1 26 Country Rambles. 



lane, arriving presently at a slit in the wall upon the 

 right, through which it is necessary to sidle as best one 

 may. The canal has then to be crossed, and the river 

 Goyt, after which there is a little glen leading the way 

 to the path up the hill. On the top, all the grandeurs of 

 Marple Ridge are renewed five-fold. Alderley has nearly 

 subsided into the plain. Beeston Castle is conspicuous. 

 Some say they can descry the great Ormes-head. Pursu- 

 ing the road along the crest of the hill, we soon arrive at 

 Marple village; or descending from it, upon the right, 

 get almost as soon into the beautiful valley of the Goyt. 

 Both, however, since 1867, have been rendered so much 

 more easily accessible by means of the Midland railway, 

 that they may be left for another chapter, the more 

 particularly since a few miles' continued ride from Disley 

 brings us to another charming neighbourhood that one 

 which comprises the above-mentioned Whaley Bridge and 

 Taxal. 



The most manageable of the many pleasant walks 

 within reach of the latter, is that one which leads to 

 Taxal church, following the high road till a white gate 

 upon the right opens into meadows descending into a 

 dell, where the swift and limpid waters, if they do not 

 exactly make "shallow falls," at all events invite the 

 birds to sing their madrigals. Quitting the dell, the 

 path is once again upwards, soon reaching the church, 

 and after leaving this, through the grove of trees and 

 along the foot of the reservoir, the overflow from which 

 often seems a rushing snowdrift. This fine sheet of water 



