166 WASTDALE HEAD. 



We gave, in approaching Strands, (p. 159.) the 



names of the mountains as they are now seen. The 



road winds pleasantly round bays and 



WASTDALE HEAD. ^ , • 1 i.T_ • J 1 



over promontories, and the pyramidal 

 Yewbarrovv, Great Gable, which closes in the dale, 

 and Ling-mell and the Scawfell Pikes to the right, 

 all explain themselves. Several brooks and rills 

 are passed, flowing down from the valleys ; and the 

 stranger exclaims that he should like to spend a 

 whole summer here, to explore all the ways among 

 the mountains. Several gentlemen have spent 

 weeks together at Ritson^s farmhouse, at the dale 

 head, where there are clean beds, and farmhouse 

 fare in plenty and perfection. There is now a little 

 inn at Wastdale Head, kept by one of the Ritson's, 

 the other having still accommodation for private 

 lodgers. The opening out of the dale head, when 

 the valley has appeared to close in round the lake, 

 is as wonderful a spectacle to strangers as anything 

 they see. The dale is one of those perfect levels, 

 shut in by lake and mountains, which give a dif- 

 ferent impression from any other kind of scenery 

 in the world. The passes themselves are so high 

 as to leave no appearance of outlet, except by the 

 lake; and of these passes there are but two, — the 

 Sty Head and Mosedale paths. The green and 



diately in front : behind. Great Gable closes the scene with its 

 stupendous pyramid. This is by far the finest ravine in the Lake 

 Country for real grandeur : the few mountain-ashes and hardy 

 trees which fringe the rocks, only serving by contrast to heighten, 

 the prevailing niggedness. An enormous rock forming a natural 

 archway through which the stream runs so as to make farther 

 research impossible, concludes our navigation. A more extended 

 view still may be obtained by ascending the right bank of Pease 

 Ghyll and going as far as eyes unaccustomed to precipices will 

 permit us." 



