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The road pursues the eastern side of Derwent Water as far as
Barrow Common, when it ascends the hill, having Barrow House
on the right, Ashness Bridge crossing the stream which forms
that cascade. There is a fine retrospective view of Derwent
Water, with Skiddaw, Bassenthwaite, and the distant lands.
The road then passes through a narrow valley, walled in on
the right by steep precipices two or three hundred feet
high; while the other side recedes upwards, so that its
slopes admit of the plough. Through this defile flows the
stream forming Lowdore, which on leaving the valley enters
an abyss, rendered gloomy by beetling crags and shadowy
trees. The hamlet is in a solitary valley three hundred
yards above the surrounding vales: all the houses are richly
coloured, and well combined with wood and back grounds. The
bridge is worthy of notice, and crosses the stream at its
outlet from the lake or tarn, which is large and circular,
fringed with trees and guarded by rocky heights. The stream
that enters it, flows from Blea Tarn, which is higher up,
whence there is presented a most extensive mountain
prospect. Leaving this upper story of society, we shall
descend into Borrowdale, after passing
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