128 Country Rambles. 



the vigorous, the best part of Taxal is after all upon the 

 Derbyshire instead of the Cheshire side of the river, 

 mounting continuously for two or three miles, and so 

 eventually reaching Eccles Pike a grand, green, round 

 hill in the middle of a huge green basin. Beyond 

 Whaley Bridge come in turn Doveholes and Buxton. 



At Buxton, once the El Dorado of local naturalists, 

 the visitor finds picturesque beauty and historical associa- 

 tions, even if he be not in search of the recruited health 

 which this celebrated old town is supposed to be always 

 so willing to supply. Plenty of exhilarating rambles may 

 be found within the compass of an afternoon, the hills 

 being lofty, while for those who cannot climb there is the 

 romantic valley of the Wye, called Ash wood Dale. 



