HELVELLYN. 



V. 



ASCENT OF HELVELLYN. 



There is a very charming walk of ten miles from 

 Patterdale to Grasmere (from inn to inn) by Grise- 

 dale, which may as well be enjoyed by 

 the pedestrian traveller, whether he 

 chooses to ascend Helvellyn or not. Grasmere and 

 Grisedale have the same derivation, — Gris being 

 the old Saxon for "wild swine" : and these are there- 

 fore " the lake " and " the valley of the wild boar." 

 A deep and still retreat must both have been in the 

 days of wild boars. The Grisedale valley will be 

 visited with interest by geologists. Sir R. Mur- 

 chison reports that it bears more distinct traces of 

 glacial action than any other in the district. At the 

 lower end remains of moraines are clearly trace- 

 able, and at several 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 Grisedale. The old hollies in the 

 woods here are remarkably fine. At every step the 

 grandeur and gloom overhead increase, — the path 

 leading directly under the frowning Helvellyn. 

 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 



