torn .^mblesibe* 131 



ASCENT OF HELVELLYN. 



Approaching the mountain from Ambleside, there are 

 two ways to climb Helvellyn ; — the one by Grisedale 

 Tarn ; the other from Wythburn. That from Wythburn is the 

 shorter, but it is steeper than the first — the track beginning 

 at once to cHmb the hill opposite the Horse's Head. 

 The gushing stream which crosses the mail-road near 

 the Horse's Head, comes down from Brownrigg's Well, 

 — the spring which refreshes the traveller on his way up or 

 down, — bursting from the mountain-side within 300 yards 

 from the summit. There is no difficulty in this route, be- 

 yond the steepness, as the track, — used by ponies, — is well- 

 marked all the way up. To do this from Ambleside and 

 Grasmere the carriage-road is to be taken as far as ^3^ gtlj^ 

 burn, which is described at page 119. 



For the ascent by Grisedale Tarn, take the road to Kes- 

 wick as far as the fifth milestone, which is at the foot of Dun- 

 mail Raise, Grasmere; a little beyond the milestone is a 

 house, on the right, covered w4th ivy. Turn through a gate 

 into a lane on the side of the house nearest Keswick. You 

 soon emerge by the side of a stream,^ though at some height 

 above it ; after crossing this at some distance up, the path 

 ascends steeply the grassy slopes of jS'eat j^anbaL This 



* There is a pretty waterfall just below here called Tongue Gill Force, 

 and more * material ' for good pictures may be found further up the stream. 



The tourist will find it a good plan in making the ascent of Helvellyn 

 to go up by way of Grisedale Tarn and descend by Wythburn, where he 

 can order a carriage to meet him. The descent into Patterdale should 

 be made by Swirrel Edge, (see plan,) at the foot of which the piece of 

 boggy ground between the two ' Edges ' has to be crossed until the path 

 from Striding Edge is joined ; from this point there is no further difficulty. 



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