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

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Page 26:-
and herbage. Between them, is the richest of valleys, the Lune serpentizes for many a mile, and comes forth ample and clear thro' a well wooded and richly pastured foreground. Every feature which constitutes a perfect landscape of the extensive sort, is here not only boldly marked, but also in its best position.'
Lancaster to Cartmel
  Lancaster to Hest Bank
  Lancaster Sands

From Lancaster to Hest-bank, three miles, set out with the Ulverston carriers at the stated hour, or take a guide for the sands that succeed, called Lancaster Sands [1], and which are 9 miles over [2]. On a fine day there is not a
[1] (Morecambe, Ptol.)
[2] Along with the proper guides, crossing of the sands in summer is thought a journey of little more danger than any other. But those who wish to evade them may easily go, in one day, round to Ulverston, by the head of the aestuary.- The roads are in general very good, the ride about 37 miles, and not wanting in the natural variety peculiar to the country. The route will be thus:- From Lancaster to Burton 11 miles. (There observe Mr. Atkinson's neat house of freestone.) The old venerable building on the right hand of the road, about two miles short of Burton, is Borwick-hall, formerly the residence of Sir Robert Bindloss, but now only a farm-house. From thence to Millthorp 4 miles. (There see Dallam-Tower, the seat of Daniel Wilson, Esq. in which there are several elegancies, and more capabilities. Also, see a bold water-fall of the river at Beetham-mill). From Millthorp to Levens (an ancient seat of the late Earl of Suffolk, where a curious specimen of the old style of gardening may be seen, laid out by the gardener of King James II.) two miles. From thence to the nearer end of the long causeway at Beathwaite-green 1 mile. Thence to the Black Bull at Witherslack 3 miles (which takes you to the foot of Whitbarrow-scar, a remarkable precipice of limestone rock, formed in several places like a fortress). Thence to Newton (over the hill Tawtop) 4 miles. Thence to Newby-bridge 3 miles, which is situated at the lower end of Windermere-water. From thence to Bouth, on the common turnpike 3 miles. (But it might be worth while to go a little out of the way through a valley on the left hand, by Backbarrow Cotton-spinning-mills, the iron founderies, and Low-wood Gunpowder-mills, which are very romantically situated). From Bouth to Penny-bridge 2 miles, which brings you into the tract of the tour by Ulverston, now only four miles distant.- If, on account of getting post chaises, &c. it be thought more convenient to go by Kendal to Ulverston, the journey will be about 7 miles more, all good turnpike road. From Burton (where the two roads part) to Kendal is 11 miles, and from Kendal to the above-named Bewby-bridge (sic) (where they meet again) is about 13 miles.- This latter stage, which is mountainous and uneven, affords a great variety of prospects.
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gazetteer links
button -- "Backbarrow Cotton Spinning Mills" -- Backbarrow Cotton Mill (?)
button -- Backbarrow Ironworks (?)
button -- Borwick Hall
button -- Burton-in-Kendal
button -- Dallam Tower
button -- Levens Hall
button -- Lowwood Gunpowder Mills
button -- "Vale of Lonsdale" -- Lune Valley (?)
button -- Lune, River
button -- "Bewby Bridge" -- Newby Bridge
button -- Lancaster Sands Road
button -- Lancaster to Hest Bank
button -- station, Hornby Road
button -- Whitbarrow Scar

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