button to main menu  Martineau's Complete Guide to the English Lakes, 1855

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Page 163:-

V.

ascent of Helvellyn
GRISEDALE.- ASCENT OF HELVELLYN.
  Grisedale
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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