BASSENTHWAITE. 131 



distance from lake to lake is between three and 

 four miles, a large proportion of which is apt to be 

 flooded in winter; and occasionally the waters 

 actually join, so as to present the appearance of a 

 lake ten miles long, — the length of Windermere. 

 These floods are a serious drawback to the pro- 

 ductiveness of the lake levels, and the health and 

 comfort of the inhabitants. 



The side opposite Skiddaw is the more interest- 

 ing of the two ; so the traveller takes it first. The 

 road passes through Portinscale and Braithwaite to 

 Thornthwaite, and leaves Whinlatter on the left. 

 It passes through woods and pretty glades, which 

 make a charming foreground, while old Skiddaw 

 fills the view on the opposite shore. Lord's Seat 

 and Barf rise boldly to the left ; and the road runs, 

 for the most part, on the margin of the lake. It 

 winds round after passing Peel Wyke, to Ouse 

 Bridge, beneath which the lake discharges itself 

 in the form of the much enlarged river Derwent, 

 which flows away towards Cockermouth. 



About a hundred yards east of Ouse Bridge, there is a gate 

 with a path leading through a wood to the foot of the lake. This 

 point of tbe shore offers incomparably the finest view of Bassen- 

 thwaite. The whole length of the lake is seen, with the majestic 

 slopes of Skiddaw on the east; Lord's Seat and Barf are on 

 the west, and the head is closed in by the Walla Crags and 

 Helvellyn. 



The Pheasant Inn, about a mile and a half from 

 Ouse Bridge, on the western side of the lake, is a 

 clean and comfortable little inn, and the best rest- 

 ing-place in this circuit. If it is thought worth 

 while to go a mile or two out of the way for an 

 exceedingly fine view, the traveller will follow the 

 Hesket road for a mile beyond Castle Inn, and 



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