22 Country Rambles. 



Many are found here that grow nowhere else in the 

 neighbourhood, and the very commonest attain the 

 highest state of perfection. Hobson, Crozier, Horsefield, 

 and their companions above-named, used to come to 

 Cotterill regularly, both in summer and winter, gather- 

 ing flowers in the former season, mosses in the latter, 

 and not more for the riches of the vegetation, than, as 

 Crozier once told me, for the singing of the innumer- 

 able birds. The journey, both to and fro, was entirely 

 upon foot, and the men were often here by breakfast 

 time. Being a game preserve, there has always been 

 some difficulty of access to the clough, and of late years 

 this has been considerably increased. But gamekeepers, 

 after all, are only men, and "a soft answer turneth away 

 wrath," so that none need despair if they will but act 

 the part of wisdom. 



The approach to this pretty valley is made in the first 

 instance from Peel Causeway station, pursuing the lane 

 for a little while, then electing whether to continue, past 

 Bank Hall and its seventeen yew trees, or to strike 

 through a field-path upon the left, thence along the crest 

 of a gentle acclivity, from which is obtained the best 

 view we are acquainted with, of Bowdon. Although 

 requiring some watchfulness, so as not to go astray, the 

 upper path is decidedly the best to take. One point 

 alone needs specially careful observation, that is, after 

 crossing the little ravine, and emerging into another lane, 

 to turn down it to the right, and upon arriving at a 

 cottage upon the left, to take the path immediately 



