2c8 ' Excursion from 



points there are stones which, from their being of a different 

 formation from the surrounding rocks, give evidence of 

 having been brought from a distance. 



From Patterdale the traveller crosses Grisedale beck, and 

 ascends by a well-wooded road to the table-land of Grise- 

 dale. The old hollies in the woods here are remarkably 

 fine. At every step the grandeur and gloom overhead in- 

 crease, — the path leading directly under the frowning Hel- 

 vellyn. There are lead-mines about half-way up, under 

 Striding Edge ; and the tourist is likely to mistake the track 

 to the mines for his own road : but he must keep the stream 

 to the right, — in other words, he must keep on the right 

 bank of the stream for some way further. The path crosses 

 and re-crosses the beck in climbing the steep ascent to the 

 tarn; but there is no further danger of losing the track. 

 The view of Place Fell behind is fine, as seen through the 

 steep sides of the dale ; and, north-westwards, the mountains 

 above the Vale of Newlands are seen peeping between Seat 

 Sandal and Helvellyn. The tarn lies under the east flank 

 of Seat Sandal, in a deep hollow ; and a more sweet and 

 solemn resting-place than ©tisctiale JlJatn is perhaps not to 

 be found among the mountains. A wall runs along the 

 ridge ; and through a gate in that wall the track leads down 

 to Grasmere. The views are gayer and more extensive by 

 far than those presented on the other side of the pass. The 

 mountains now seen are the Langdale Pikes and Coniston 

 Old Man, with Scawfell and Bowfell predominant. The 

 first part of the descent is steep, and the latter part gradual 

 and pleasant, over grass, and finally between fences and 

 among farmhouses, till the path comes out upon the mail- 

 road, opposite Helm Crag, and some way above the Swan 

 at Grasmere. About half-a-mile before he reaches the high- 

 road, the traveller must look out for ^m^m ©ill ^otce* 



