"^^Zt^alfes at ©rasmere. 151 



There are some grand views in the former part of this walk. 



VIII. Another path, running between that last mentioned 

 and the Red Bank road, diverges just before reaching Dale 

 End. This leads over less elevated ground into Langdale at 

 Chapel Stile and is generally taken by persons ascending 

 ^angtJale i^ikes from Grasmere. — After reaching Chapel 

 Stile, the high-road up the valley must be followed until Dun- 

 geon Gill New Hotel is reached (p. 134). There the traveller 

 must take the peat-road, which will be pointed out to him, to 

 Stickle 5E^am, — famous for its trout, and therefore in great 

 favour with anglers. Its circular basin, brimming with clear 

 water, lies finely under the steep rocks of ^B!bzi^ ^.^tit* 

 There is nothing amidst this mountain scenery more inter- 

 esting than these tarns. Their very use, — namely, to cause 

 such a distribution of waters as may fertilize, without inun- 

 dating, the lands below, —is one which enhances the 

 sense of their beauty, by suggesting the admirable provision 

 of nature which they are intended to serve. After rain, if 

 the waters came down all at once, the vales would be flooded 

 — as we see, very inconveniently, by the consequences of im- 

 proved agricultural drainage. The tarns are a security, as far 

 as they go ; and at present the only one. The lower brooks 

 swell after rain, and pour themselves into the rivers, while the 

 mountain-brooks are busy in the same way, emptying them- 

 selves into the tarns. By the time the streams in the valley are 

 subsiding, the upper tarns are full, and begin to overflow ; 

 and now the overflow can be received in the valley with- 

 out injury. As for their aspects, under all lights, and in all 

 weathers, they must be studied on the spot, for no description 

 can afford any impression of the truth to those who merely 

 see them on a passing tour. 



garrison j^ticfele (the higher of the Langdale Pikes), 



