ESKDALE TO WAST WATER. 159 



inn at Bout, the road runs above the river, till at 

 the King of Prussia Inn, it turns up 

 out of Eskdale, and crosses into Miter- 

 dale. Before Eskdale is lost sight of, the opening 1 

 of the valley to the sea affords a fine view, with the 

 little town of Ravenglass seated in the bay where 

 the Irt, the Mite, and the Esk flow into the sea. 

 Then conies a long ascent, and more views of the 

 levels towards the coast, — rich with woods and 

 fields, bounded by sands and sea. Then there is 

 a descent to cross the Mite ; and another ascent ; 

 and a descent again to pretty Santon Bridge on 

 the winding Irt. Instead of passing the bridge, 

 however, the road to the right must be taken, 

 which leads in two miles to Strands. There is 

 again a long 1 ascent : but even the tired traveller 

 will not complain of it, when the circle of moun- 

 tains round Wast Water opens before him. The 

 lake is not visible j but there is no mistaking where 

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

 present their remarkable sweep of debris, and crests 

 streaked with red, grey and vivid green, 

 wast wateb. an( j k ere an( j there cloven for the pas- 

 sage of cataracts from the brow, which tumble down 

 through the gloom of woods. Hawl Ghyll is the 

 largest of these ravines. Next, the Scawfell peaks 

 rise above the rest; and Great End 

 MOTjjriAiire. j us ^. p ee p S over ^ ie s l 10U lder of Ling- 



mell. The cleft between Lingmell and Great Gable 

 is Sty Head Pass ; and to the left, from Great Gable 

 are Yewbarrow and Middlefell. The broken fore- 

 ground on the common whence this view is seen, 

 adds greatly to its beauty. Descending upon Wast- 

 dale, the Irt is crossed; and then the road meets 



