HELM CEAG. 81 



Another favourite walk fe up the side of Nab Scar, further north 

 than the descent from the Roman road, described in the Walks 

 from Ambleside. The path may be seen from below, and traced 

 to a considerable height, winding among rocks and trees. 



There are also some charming walks about Silver How and the 

 western side of the lake. The finest is found by following the 

 ridge from Easedale Tarn, instead of descending by the regiUar 

 path. There is no difficulty about finding the way, as the lake 

 is in sight the whole time. 



Helm Crag should be ascended if the stranger has leisure for a 

 steep climb. The view from the top is fine, though not so com- 

 manding as from higher summits. The Grasmere lake and valley, 

 the Easedale valley, and the surrounding heights, seen from the 

 Crag, are well worth some exertion ; but the chief interest of the 

 expedition is in the remarkable structure of the summit. The 

 traveller will find something very like a small crater there, and 

 in it are caverns that will hold seven or eight persons. There are 

 hollows from these caves into which, it is said, persons have been 

 lowered by ropes, without reaching the bottom. The easiest 

 ascent is made by following the road towards Easedale from the 

 village, and turning off to the right at a point where a zigzag 

 track, between walls, up the side of the Crag comes down into the 

 valley. 



Just after entering the mailroadj the driver will 

 point out the cottage in which Wordsworth and 



his sister lived, many long years ago, 

 AMMBMM. when Scott was their guest. Several 



good houses have sprung up near it, 

 within a few years. The promontory which here 

 causes the lake to contract to the little river (which 

 is called the Rothay in all the intervals of the 

 chain of lakes), may be passed in three ways. 

 The mailroad runs round its point, and therefore 

 keeps beside the water ; — the Roman road, where 

 the "Wishing Gate" used to be, crosses it by a 

 rather steep ascent and descent ; — and a shorter 

 road still, steeper and boggy, cuts across its 

 narrowest part, and comes out at the Rydal quar- 

 ries. Our traveller will take the mailroad, probably. 



