|
|
|
Page 155:-
Opposite to Watermillock, a cataract descends down the front of
Swarth-fell, in Martindale-forest. At Skelling-nab, a bold
promontory, the lake is contracted to a span, but it soon spreads
itself again both ways, forming a variety of sweet bays and
promontories. After a reach of three miles, it winds with a grand
sweep round the smooth breast of Place-fell, and making a turn
directly south, advances with equal breadth towards Patterdale.
The western shore is various. Drawing near the second bend, the
mountains strangely intersect each other. Behind many wooded
hills rises Stonecross-pike, and over all, steep Helvellyn shows
his sovereign head. On the western side, Yew-crag, a noble pile
of rock, fronts Place-fell, where its streams tumble in a
cataract to the lake. Gowbarrow-park opens with a grand
amphitheatre of shining rock, the floor of which is spread with
soft green pasture, once shaded with ancient oaks, to which many
decayed roots bear witness, Scattered thorns, trees, and bushes
vary the ground, which is pastured with flocks, herds of cattle,
and fallow deer. The road winds along the margin of the lake, and
at every turn presents the finest scenes that can be imagined. At
the upper end of Gowbarrow-park, the last bend of the lake, which
is by much the finest, opens, scattered with small rocky islands.
The shores are bold, rocky, wooded, and much embayed. Pass
|
