78 ""JESTintiermete to ©rasmere* 



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Valley, the head of which is enobled by the swelling masses 

 of the Pikes. A dark cleft in the nearer one is the place 

 where the celebrated Dungeon Gill Force is plunging and 

 foaming, beyond the reach of the eye or ear. He can 

 gather from this station, something of the character of J^ang^ 

 bale* It has levels, here expanding, there contracting ; and 

 the stream winds along them from end to end. There is no 

 lake : and the mountains send out spurs, alternating or meet- 

 ing, so as to make the levels sometimes circular and some- 

 times winding. The dwellings are on the rising ground 

 which skirt the levels ; and this, together with the paving of 

 the road below, shows that the valley is subject to floods. 

 The houses, of grey stone, each on its knoll, with a canopy 

 of firs and sycamores- above it, and ferns scattered all a- 

 round, and ewes and lambs nestling near it, — these primi- 

 tive farms are cheerful and pleasant objects to look upon, 

 whether from above or passing among them. Nearer at hand 

 are some vast quarries of green slate. Below, among planta- 

 tions, are seen the roofs of Elterwater Powder Mills ; whence 

 the road winds through the village of Langdale Chapel, to 

 the margin of the pools which make up the lake. From their 

 opposite shore rise the hills, height above height, — range 

 beyond range. To the left, almost under the spectator's eye, 

 lies Loughrigg Tarn, and, in the distance, Winandermere, 

 with Wray Castle prominent on its height, and the Lanca- 

 shire hills closing in the view. It is a singular prospect, at 

 once noble and lovely. 



The car is waiting where the traveller left it ; but he must 

 detain it a little longer. There is a path to the left, just a- 

 bove ]Ei£t( ^anb, which he must ascend. It takes him a 

 short distance up the hill to a spot from which he obtains the 

 view, now opening before him, in the greatest perfection. He 

 had better make up his mind to walk down the steep descent 



