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The route from Ambleside to Keswick lies through the midst of
lake and mountain scenery. At one mile from Ambleside a road
crossing Pelter Bridge on the left, leads to Langdale, or round
Loughrigg Fell. To the right, among ancient oaks, stands Rydal
Hall, the patrimonial residence of Lady le Fleming, who has built
and endowed a neat Chapel in the village. Above the chapel is
Rydal Mount, the residence of the poet Wordsworth; and beyond the
hall, the Rydal Waterfalls. The next object is Rydal Water, with
the heronry upon one of its islands; and a little further, the
extensive slate quarry of Whitemoss. The road is then conducted
to the margin of Grasmere water, and gives a good view of that
admired vale. At the further end of which, between the branches
of Easdale and Greenburn, stands Helm Crag, distinguished, not so
much by its height, as by its summit of broken rocks, which Mr.
Gray likens to 'some gigantic building demolished;' Mr. West to
'a mass of antediluvian ruins;' Mr. Green to the figures of a
'lion and a lamb;' and Mr. Wordsworth to an 'astrologer and old
woman;' and the traveller who views it from Dunmail Raise, may
think that a
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