and Wray Castle appears. Calgarth Hall is on the right, the residence of the late Dr. Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, and Ecclerigg, the mansion occupied by R. L. Watson, Esq., the grandson of the bishop.

Lofty heights now advance to view on the left at every step with magical effect. First come the Langdale Pikes, and then Glaramara, Great Gable, Great End, Bow Fell, Scawfell, Crinkle Crags, Wetherlam, and Coniston Old Man. Beneath these are Silver Howe, Lingmoor, Pike O'Blisco, and Oxenfell.

The Low Wood Hotel is on the eastern shore, and a few yards above it Dove's Nest is observed to be prettily perched on the side of Wansfell. It was for a few months the home of Mrs. Hemans.

After rounding a headland, Ambleside appears to be close at hand, pleasantly situated beneath Fairfield and Wansfell.

Excursion.-Ambleside to (Dungeon Gill)

Langdale.

Skelwith Bridge, 3m.; Colwith Bridge, 44m.; Blea Tarn, 8m.; Dungeon Gill, 11m.; Grasmere, 18m.; Ambleside, 22m.

This is the best carriage excursion that can be taken from Ambleside, and it is not inferior to any other in the Lake District, with the exception of the Buttermere Excursion from Keswick.

The distance from Ambleside to Dungeon Gill, by the most direct road, is 8m., passing Loughrigg Tarn and through the Great Langdale Valley.

Tourists are, however, recommended to take the route above indicated, going by Blea Tarn and returning by Grasmere.

Sometimes travellers who have already visited Grasmere, will return direct from Langdale, and thus shorten the journey by 2m.

One mile from Ambleside is passed the pleasant village of Clappersgate, a few yards beyond which stands the Brathay Church, picturesquely situated on the opposite bank of the river Brathay. The road continues for some

distance by the edge of the river, and skirts the side of Loughrigg. On turning round a sharp corner, the river is seen winding through green meadows, and the hamlet of Skelwith Bridge makes a pleasing picture at the feet of low wooded heights, with lofty mountains in the background.

Skelwith Force.-On arriving at the small inn at Skelwith Bridge, strangers usually leave the conveyance for a few minutes and visit the Skelwith Force which is 200 yards farther up the river. Without any charge a guide will accompany the party from the inn. A small gate, which is generally locked, has to be passed through before a descent can be made to the rocks in the bed of the river.

There is a public footpath on the north bank of the river, which leads past the fall to Elterwater village, but we do not feel justified in advising the guide to be dispensed with, and half a dozen yards of ground to be trespassed over. The Skelwith Force is not one of great beauty. There is a large body of water which descends 16 or 20 feet between a gap in the rock about 12 feet wide. Being near the road to Coniston and Langdale, it is often visited, although there are many far superior cascades in the district which are rarely seen. The best view of the force is had by crossing the bridge and taking through the second gate on the right. After threading through some coppice-wood, the tourist gains the rocks on the S. side of the stream. Here the fall, with wood on either side, and the Langdale Pikes in full view beyond, form a picturesque bit of scenery.

On leaving Skelwith Bridge, the road slightly ascends, and then Elterwater Tarn comes in view on the right. This lakelet looks mean and insignificant; a poor representative of the wild and solitary tarns up in the bills. It contains trout and pike.

Grand views are now obtained on every side of pleasing groups of wild and lofty mountains.

Directly in front are fine outlines of hills, ranging height above height to the summit of Coniston Old

Man, Wetherlam, and the Carrs. To the right of the Wrynose Pass depression stand Pike O'Blisco and the Crinkle Crags. The nearer height is Lingmoor, and to the right of it are the Langdale Pikes and Silver Howe. Over the Red Bank Pass are seen Helvellyn, Seat Sandal, and Fairfield. On the right is Loughrigg, and in the background, Wansfell Pike, Ill Bell, and Froswick.

A mile beyond Skelwith Bridge the road branches to the right, and descends to Colwith Bridge. The direct road leads through Yewdale to Coniston.

Colwith Force.-At the Colwith Bridge is a farm-house, where a guide may be obtained, without charge, to Colwith Force, which is a few yards farther up the stream, and is reached by a locked door. The best view is had by walking from the bridge on the S. side of the stream; but this involves a return the same way. The cascade is of no great height. It tumbles wildly over rocks into a picturesque dell, and is well worth a visit, though inferior to some others in the district. Wetherlam is a fine object in the background. The road is again entered a few yards above the fall, and the carriage will be there in waiting.

A pleasant district is now passed through, in which is situated Little Langdale village and tarn. In every part are small knolls, some green, others formed of bare rock or covered with trees, and rising above these are lofty heights, Wetherlam and the Carrs being the principal. The left-hand fells, strewn with débris of slate quarries, hide the beautiful glen of Tilberthwaite.

The Little Langdale Tarn, which is in sight, is perhaps the most uninteresting of all the lakelets, being an ordinary sheet of water in a low marshy ground, and although Wetherlam and other hills are not remote, they are too far to give a pleasing effect. It contains trout.

When beyond the tarn the road skirts the base of Lingmoor, the hill which separates the Little Langdale and Great Langdale vales. Fell Foot, the farm-house half hid by yew trees, is passed on the left, and the

Wrynose road is seen ascending to the Three Shire Stones.

The tourist is now in the midst of scenery described in Wordsworth's 'Excursion,' and will presently reach the abode of the "Solitary" of that poem. The road is steep and rugged, and passes through a wild tract, with Lingmoor on the right and Blake Crag on the left. The Langdale Pikes, those

"Two huge peaks

That from some other vale peer into this,"

gradually advance to view with magical effect, and then stand nobly at the head of the valley. From no other point do they present so fine an appearance. After the traveller has passed the "steep ascent,"

"Behold!

Beneath his feet, a little lowly vale,
A lowly vale, and yet uplifted high

Among the mountains; even as if the spot
Had been, from eldest time, by wish of theirs
So placed, to be shut out from all the world!
Urn-like it was in shape, deep as an urn;
With rocks encompassed, save that to the south
Was one small opening, where a heath-clad ridge
Supplied a boundary less abrupt and close-
A quiet, treeless nook, with two green fields,
A liquid pool, that glittered in the sun,
And one bare dwelling; one abode, no more!
It seemed the home of poverty and toil,
Though not of want: the little fields, made green
By husbandry of many thrifty years,

Paid cheerful tribute to the moorland house.

There crows the cock, single in his domain;

The small birds find in spring no thicket there
To shroud them; only from the neighbouring vales
The cuckoo, straggling up to the hill tops,
Shouteth faint tidings of some gladder place."

These words were written on the supposition that the spectator was looking down upon the valley, not from

the road, but from one of its elevated sides. The stranger will also observe that the vale is no longer a “treeless nook," there being now fir and larch plantations. The

"One bare dwelling; one abode, no more,"

is seen at the foot of the vertical cliff called Side Pike. Blea Tarn has not a particularly interesting appearance, but the whole vale looks secluded and pleasing. The tarn contains trout. Langdale Pikes peer into the valley at one end, and Wetherlam on the other. Blake Crag is a fine object rising above the dark fir-trees which border the opposite shore.

When descending, a capital echo, perhaps the best to be met with in the district, will be discovered.

Just before arriving at the house, Great End, Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags, and Pike O'Blisco appear.

From the house the road gradually ascends, and the vale from this point has a dark and bleak appearance. Most tourists will feel a relief when a view is had down into the vale head of Langdale, which is divided by the Band into the Mickleden and Oxendale glens. A steep descent is made by a stony, winding road, to the Wall End farm, and presently the Old Dungeon Gill Hotel is seen at the feet of the Langdale Pikes.

On the left, at the head of Mickleden, is Rossett Gill Pass, leading to Scawfell Pike and to Wastwater; and on the right the Stake Pass, conducting to Borrowdale and Keswick. After passing the farm-house, and crossing the valley, the hotel is reached, and 1m. farther down, at Millbeck, is the New Dungeon Gill Hotel. Both houses are pleasantly situated and comfortable. The lower house occupies an especially favoured situation at the foot of a number of fine rocks, close to the cleft in which is the Dungeon Gill Fall. A little to the right of the cleft is the Millgill stream, tumbling over ledges of rock, and forming pleasing cascades in its descent from Stickle Tarn, which lies hidden in the hollow above, at the foot of the fine cliff of Pavey Ark. The Dungeon Gill Fall will be visited whilst luncheon is pre