Imperial gazeteer of Scotland, or, Dictionary of Scottish topography > Volume 1

BERRIEDALE.
155
BEBVIE.
production, on a height where it could not receive
any alluvial contributions, or deposit of extraneous
decayed vegetable matter, but also the method em-
ployed by the rude architects who erected them, to
fix them on those bases on which they have remained
unmoved for centuries. The stone is inserted in a
hole, filled up with small loose fragments of the
same material. The elevation of the stones of the
central circle must have amounted to thirty feet
above the ground. Where exposed to view, the
substance is as white as a bleached bone, contrast-
ing singularly with the gray hue produced by the
atmosphere. The fanciful conjecture of Toland re-
specting this structure, which I have read detailed
in an Encyclopedia, is ridiculed by Dr. Macculloeh.
The circular or oval form of these edifices was se-
lected, no doubt, as best adapted to the purpose for
which they were erected, and not with reference to
the signs of the zodiac, as the number of stones in
the circle varies indefinitely. The extensive appen-
dage to the circle at Caleruish, which distinguishes
it from other circles, consists of the four avenues of
stones directed towards it, from the four principal
points of the compass, and is also so simply con-
structed that its origin may be accounted for with-
out imputing to the architect an astronomical de-
sign exhibited in no other structure of the same
kind. The other two circles in the neighbourhood
are composed of much smaller stones : one is incom-
plete, the other has a double row still standing, and
arranged in an oval form. The people have no tra-
dition respecting them."
BERRIEDALE, a small river of the parish of
Latheron, Caithness-shire. It rises near the boun-
dary with Sutherlandshire, runs eastward on the
northern side of Morvern and the Maiden-Pap, for
about 10 miles, and then turns to the south-east,
and flows into the small bay on which the village
of Berriedale is situated, forming there a confluence
with the water of Langwall, which is also an alpine
stream flowing from the west. There is a good
salmon-fishery in the bay. The country included
between the two rivers consists of a group of huge
dark mountains. Both of the rivers are very small
in summer, but large and impetuous in winter.
BERRIEDALE, a village with a post-office, in a
quoad sacra parish of its own name, within the
quoad civilia parish of Latheron, Caithness-shire.
It stands at the mouth of the Berriedale and Lang-
wall rivers, and on the road from Wick to Inverness,
7J miles south-south-west of Dunbeath, and 9J
north-east of Helmsdale. Its situation is very ro-
mantic, almost in a gorge, near the north skirt of
the Ord of Caithness, and also near the southern
termination of the grand cliffs and stacks which
form so striking a feature of the coast of Caithness-
shire. The village has a good inn. Here also are
a very neat government church, and a very com-
fortable adjacent manse. The church was built in
1826,at an expense of £750,and contains 312 sittings.
It was constituted a quoad sacra parish church by
the Court of Teinds in December 1846. The amount
of the minister's stipend is £120. Here likewise is
a Free church ; the yearly sum raised in connexion
with which in 1865 was £81 5s. lO^d. Berriedale
gives the title of Baron to the family of Sinclair,
Earl of Caithness ; and it was once famous for a
strong ancient castle, which is now in ruins. Ac-
cording to tradition, William Sutherland, alias Wil-
liam More Mackehin, that is, Big William the son
of Hector, was the last inhabiting proprietor of this
castle. Being about to set out on a warlike expedi-
tion to the Orkneys with one of the Earls of Caith-
ness, and impressed with the idea that he should
never return to his native country, he lay down on
the ground above Berriedale inn, contiguous to tho
small burying-ground, and there caused the length
of his body to be cut out in the sward in the form
of a grave, which to this day retains the name of
the Long Grave, and measures about 9 feet 5
inches. In the neighbourhood is the pleasant man-
sion of Langwell, within the margin of a thriving
plantation. Population of the quoad sacra parish
of Berriedale in 1851, 1,264.
BERRY-HEAD, a magnificent rocky promontory
at the southern extremity of Walls, in Orkney, cor-
responding in some respects to the opposite pro-
montory of Dunnet-Head in Caithness-shire.
BERTHA, a spot of some interest to antiquaries
and others who,
" Such places labour to make known,
As former times have honoured with renown."
It is situated at the confluence of the Almond with
the Tay, about 2 miles above the town of Perth ;
and, according to General Roy, there are still some
faint vestiges' of Old Perth, or Bertha, here. Bu-
chanan relates that an inundation of the Tay, in one
night swept the greater part of the town of Bertha
away. This happened towards the end of William's
reign, who died in 1214. The king himself escaped
the disaster which overwhelmed the place ; but his
infant son, with many of the promiscuous multitude,
lost their lives. Though the existing vestiges of
Bertha are extremely slight, yet they Berve to show
how, in all probability, the place was situated on a
tongue of land before it was washed away. Here
theRoman road crossed the Tay, and the houses on
the opposite bank are still called Rome. From so
many concurring circumstances, but especially from
the distance between it and Hierna' corresponding
so well with that assigned by Richard in his Itiner-
ary, there seems to be some ground to conclude,
that the ancient Bertha must have been the Orrea
of the Romans. General Roy has preserved a plan
of it.
BERTRAM-SHOTTS. See Shotts.
BERVIE (The), a small river of Kincardineshire.
It rises among the Grampians in the upper district
of the parish of Glenbervie, and flows about 16 miles
southward and south-eastward to the German ocean,
at the boundary between the parishes of Bervie
and Kinneff. It winds in beautiful curves, and is
adorned with the parks of Glenbervie, Whiteriggs,
Arbuthnot, and Allardiee. It is an excellent trout-
ing-stream, and has a small salmon-fishery at its
mouth.
BERVIE, a parish, containing the burgh and
post-town of Bervie, and the fishing-village ot
Gourdon, on the coast of Kincardineshire. It is
bounded by the German Ocean, and by the parishes
of Kinneff, Arbuthnot, Garvoek, and Benholme.
Its outline is foursided. Its length is about 2 miles,
and its breadth about 1J. The surface has a gra-
dual ascent inland, with two hilly ranges nearly
parallel. Bervie Hill, the highest ground, has an
altitude of abont 400 feet above sea-level; and
Gourdon Hill serves as a landmark to mariners.
Nearly two-thirds of the entire area of the parish
are in cultivation, and about 70 acres are under wood.
The chief landowners are Lord Arbuthnot and Mr.
Farquhar. There are several quarries of sandstone.
The fisheries are important. The road from Mon-
trose to Aberdeen passes along the coast. Popula
tionof the parish in 1831, 1,137; in 1861, 1,561.
Houses, 274. Assessed property in 1843, £3,343
13s. 4d.; in 1865, £4,742 16s. 4d.
This parish is in the presbytery of Fordoun and
synod of Angus and Mearns. Patron, the Crown.
Average stipend, £250 ; glebe, £18. The teinds were