2 24 J^t^Mtk ^i^ixitt 



lake : but the place was in Gray's eyes, ' a rough pasture ' 

 while affording the best point of view for the sketch of the 

 lake. With regard to the near objects of the landscape, Gray 

 preferred the gentle eminence of Crow Park to Cockshot, 

 as he preferred Cockshot to Castle Head. After Gray's 

 time, Crow Park was used as a race-course, and was the 

 scene of Cumberland games, and the starting-point of the 

 boats at the annual regatta. The steward of the Derwent- 

 water estates built his pretty residence there, a few years ago 

 and the wildness of the spot has disappeared. The first 

 green eminence on the right, as the lake-road leaves Kes- 

 wick, is Crow Park. 



Gray saw Cockshot * covered with young trees, both sown 

 and planted,- and all thriving wonderfully. These young 

 trees are now large oaks and spreading beeches. The 

 stranger cannot miss the stile, on the left of the lake-road 

 nearly opposite Crow Park Cottage ; and he will find a plea- 

 sant path running round the base of ^ocltsljot. 



A little further along, where the road comes out upon the 

 lake, is Friar's Crag, a rocky promontory, commanding a fine 

 view. Where the artists now sit down to sketch, the monks 

 of Lindisfarn used to stand, once a-year, to receive the 

 blessing of St. Herbert. There, if the south wind was 

 blowing, they might hear, and if the south wind had brought 

 rain from the central peaks, they might see, the I^odore fall, 

 leaping down the chasm between its two guardian pillars. 

 The contrast between this quiet valley and the wild coast of 

 Holy Isle must have been as impressive to them as the Saint's 

 benediction. 



If, instead of returning direct, the stranger proceeds 

 through the meadows on the left to join the Borrowdale road, 

 he will pass the spot where Southey would have built his 

 house, if he had had * Aladdin's lamp or Fortunatus's purse.' 



