ii8 Excursiong; torn 



VALLEY OF THE STOCK, KIRKSTONE PASS, AND 

 TROUTBECK. 

 (ii miles via Low Wood ; 14 via Cook's House.) 

 The road to Kirkstone — a very steep one — issues out 

 of Ambleside by the old church. Though pretty enough in 

 its way, it is nothing to the magnificent scenery that stretches 

 out beneath. You look back, and white singular Ambleside 

 comes into view; higher up, the head of Winandermere ; 

 higher still, you catch little Blelham Tarn, sparkling like a 

 jewel dropt among the waste hills; higher still, Coniston 

 Old Man and the wild western hills ; higher yet, Morecambe 

 Bay : — Stockdale is some three or four miles in length, — 

 and, before you descry the sea, with the vapoury track of a 

 steamer perhaps stretching across it, you are on Kirkstone, 

 and then your attention is taken captive by the immediate 

 beauties of the scene ; Red Screes on the left, Caudale 

 Moor on the right, and the wild mountain road that, with 

 torrents for its companions, hurries down into Patterdale. 

 At the inn, known as the highest inhabited house in Eng- 

 land, we 'right about face'; and then take the road on the 

 left, soon finding ourselves descending rapidly into the 

 Troutbeck Valley, the chief beauties of which we have al- 

 ready pointed out at p. 32. For his way home the tourist 

 may either follow the road which skirts under Wansfell and 

 joins the main-road at Towwood Hotel, or, crossing the 

 valley to the church, he may follow that which will bring him 

 to Cook's House, close to Windermere, a spot with which 

 he will now be well acquainted. In both routes the views 

 of Winandermere are equally fine. 



