66 GALE HILL. 



Westmorland," as that panorama is reputed. From 

 the foot of the ascent to High Close, the road is 

 the same (reversed) as that detailed at pp. 72 to 75. 

 Before leaving the description of the north end 

 of the Rothay valley, it may be worth pointing out 



that there are three roads to Gras- 

 UEASMEEE. mere from Rydal, for the horse or foot 



traveller. The mailroad is by far the 

 longest, as it sweeps round the base of the promon- 

 tory which separates the two vales. The shortest 

 of the three cuts directly over the promontory at 

 its highest part, the path turning off steeply at the 

 Rydal quarries, among the debris. There is a good 

 deal of boggy ground that way ; but it lessens the 

 distance very considerably, and comes down finely 

 upon Grasmere. The intermediate line is the 

 celebrated Roman road, by which the Wishing 

 Gate is passed, just above Grasmere. It parts 

 off from the mailroad behind a wall, just on the 

 Rydal side of the promontory. On the whole, 

 it may be said that if the stranger desires an easy 

 walk, he will follow the longest road ; if he wishes 

 to save time, or for the finest views and the 

 greatest wildness, he will take the shortest ; if he 

 prefers traditional associations, he will choose the 

 Roman road and the Wishing Gate. 



IX. In the immediate environs of Ambleside, 

 the paths speak for themselves. For instance, 



every walker will explore the meadows 



between the town and the river, and 

 ascend Gale Hill, behind the market-place. But 

 the stranger may possibly miss a beautiful walk 

 through the woods on Wansfell, commanding the 

 finest views of the head of Windermere, and of 



