button to main menu   West's Guide to the Lakes, 1778/1821

button title page
button previous page button next page
Page 84:-
[tre]mendously great. Helvellyn and Cachidecam are the chief; and, according to Wythburn shepherds, much higher than Skiddaw. It is, however, certain that these mountains retain snow many weeks after Skiddaw; but that may be owing to the steepness of Skiddaw's northern side, and shivery surface, that attracts more forcibly the solar rays, than the verdant front of Helvellyn, and so sooner looses its winter covering. A thousand huge rocks hang on Helvellyn's brow, which have been once in motion, and are now seemingly prepared to start anew. Many have already reached the lake, and are at rest. The road sweeps through them, along the naked margin of the lake. The opposite shore is beautified with a variety of crown-topt rocks, some rent, some wooded, others not, rising immediately from, or hanging towards the water; and all set off with a back ground of verdant mountains, rising in the noblest pastoral style. Its singular beauty is its being almost intersected in the middle by two peninsulas, that are joined by a bridge, in a taste suitable to the genius of the place, which serves for an easy communication among the shepherds that dwell on the opposite banks.
  Station, Dalehead Hall
At the sixth mile-post, from the top of an eminence on the left, there is a good general view of the lake and vale; but the most pic-
button next page
gazetteer links
button -- Catstye Cam
button -- Helvellyn
button -- Skiddaw
button -- station, Dalehead Hall
button -- "Leathes Water" -- Thirlmere

button to main menu Lakes Guides menu.