable. We go by 



