THIRLMERE. 99 



two promontories; so that piers are easily built, 

 with little wooden bridges at intervals; and thus 

 is solved what is to novices a great mystery; — 

 how there can be a bridge over a lake."* There is 



* An explorer supplies the following account of a spot in Thirl- 

 mere. " The best wooded ravine and one of the finest in the 

 Lake Country, although it has never been mentioned in the 

 Guide Books, is one upon Thirlmere, (whose name we are un- 

 acquainted with), upon the side opposite to the coach-road and 

 and about half a mile south of Armboth House. A huge Rocking 

 Stone — which does not rock however, although it stands upon 

 the merest ledge of its base — can be seen from the highway, 

 about the middle of the opposite cliff, and marks out the direction : 

 the ravine is a few score yards to the north of it Cross the lake- 

 bridge, and take the road upon the left-hand for about three- 

 quarters of a mile, when the first stream you arrive at is this 

 nameless wonder. Although we have travelled up it a long dis- 

 tance in the fairest company, it is not easy climbing for ladies. 

 But it well repays a little toil. Nowhere, not even at Lodore, 

 are rocks more picturesquely scattered, more beautifully mossed, 

 more drooped over by greenest foliage than here : very soon you 

 come to what appears to be a complete cul-de-sac, a wall of rock, 

 not only rendering progress impossible, but setting you wonder- 

 ing where the stream can possibly come from ; the tourist here 

 has to take a perfect right angle, and proceeds through a deep 

 and narrow chasm which ladies had better not strive to pass 

 through ; there is a circuitous route up the cliff on the left hand 

 by which the ravine can be again reached and the expedition 

 resumed. The wdiole of the way is beautiful : the beck looks like 

 some gallery of Creswick's Pictures, with nook and fall and bower 

 and natural rock-work, endlessly diversified. At last, the rocky 

 summit of a very deep pool is reached, which has been the watery 

 home, for several minutes, of more than one over-active young 

 gentleman of our acquaintance, who slipped in during their peril- 

 ous passage over that left-hand ledge yonder. No sane person, 

 with life uninsured, would venture upon it ; the cliff, no easy 

 matter, must now be climbed, and the head of the ravine arrived 

 at by the left bank ; there is there a waterfall both above and 

 beneath the tourist, and a view of King Helvellyn and the nobles 

 of his court at Tuirlmere, which will well repay him for all 

 trouble. Upon his return, he should visit the Rocking Stone 

 upon the right, from whence is a still more splendid prospect." 



G 2 



