Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland

NAIRNSHIRE
Dounduff. After following the course of the Findhorn
for 7 furlongs it strikes SE to the high ground between
the basins of the Dorbock and the upper tributaries of
the Findhorn, which — except for a zigzag to the E at
Lochan Tutach and another to the E at Lochindorb —
it follows S and S by W to its most southerly point at
Cam Glas (2162 feet). The principal summits along
this line, from N to S, are Cam Dubhaidh (1000 feet),
Hill of Aitnoch (1351), Cam nan clach Garbha (1362),
Cam Allt Laoigh (1872), and Carn Glas. From this
last summit the line passes irregularly north-westward
— between the basins of the Edinchat Burn (SW) and
the Leonach and Rhilean Burns (NE), all flowing to
the Findhorn — by Carn an t' Sean-liathanaich (SE,
2076; NW, 2056) and Carn Torr Mheadhoin (1761) to
the Findhorn, which it reaches near the upper end of the
Streens, midway between Polochaig and Ballcrochan.
It turns up the river for 5 furlongs, and then strikes
first N by W to the summit of Carn nan tri-tighearnan
(2013 feet), and thence westward to the Dalriach Burn
near its source. It follows the course of this stream for
1J mile to the bend where the burn turns to the S, and
then passes NW to the top of Beinn na Buchanich,
whence the course northward to the shore of the firth,
3J miles E of Ardersier Point at Fort George, is a series
of most involved zigzags too complicated to be here
particularly described. The length of the county is
17i miles from the mouth of the Nairn on the N to
Carn Glas on the S, and the mean breadth is about 11
miles. Of the total area of the county 25, 692 acres were
under cultivation in 1896, and 13,443 were under wood,
while 2976 were under permanent pasture, and the rest
was rough grazing, heath, and waste, there being a
considerable amount devoted to grouse. Among the
counties of Scotland Nairnshire is thirtieth as regards
area, thirty-second as regards population, and thirty-
third as regards valuation.
The portion of the county near the coast is part of
the well-known 'laich of Moray.' It is fertile and
well-wooded, and within 2 miles of the shore rises to
an average height of from 70 to 80 feet above sea-level.
Within the next 6 miles this rise is continued to a
height of about 600 feet, and the whole district is
under cultivation or covered with thriving woods.
South of the 800 feet contour line the whole county is
wild moorland, with an average height of from 1200
to 1500 feet, and having, besides the heights already
mentioned, along the boundary the tops of Carn Maol
(1000), Creag an Daimh (1180), Carn a Chrasgie (1314),
Cam na Callich (1218), Beinn Bhuide Mhor (1797),
Cam Sgumain (1370), Maol an Tailleir (1373), Cam
na Sgubaich (1522), and Carn a Garbh glaic (1523).
The drainage of the S and E is effected by the Findhorn
and its tributaries. The Fiudhorn enters the county
near the centre of the SW side, and flows across towards
the NE, quitting it near Dounduff after a course of
almost 19 miles. From the S it receives the Tomlachan,
Leonach, and Rhilean Burns, which drain the extreme
S of the county, but none of the other tributaries are of
any great size or importance. The centre of the county
is drained partly by the Mucklo Burn — which, rising at
Cam a Cluasgie, has a north-easterly course of about 16
miles ere it passes into Elginshire — and its tributaries
the Blarandualt Burn (W) and the Lethen Burn (E);
and partly by the Riereach Burn and Allt Dearg which
rise in the SW, and, joining near Cawdor, flow to the
river Nairn. The drainage on the W is carried off by
the Nairn and by a small burn that flows into the sea
1| mile W of the mouth of the Nairn. The lochs are
neither large nor important. In the NE corner, near
the sea, and within £ mile of one another, are Loch
Loy (ljxj mile) and Cran Loch (3 x 1J furl.); near
the NW border is the Loch of the Clans (1J x 1 furl.);
and on the border, and partly in Inverness-shire, is
Loch Flemington (1 mile x 1£ furl.); near the centre
of the E side is Loch Belivat (3x1 furl.); near the
centre of the county the Loch of Boath (2x£ furl.);
and on the E boundary a portion of Lochan Tutach.
None of the lochs are of importance for angling, and,
1222
NAIRNSHIRE
except the Findhorn, the Nairn, and Cawdor Burn,
none of the streams.
Geology. — The geological features of Nairnshire,
though presenting no great variety, are nevertheless of
considerable interest and importance. The rock forma-
tions occurring within the boundaries of the county may
be classified as follows: 1. the stratified crystalline
rocks with the associated granite masses; 2. the repre-
sentatives of the lower and upper Old Red Sandstone;
3. the glacial, post-glacial, and recent deposits, which
attain a remarkable development. The belt of low
ground bordering the Moray Firth is occupied by
members of the Old Red Sandstone, while the high-
lying districts are composed of metamorphic and igneous
rocks. Indeed the distribution of the rock formations
in this county furnishes ample proof of the close rela-
tion between the superficial features and the geological
structure.
In the tract lying between the basins of the Nairn
and Findhorn, the stratified crystalline rocks are thrown
into a great synclinal fold, the axis of which runs approxi-
mately from Dallaschyle southwards in the direction of
Creag an Daimh. In the Riereach Burn, and in the
streams which unite to form the Muckle Burn, the general
inclination of the strata is towards the NW and WNW,
but as we proceed towards the W boundary of the county
we find that the same strata gradually swing round till
the strike is nearly at right angles with its former
course. This change in the strike of the beds, which is
evidently due to an extensive fold, may be followed in
the streams draining the W slope of Carn nan tri-
tighearnan, and in the higher reaches of Alt Dearg.
There is little variety in the lithological character of
the strata throughout the area just indicated, as they
consist for the most part of grey micaceous flaggy gneiss,
thin bedded mica schists, and bands of micaceous
quartzite.
In the centre of the synclinal fold, however, between
Dallaschyle and Creag an Daimh, the flaggy gneiss
is overlaid by a more massive series, in which the
foliation is not so well marked, and the mica is not so
abundantly developed. Far up on the northern slope
of Carn nan tri-tighearnan there is to be found an inter-
esting band of porphyritic gneiss, containing large crys-
tals of felspar, round which the quartz, felspar, and
mica curve in irregular folia. In general character this
rock resembles the well-known bands of porphyritic
gneiss or foliated granite to be found in the county
of Banff. Throughout the area occupied by these
stratified rocks there are numerous veins of granite,
diorite, and amphibolite. The best example of the
last-mentioned occurs near Rehiran, about 3 miles south-
west of Cawdor, the chief constituent being hornblende,
which is associated with a small quantity of mica and
felspar.
There are three masses of granite within the limits of
the county. Of these by far the largest is situated along
the E boundary, extending from Lethen Bar Hill S by
Ardclach and Glenferness to the Bridge of Dulsie, a
distance of 6 miles. The second area lies along the W
border, between Ben nan Cragan and Ben Buidhe Mhor;
while the third extends from Rait Castle E to near
Kinsteary. Though of limited extent, the last of these
granite masses is of considerable commercial value, as
the rock forms an admirable building stone, and when
polished presents a beautiful appearance. The beauty
of the rock is due to the presence of large crystals of
pink orthoclase felspar, which are developed porphyriti-
cally in the midst of the quartz, felspar, and mica.
Indeed the lithological character of the rock is so dis-
tinct that boulders of it can be detected in the super-
ficial deposits, far to the E, in the low grounds of
Elgin and Banffshire.
The relations between these ancient crystalline rocks
and the overlying strata of Old Red Sandstone age
clearly show that the old land surface must have under-
gone considerable denudation prior to Old Red times.
Not only do the breccias rest on a highly eroded plat-
form; they frequently fill up considerable hollows in the