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stretches out to the lake of that name; and at the southern
end the Borrowdale mountains are grouped with wonderful
effect,- Castle Crag occupying the most conspicuous place.
On the eastern side, to the left of the spectator,
Wallabarrow Crag rears its crest, and unfolds its woods
below; while the opposite side of the lake is guarded by Cat
Bells and other mountains, bare and pointed, and possessing
a character of their own. A steep winding road descends into
the valley; and at the foot of the hill lies Keswick.
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There is no beauty in the primitive little town itself; but
it has its attractions, besides the convenience of its
central situation among so many mountains and valleys. Of
these attractions, the first is, undoubtedly, Mr. Flintoft's
Model of the Lake District, which is within a few yards of
all the principal inns, and may be seen during a shower,
when, otherwise, the stranger might be losing temper in
hearing the rain drip. That model,- at first sight an uneven
ugly bit of plaster, will beguile a sensible traveller of a
longer time than he would suppose possible. Ten minutes
would give him a better idea of the structure and
distribution of the country than all maps and guide books;
but he will probably linger over it till he has learned all
the sixteen large lakes, and some of the fifty-two small
ones, and traced every road and main pass in the district.
Crosthwaite's Museum is also a place of great interest, for
its own sake, as well as that of its founder,- Peter
Crosthwaite, the first real explorer, surveyor and
draughtsman of the district, and the inventor of the Aeolian
harp, the life-boat (the reward of which invention he missed
through
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