Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1
p.75
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Lonsdale Magazine, 1820, vol.1 p.75
Our limits will not allow us even to enumerate all the pleasing objects in the vicinity of Ulls Water; a few however we will hastily notice:- Lyulph's Tower, built by the late Duke of Norfolk, "is an excellent object from every place that commands a view of it, and it has that nice degree of elevation from which the lines of the lake appear in a most painter-like arrangement. St. Sunday Crag, in the extreme distance, rears his head high above his neighbours; from which, both ways, there is a visible horizon most correctly picturesque." Another object which he points out as particularly worthy of the Tourist's attention, is Ara Force, not far from Lyulph's Tower. "A wooden bridge stretches across the stream, and conduxt the traveller by a circular route to the cascade. Here rocks, in perpendicular and aerial perspective, recede from the eye to a vast height; but the appearance, in some instances terrific, is on others transformed into a solemnity of beauty by trees, which, impending from the fissures of the rocks, almost excluded the light of heaven." As another subordinate station on the margin of Ulls Water, he mentions Powley Bridge, at the opposite end of the lake from Patterdale inn. He says "there is a good inn at Powley Bride (sic)," commanding a view of Dunmallet, "a hill covered with many woods." For those who have time, this is perhaps the best place from which to visit Haws Water, "which," he says, "either as a Salvator or a Claude, has great attractions. Its magnificence may be appreciated by passing from the foot to the head of the lake, and its delicate beauties by looking down it. It is fine from the carriage road, but infinitely less so from a horse road upon the common a little above the carriage road. It is likewise good from many situations in the inclosures between the higher and lower roads." After having attempted to transfuse a portion of that fire which glows in his own bosom, into that of his reader, by the description of many a terrible, many a pleasing scene, he exclaims, "Can any one view these splendid scenes, and rationally wish to contemplate the boasted prospects of other countries, unless indeed it be for the purpose of learning duly to appreciate those they may enjoy in England?" We shall conclude his description of Ulls Water with some very beautiful observations which, Mr. Green makes on the pleasures which the inhabitants of cities, will invariably find amid this apparently inhospitable region. "Human ingenuity cannot devise a method by which the monotonies of life would be more pleasantly diversified, than by such occasional jauntings. On any little eminence, a tent might be placed in a moment, and from the larder and bins of the carts, the refreshment could be procured at the pleasure of the party. Mountain guides from their infancy ought to be taught the clarionet, the bassoon, and perhaps the flute, and even the horn, in order to gratify the refined in musical feeling, with elegant and pathetic soloes, duets, and trios; and 'in sweet echo' with the plaintive tale, which being once well told would suffer nothing by repetition, such music on ground artistically classic, would produce mixed sensations little thought of and less known. It is not in a crowd, in the bustle of a regatta, or in that of the mirthful jig, that a cultivated mind will find the greatest delight of which it is susceptible; but in the silence of tongues as well as elements, where the craggy excavations, during the time of performance, shall be the only respondents, a richer treat will be enjoyed, and pleasure refining on its gratifications, shall rise to ecstasy." After leading the Tourist to Penrith, Lowther Castle, Shap, Shap Abbey, and a number of other places and curiosities, our Guide conducts him back to Ambleside, in order to take his departure for the town and lake of Keswick. The traveller must now bid adieu to the many soft and sylvan scenes, which have so often captivated his wandering fancy in his numerous rambles round the vicinity of Ambleside, and prepare to encounter the stupendous mountains of Helvellyn, Saddleback, and Skiddaw. He will find his journey to Keswick agreeably diversified with bold frowning hills and steep rugged rocks, with many a pleasing vale between, sprinkled with humble cottages, the habitations of peaceful industry - the archives of ancient English manners. The first object which will particularly attract his attention, in his north- |
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