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There is a charming walk of ten miles from Patterdale to
Grasmere (from inn to inn) by Grisedale, which may as well
be enjoyed by the pedestrian traveller, whether he chooses
to ascend Helvellyn or not. Grasmere and Grisedale have the
same derivation,- Gris being the old Saxon for wild
swine: and these are therefore the lake and the valley of
the wild boar. A deep and still retreat must both have been
in the days of wild boars.
From Patterdale, the traveller crosses Grisedale beck, and
ascends by a steep well-wooded road to the table-land of
Grisedale. The old hollies in the woods are remarkably fine.
At every step the grandeur and gloom overhead increase,- the
path leading directly under the frowning Helvellyn. The
Greenside lead mines are about half way up, under Striding
Edge; and the tourist is likely to mistake the track to the
mines for his own road: but he must keep the stream to the
right,- in other words, he must keep on the right bank of
the stream for some way further. The path crosses and
recrosses the beck in climbing the steep ascent to the tarn;
but there is no further danger of losing the track. The view
of Place Fell behind is fine, as seen through the steep
sides of the dale; and north-westwards, the mountains about
the
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