Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1
p.120
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Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1 p.120
GREEN'S GUIDE. The Tourist's new Guide, containing a description of the Lakes, Mountains, and Scenery, in Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire, etc. etc. - Continued from page 78.As Keswick furnishes so many desirable accommodations for the Tourist, he will naturally consider it as his principal station; and, after viewing the different curiosities in the immediate neighbourhood, he may agreeably employ his time in diverging excursions to the numerous attractive objects, which are scattered at various distances around his head quarters. The first of these more distant drives which Mr. Green mentions, is to Bassenthwaite Water; about six miles north of Keswick. There are a number of very pleasing views from the eminences which surround this lake; one of the finest, which is from a little hill called Haws Rake, he thus describes:- "Deeply below the spectator, in the north east angle of the valley, stands the village, called Bassenthwaite Hall. The surface of the land is profusely spread with stately trees, which first surrounding the Hall, are thence extended over a series of easy undulations, to the foot of Skiddaw, and the lake, nearly the whole circumference of which is here presented. In the middle of the dale stands the chapel, encircled by a population, happily engaged in gathering and dispensing corn. These lowland cultivators are overlooked from the rugged brows of skiddaw, by the hardy mountain shepherd, whose fleecy rangers augment the interest and beauty of the smiling fields, which, though lying at the foot of one of the most stupendous mountains in the kingdom, are rarely excelled either in proportionate quantity, or in the quality of their productions. Through the screening side of Skiddaw, and the wooded brows of Withop, in the distance appear the mountains bordering on Derwent Water; of which Causey Pike is the principal." We are next accompanied by our Guide to Bowder Stone in the Gorge of Borrowdale; the road to which presents in all directions, a quick and most amusing succession of scenes of peculiar ruggedness and grandeur. Near the road, in one place, "is a deviating track over Wye Foot, so called from the supposed print of a man, a cow, a dog, and of the wicked one, who here overtook the trio, and feloniously carried of the cow!" Bowder Stone is of amazing bulk - is poised on a narrow edge, like a ship on its keel, - Its length is 62 feet, its circumference 84 feet, its solidity aboout 23,090 feet, and its weight about 1771 tons. Not far from Bowder Stone is a cottage erected by Mr. Pocklington, from the door of which is a fine view of this gigantic fragment of rock. "This house is the summer residence of John Raven, who on the traveller's appearance, commences an exordium preparatory to the presentation of a written paper, signifying the weight and dimensions of the stone, of which in some seasons, he makes a profitable trade. John is a hardy man; for in the severest weather, though more than eighty years of age, he exposes his bare scope, and the silver grey hairs which scantily supply its borders, while on the watch for customers. His hearing makes it impossible to communicate anything to him but by means of pantomime. The movement of the hand towards the pocket, is an act, which John understands as well as any member of the fraternity to which he belongs. This miserable man, blind to all the charms of surrounding nature, and to all nature's images, excepting that of the King, being generally left alone in the |
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