164 Country Rambles. 



Moving along the western borders of the lake, it is 

 impossible for the eye not to catch sight of some curious 

 projecting crags upon the topmost crest of the highest 

 ground in front. These are the noted " Robin Hood 

 Rocks" of the legend, the lofty hill upon which they are 

 perched being Blackstone Edge itself, with, just below 

 them, the remains of the still more famous Roman road. 

 That Littleborough stands on the site of an ancient 

 Roman station is well known. The road mounted the 

 steep slope, crossed it, and then descended into York- 

 shire, running as far as the city where Severus died. By 

 reason, it would seem, of the extreme steepness, the 

 construction is different from that of any other Roman 

 road in the country, there being a deep groove along the 

 middle of the accustomed pavement, designed apparently 

 with the help of proper wheels to steady the movement 

 of heavily laden trucks. In any case, there is not a more 

 interesting scene near Manchester than is supplied upon 

 the slopes of this grand range Blackstone Edge which 

 if unpossessed of the drear wildness of mighty Kinder, 

 is solaced by the placid bosom of distant Hollingworth. 

 Two ways give access. We may ascend either from the 

 margin of the water, proceeding through fields and the 

 little glen called Clegg's Wood; or from Littleborough 

 by the turnpike-toad, turning off when about half-way up 

 to the right, and then mounting again. At the height of 

 about a quarter of a mile the road will be discovered 

 a belt of massive pavement, about forty feet in width, 

 quite smooth, and overgrown with whortle and crowberry, 



