button to main menu   Ford's Description of the Lakes, 1839/1843

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Page 45:-

  Dunmail Raise Stones
DUNMAIL RAISE
Is a cairn or burrow of stones, marking the place where the last king of Cumbria was defeated by the Saxon Edmund, who put out the eyes of the son before the father's face, wasted his kingdom, and then gave it to Malcolm, king of Scotland, to hold in fealty. The wall dividing the counties is built over it, and the road is partly cut through it. This gap is seven hundred and twenty feet above the sea.
  Wythburn
On the left are Steel Fell, the green cove of Wythburn Head, and Nab Scar, and on the right are the bulwarks and buttresses of Helvellyn. Immediately before the spectators, are the chapel of Wythburn and inn, then the Lake, and Skiddaw closing the end of the valley, which, from the almost utter absence of wood, wears a cold and desolate aspect. The Horse Head inn is an excellent resting-place, and a guide, at a moderate charge, can be obtained here for the ascent of Helvellyn, which is most easily accomplished from this place. Whilst the luncheon is preparing, let the tourist take a look at the little chapel on the opposite side of the road; it is an advanced post of Crosthwaite Church, and is one of five similarly situated. The building does not claim much attention, being small, yet commodious; but unfortunately for the dalesmen, the chapel-yard is unconsecrated, and thus one source of useful and heart-softening reflections, arising from the sight of their relations' graves, is closed to them.
gazetteer links
button -- Dunmail Raise Stones
button -- "Raise Gap" -- Dunmail Raise
button -- "Helvellyn" -- Helvellyn
button -- "Horse Head Inn" -- Nag's Head Inn
button -- Ambleside to Keswick
button -- Wythburn Chapel
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