Guide to the Lakes by Thomas West is a must-read for anyone looking to explore the stunning Lake District region. Originally published in 1778, this guide provides detailed descriptions of the natural beauty and historical significance of the area, as well as practical advice for travelers on where to stay and what to see.

West's writing is both informative and poetic, capturing the essence of the lakes and mountains with vivid descriptions and a deep appreciation for the landscape. His insights into the local customs and culture add depth to the guide, making it a valuable resource for those looking to truly immerse themselves in the region.

While some of the information may be outdated due to the passage of time, the overall essence of the guide remains relevant and engaging. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler to the Lake District, Guide to the Lakes is sure to enhance your experience and leave you with a greater appreciation for this beautiful corner of England.

Book Description:
In the late eighteenth century, English writers discovered the landscape, not only in the paintings of Claude Lorrain, Nicolas Poussin and Salvator Rosa, but also as a place to be visited and viewed as if it were a picture. No part of England was more discovered in this period than the Lake District, which was transformed over the course of the next century from a remote region of farmland and inaccessible hills into a wild and romantic landscape of picturesque lake and mountain, described in works such as Thomas West’s A guide to the Lakes . West’s predecessors – Thomas Gray, Arthur Young, Thomas Pennant and William Hutchinson –had merely passed through the Lakes. West, a resident of the Lakes, took the reader on a tour of the district as a whole, visiting all the lakes, with the sole exception of Wastwater. A devotee of the Claude glass – a convex, tinted mirror in which the landscape appears as it might in a painting by Lorrain – West follows and improves upon Gray’s technique of identifying ‘stations’ from which the landscape would appear at its most picturesque. West’s guide remains something of a hybrid, however, with its lengthy antiquarian descriptions of the surrounding towns of Lancaster, Penrith and Kendal. - Summary by Phil Benson