r 



lESfalfes at ,^mblestoe» 109 



upon Grasmere is the same as that followed at p. 79. By 

 taking a car, in the first instance, to Pelter Bridge, and then 

 again from Grasmere to Ambleside, the walk is reduced to 

 one of four or five miles. 



^Biisft ^lose, — If, instead of descending Red Bank, 

 the traveller turns in the opposite direction, — away from 

 Grasmere instead of towards it, — he will find himself near 

 High Close (p. 77), and can refresh himself with the ^finest 

 view in Westmorland,' as that panorama is reputed. From 

 the foot of the ascent to High Close, the road is the same 

 (reversed) as that detailed at p. 78. 



ROADS TO GRASMERE. 

 Before leaving the description of the north end of the 

 Rothay Valley, it may be worth pointing out that there are 

 three roads to Grasmere from Rydal, for the horse or foot 

 traveller. The mail-road is by far the longest, as it sweeps 

 round the base of the promontory which separates the two 

 vales. The shortest of the three cuts is over the promontory 

 at its highest part, — the path turning off steeply at the 

 Rydal quarries, among the debris. There is a good deal of 

 ^oggy ground that way ; but it lessens the distance consider- 

 ably, and comes down finely upon Grasmere. The inter- 

 mediate line is the celebrated Roman road, by which the 

 "SSfisl^mg ©ate is passed, just above Grasmere. It parts 

 off from the mail-road behind a wall, just on the Rydal side 

 of the promontory. On the whole, it may be said that if the 

 stranger desires an easy walk, he will follow the longest road ; 

 if he wishes to save time, or for the finest views and the 

 greatest wildness, he will take the shortest ; if he prefers 

 traditional and romantic associations, he will choose the 

 Roman road and the Wishing Gate. 



