1 82 ^T0m ^mi^ton 



leads him under the rocks, now on this side of the stream, 

 and now on that, till he emerges from the ravine, and finally 

 winds his way through the hazel copse to the gate. 



It might be thought that our travellers would have no 

 leisure for much meditating in the glen. There are, however, 

 only six miles to be travelled, and no more rough mountain- 

 tracks to-day, but a good road — wonderfully red ! — across 

 Esfe^ale and all the way to Strands. 



After crossing the Esk, the road turns sharply to the left, 

 and runs above the river, till at the King of Prussia Inn, 

 it turns out of Eskdale, and crosses into X^^ttettiale, Before 

 Eskdale is lost sight of, the opening of the valley to the sea 

 aifords a fine view, with the little town of Ravenglass seated 

 in the bay at which point the Irt, the Mite, and the Esk flow 

 into the sea. Then comes a long ascent, with more views of 

 the level towards the coast, — which is rich with wood and 

 fields. Then there is a descent to cross the Mite ; and 

 another ascent ; and a descent again to pretty Santon Bridge. 

 Instead of passing the bridge the road to the right must 

 be taken. There is another long ascent : but even a tired 

 traveller will not complain of it, when in two miles, the circle 

 of mountains round Wastwater opens before him. The 

 lake is not visible; but there is no mistaking where it 

 lies. To the right, and close at hand, the Screes present 

 their remarkable sweep of deMs, their crests being streaked 

 with red, grey, and vivid green, and here and there cloven for 

 the passage of cataracts from the brow, which tumble down 

 through the gloom of woods. Hawl Gill is the largest of 

 these ravines. Next, the Scafell peaks rise above the rest, 

 and Great End just peeps over the shoulder of Lingmell. 

 The cleft between Lingmell and Great Gable is Sty Head 

 Pass ; and to the left, from Great Gable are Yewbarrow and 

 Middlefell. The broken foreground on the common whence 



