Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 3

FOEFARSHIKE
an extensive tract of links or sandy downs commences,
and thence sweeps along a great part of the parishes of
Jlonifieth and Barry. Two other sandy tracts of incon-
siderable breadth str-eteh along the coast respectively
betAVeen Panbride and Arbroath, and between the
embouchures of the South Esk and the North Esk. In
many places these doAvns evince, by extensive beds of
marine shells, at heights ranging from 20 to 40 feet,
that they were at one period covered with the sea. The
maritime district is adorned with towns and villages,
elegant villas and comfortable farm-steads, numerous
plantations, and, in general, ample results of successful
culture and busy enterprise.
The Tay, though it expands into an estuary 12 miles
before touching the county, and cannot, while it washes
its shores, be considered as a river, is greatly more
valuable to Forfarshire than all its interior waters.
Sandbanks in various places menace its navigation, but
are rendered nearly innocuous by means of Eghthouses
and other appliances. From the mouth of the Tay to
near Westhaven, the coast on the German Ocean is
sandy ; and thence north-eastn'ard to near Arbroath, it
cannot safely be approached on accoimt of low, and, in
many cases, sunken rocks. At a distance of 11 J miles
SE of Arbroath, the Bell Eock Lighthouse Ufts its
fine form above the bosom of the ocean. A mile north-
eastward of Arbroath the coast becomes bold and rocky,
breaking down in perpendicular precipices, and, in many
places, perforated at the base with long deep caverns,
whose floors are boisterously washed by the billows of
the sea. The Red Head, a rocky promontory, 267 feet
in almost sheer ascent, terminates this bold section of
the coast, as it does the inland range of the Sidlaws.
Lunan Bay now, with a small sweep inward, presents
for nearly 3 miles a fine sandy shore, and offers a safe
anchorage. The coast again becomes rocky and bold as
far as to the mouth of the South Esk ; and thence to
the extremity of the county, it is low and sandy.
At Beoughty Feery there is a rocky promontory on
which stands Broughty Castle, and from this point to
the boundary of Perth on the "W the coast-line is flat
and aUuviah Excepting a cantle cut out on the TV by
Perthshii'e, the county is nearly square, and lines inter-
secting the limit points named meet near Shielhill
Bridge in the parish of Tannadice, where
* The waters of Prosen, Esk, and Carity
Meet at the birken bush of Inverquharity.*
The surface of Forfarshire is much diversified. Along
the northern and western boundaries extends the Gram-
pian range, having Glas Maol (3502) as the highest
point, with upwards of sixty peaks exceeding 2000 feet.
The Sidlaw Hills, on the S of the great glen, form
a picturesque element in the scenery of the county.
These are verdant hills, with a maximum height of 1399
feet at Auchterhouse HUl, and run down gradually to
the eastward, where the range is cultivated to the top.
Principal summits in the Grampian range are Cairn na
Glasher (34S4 feet), Cairn Bannoch (3314), Broad Cairn
(326S), Tolmount (3143), Driesh (3105), Mount Keen
(3077), idayar (3043), Fiualty (2954), Braidcairn (2907),
Ben Tirran (2939), "White Hill (2544), Carn Aighe (2S24),
Bonstie Ley (2S68), Monamenach (2649), Mount Bat-
tock (2555), Black HUl (2469), Hill of Cat (2435), Cairn
Inks (2483), East Cairn (2518), Mount Blair (2441),
Cock Cairn (23S7), West Knock (2300), the HlH of
Wirren (2220), The Bulg (1986), Naked Tarn (1607),
and the White Caterthun (976). In the Sidlaw HiUs,
theGallowhm(1242feet), Gash (1141), Keiaor(1088),and
Hayston HUl (1034) are notable. Dundee Law, over-
looking the town, is 571 feet in height. In the Braes
of Angus the county presents much that is grand and
characteristic in hUl scenery ; and in the southern parts
the finely-wooded and richly-cultivated landscape pre-
sents great beauty and attractiveness. The lochs of the
county, as weU as its rivers, are insignificant in view of
the large district drained, the course of the streams
being necessarily short, as from the position of the
watershed the comity receives no streams from other
districts, whUe it gi<res off some that increase in bulk
FORFARSHIRE
before augmenting the Tay, which reckons as a Perth-
shire river. Two mountain burns, the Lee and the
Eunoch or Unich, unite in Lochlee parish. If mUo
above the lake of that name, which, measuring 9 by 2J
furlongs, is ' a wild lake closed in by mountains.' The
Lee, flomng from the loch, joins the Mark at Invermark,
forming the North Esk, a stream which, after a course
of 29 miles, falls into the German Ocean, and traces,
during the last 15 mUes of its course, the boundary
between Forfar and Kincardine. Its principal afSuent
in the county is West Water, rising in Lethnot parish,
and joining the Esk at Stracathro. The South Esk,
rising in Clova, has a course of 48 j mUes, and runs into
Montrose Basin. In its upper course it is a moimtain
stream, but, after receiving its principal tributaries, it
runs due E through Strathmore as a quiet lowland
river. Parallel with its upper course is Glen Prosen,
whence the South Esk receives Prosen Water. The other
main afSuents are the Carity, the Noran, the Lemno,
and the Pow. Further is the beautiful valley of Glen
Isla, where the Isla has its rise. One-third of the total
course of this stream is in Perthshire, where it joins the
Tay, after receiving the waters of many small streams.
On the Isla is a waterfall of 80 feet, the ' Reeky Linn,'
so called from the cloud of spray constantly thrown up ;
and further down are the Slugs of Auchrannie, a dark
channel where the river runs between steep rocks. One
affluent of the Isla, the Dean, issues from Fokfae Loch ;
and one of the Dean's tributaries, the Arity, presents the
peculiarity of rising within 7 miles of the mouth of the
Tay, and running a course of 70 mUes before it falls
into the German Ocean. The smaUer streams flowing
direct to the sea embrace the Lunan, running into the
bay of that name, the Brothock, the EUiot, the Dighty,
rising in the Lochs of Lundie and receiving the Fithie, all
of which reach the ocean between Arbroath and Broughty
Ferry. The lochs and streams of Forfarshire afford excel-
lent sport for the angler. The North Esk yields salmon,
sea-trout, and common trout, the net fishings being very
valuable, as many as 700 or 800 salmon being taken on
the first day of the season. The South Esk and its tri-
butaries yield trout, while salmon are also plentiful
from Brechin downwards, but the latter are strictly
preserved. The Isla, both in its Forfarshire and its
Perthshire sections, receives a high character from Mr
Watson Lyall in his Sportsman's Chiide ; salmon pene-
trate to the Slugs of Auchrannie, and up to this point
there are heavy pike and trout of very fine quality.
Above the Reekie Linn the stream yields first-rate sport.
Loch Wharral, in the same locality, is abundant in good
small trout. Loch Brandy, situated amidst wild and
beautiful scenery, 2070 feet above sea-level, is uncertain,
but frequently gives good sport. Loch Esk, in Clova,
affords large but shy trout. Dun's Dish, an artificial
loch near Bridge of Dun, and private property, yields
perch. Forfar Loch is famous for large pike and perch,
the former running to 30 lbs. on occasion. Loch Lee,
the largest in the county, yields trout of two kinds and
char in abundance. The Lochs of Lundie, in the parish
of Lundie, belong to Lord Camperdown, and yield perch
and pike. The reservoirs of Monikie have been stocked
with Loch Leven and other trout, and yield fair sport.
Loch Kescobie yields perch, pike, and eels, and is open
to the public. The county contains several notable deer
forests, including those of Clova, Caanloohan, Bachna-
gairn, and Invermark. In the latter the Mark stream
flows, and at the ' Queen's WeU, ' formerly the TFliiie
Well, and now named in commemoration of the fact of
Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort having rested
and lunched here in Sept. 1861 in travelling from
Balmoral to Invermark Lodge, the Earl of Dalhousie
has erected a handsome monument of three open crossed
arches resembling a Scottish crown. It bears an in-
scription in imitation of that in Marmion —
* Rest, weary traveller, on this lonely green.
And drink and pray for Scotland's Queen.'
The Queen describes the scene as very grand and wUd,
the ' Ladder Burn, ' running down a steep and winding
path, as ' very fine and verv striking.'
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