pleasant bay on the shore of Windermere Lake, and commands excellent views of the upper reach of the lake, with the heights of Fairfield, Langdale Pikes, and Coniston Old Man. It contains 1415 inhabitants. There are many good hotels. The three principal are (Cloudsdale's) Crown Hotel, (Scott's) Royal Hotel, and (Scott's) Old England Hotel. There are also the Stag's Head, and the Commercial Hotel.

The steam-yachts, which ply many times a day the year round, all call here. There are plenty of excellent pleasure-boats, and the tourist will find few things more agreeable than a row amongst the bays and islands on a fine, hot summer's day. Belle Isle is the largest island. It contains a private residence, and visitors are not allowed to land. They may, however, spend many delightful hours in visiting and rambling on the numerous smaller islets. The charge for boat is 1s. per hour, and for boat and boatman 1s. 6d. per hour. The Ferry is m. distant. A pleasant footpath leads to it across the fields.

There are several spots near the town where fine views of the lake are to be obtained, Biscay How and Brant Fell being among the principal.

The Church is an ancient structure, and contains a fine stained-glass window, which is said to have originally belonged to Furness Abbey.

A coach leaves the town every morning during the tourist season for (Ullswater Lake) Patterdale, by the vale of Troutbeck and Kirkstone Pass.

AMBLESIDE.

The market town of Ambleside contains 1988 inhabitants. It stands nearly 1m. from the head of Windermere Lake, in an attractive situation, at the foot of Wansfell Pike. A small stream, the Stock gill, from the Stockdale Glen, flows past it, and enters the river Rothay. Ambleside is the best centre in the south of the district from which to commence excursions, and

visitors usually make it their head-quarters for a short time. It is well supplied with hotels, the principal of which are the Salutation, the Queen's, and the White Lion. The Waterhead Hotel is a comfortable house on the margin of the lake, close to the pier. The Low Wood Hotel, 2m. from Ambleside, stands on the eastern shore of the lake, surrounded by plantations, and is one of the most pleasantly-located and best-frequented houses in the district. The town is full of private lodging-houses. Omnibuses go many times a day to the head of the lake and to Grasmere, and coaches leave two or three times daily for Windermere railway station and for Keswick. There are two churches; the new one, St. Mary's, stands conspicuously in the centre of the valley. Ambleside is supposed to have been a Roman station. Some fragments of tesselated pavement, urns, and other relics, have been dug up in a field near the head of the lake.

Walk to the New Church (St. Mary's), and back by "The Knoll."-As soon as apartments have been obtained at the hotel, the tourist ought to take this walk, of not more than 1m. It combines a series of pleasing views, and will enable him to gain a good knowledge of the neighbouring vales and mountains.

Passing under the covered way close to the Queen's Hotel, a lane leads to St. Mary's Church. From the rocks in the churchyard a good view is had of the meadows and woods of the vale of Rothay. The lower part of Loughrigg Fell is close at hand, with Loughrigg Brow, the conspicuous mansion of the Rev. C. D. Bell, standing in a prominent position on one of the rocky knolls at the side of the hill. A long range is seen extending from Nab Scar, past Heron Pike and Great Rigg, to the summit of Fairfield, below which is the deep hollow of the Rydal Glen. To the right of Rydal is the Scandale Fell (called on the Rydal side, Rydal Fell), with High Pike overlooking the Scandale Glen, which is bounded on its E. side by Red Screes.

On leaving the church, follow the footpath through

the fields in the direction of Loughrigg Brow. A few rocky hillocks are passed, giving evidence of the smoothing action of ancient glaciers. A small wooden bridge crosses the Stockgill Beck at the point where it enters the Rothay River. Miller Bridge is reached, and the Scandale Beck is seen flowing into the river. Avoid crossing Miller Bridge, and return to the town by another path through the fields. The ivy-covered house passed on the left is " The Knoll," the residence of Miss Martineau. The Grasmere road is entered a few yards from Ambleside.

Stockgill Force.-The Stockgill Force is a few hundred yards from the town. The way to it lies through the stable-yard of the Salutation Hotel, and by a footpath which goes through a picturesque plantation by the side of the stream.

It is a pleasant fall, with a broken leap of 70 feet; but it may be well to observe here that most of the falls in the Lake District are small, and seldom realize the expectations of those who visit them. During a dry season many of the falls are mere trickling rills, but the tourist is recommended not to pass them by unheeded, as he will miss some picturesque and perfect bits of scenery.

To head of Windermere Lake, and back by Rothay Bridge.-The head of the lake is m. from Ambleside, and it is reached by following the Kendal road, which skirts the base of Wansfell.

Omnibuses run to meet the steamers many times during the day. The charge is 6d. each person. The return ride the same day being free.

Pleasant views are obtained all the way. Loughrigg, Nab Scar, Fairfield and Scandale fells, are in sight, and gradually Oxenfell and Wetherlam appear. Just before the lake is reached, the mountains at the head of the Brathay and Langdale vales present a picturesque appearance.

From the beach Clappersgate is seen pleasantly situated at the base of Loughrigg.

Wray Castle is a fine object on the opposite shore,

under the Furness Fells and Latterbarrow. This beautiful mansion is a modern structure, the residence of James Dawson, Esq., M.D., of Liverpool. It was meant to resemble a feudal fortress of the Middle Ages, but without moat and rampart.

Leaving the boat landing-place, take the road which winds to the left, at the head of the lake. Presently Clappersgate again appears, and the Brathay Church is a prominent object in the Brathay Vale. Loughrigg gradually hides the Langdale and Coniston heights. Ambleside is seen resting at the foot of Wansfell, and at the end of a shoulder of Red Screes. The heights of Nab Scar, Fairfield, and Scandale Fell, are also fine, prominent, bulky masses. From this point a good idea is gained of the situation of the Rydal, Scandale, and Stockdale glens. At a turn in the road two footpaths branch to the right. One leads past the St. Mary's Church, and the other into the road leading from the town to the lake. A few yards farther Rothay Bridge is reached, which stands midway between Ambleside and Clappersgate, m. from each place.

Boat on Windermere.-Windermere Lake is 10m. long, and 1m. broad in its widest part, 134 feet above the level of the sea, and it varies in depth from 90 feet to 220 feet. There are only two or three tiny islets in its upper or lower end, but near the centre, opposite Bowness, is a cluster of about a dozen, the largest of which is Belle Isle, containing 30 acres. Most of the others are very diminutive, but all are more or less wooded, and add considerably to the picturesque beauty of the lake.

Numerous bays and promontories diversify the shores. The hills which surround the lake are not high, varying from 500 to 1000 feet, and are in most parts covered with wood, and free from anything approaching the stern or majestic. The lower part is comparatively tame, and has much the appearance of a river, but at the higher end it widens considerably, and at a short distance bare and lofty hills rise on every hand.

A few yards from the head of the lake the rivers Brathay and Rothay unite their waters, and then enter the lake near the boat landing-stage.

The Brathay receives the drainage from the Langdale vales and Wrynose, and the tarns Blea, Little Langdale, Stickle, Elterwater, and Loughrigg. The sources of the Rothay are the Dunmail Raise Pass and Easedale Vale; and the tarns Codale and Easedale. It flows through Grasmere and Rydal lakes, and is joined by tributaries from the Rydal, Scandale, and Stockdale glens.

On the W. side of Windermere, streams enter from Esthwaite Water and Blelham Tarn; on the E. side from Troutbeck Vale.

The river Leven flows out of the lake past Newby Bridge, and to the Ulverston Sands in Morecambe Bay.

A pleasure-boat ought to be hired and some of the bays visited. The Pull Wyke Bay, on the western shore, is a most charming and secluded nook.* Good fishing can also be had. The lake contains perch, pike, trout, and char. The char frequent the deepest part of the lake, and are generally taken by nets, and afterwards prepared and sold in pots. It is said that the char go up the Brathay River to spawn, while all the trout go up the Rothay.

When on the lake, ever-varying prospects are had of the surrounding heights. The Fairfield range is in one direction, and in another are seen the Langdale, Bow Fell, and Coniston mountains.

Scandale Glen.-Of many tourists staying at Ambleside, the Scandale Glen will be a favourite haunt. It is a secluded and pleasing spot, and entered after a few minutes' walk. A few yards below the old church at Ambleside take the left-hand road; then avoid all turns to the right. This road, or rather lane, is bounded by stone walls, and commands good views of the head of Windermere Lake; the Coniston, Crinkle Crags, Bow

*The charge for a boat is 1s. per hour, and for boat and boatman 1s. 6d. per hour. A boat for the day is 5s., and with boatman, 10s.