button to main menu  Otley's Guide 1823 (5th edn 1834)

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Page 131:-
  Screes, The
After passing the inhabited part of the valley, the road approaches the lake, which shews the purity of its water, by the clean blue gravel washed upon its shores. As the road proceeds along the margin of the lake, the screes on the opposite side form a striking object, and the mountains left behind should not be forgotten; retrospective views taken at short intervals, will shew the majestic and varied forms they assume on being viewed from different points. After passing Over Beck Bridge at the foot of Bowderdale, and just before entering the gate, the mountain Yewbarrow appears in a fine conical shape: and one of the best views of the lake is from a rocky knoll projecting into the water.
It has been suggested that Wast Water would be more advantageously seen, by reversing the excursion, so that the principal mountain views would be always in prospect on advancing up the vale. As far as relates to Wast Water alone, this is certainly true; but in what concerns Borrowdale, Lowes Water, and Crummock, they are seen to more advantage by this route: besides, tourists generally congratulate themselves, on having passed over the most difficult part of the road on the first day.
Towards the lower parts of the lake, the shores are more rocky; and the composition of the rock is changed, from a kind of greenstone, to a reddish sienite. At Crook-head, opposite the foot of the lake, Mr. Rawson of Halifax has built a neat summer residence.
gazetteer links
button -- "Crookhead (?)" -- Crook Head
button -- (road, Wadale Head to Nether Wasdale)
button -- Wast Water
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