Kings & rulers > More leaves from the journal of a life in the Highlands from 1862 to 1882

78
Visit to Glenfiddich.
Tuesday, September 24, 1867.
A bright morning, but a fearful gale blowing. The
maids, Emilie and Annie and Lady Churchill’s maid,
with Ross and the luggage, started at a little past
seven.
Breakfasted at a quarter past nine; and at ten,
taking leave of Lenchen, darling Beatrice, and the
boys, and Christian, started with Louise and Jane
Churchill—Brown, as usual, on the box. Sir Thomas
Biddulph had gone on at eight. We drove up by Alt
Craichie on to Gairnshiel, and anything like the wind
I cannot describe. It blew through everything. Just
beyond Gairnshiel we took another change of my own
horses, which took us up that very steep hill called
Glaschoil. Here we met the luggage with Blake*
which had stuck completely, but was going on with
the help of four cart or farm horses, and then we went
on by Tornahoisk and Cock Brigg, where we crossed
the Don. At the small inn at the foot of the hill,
called Bridge End, we found the maids’ carriage halt¬
ing. They were waiting for the luggage, but we sent
them on. Our postilions next took a wrong road, and
we had to get out to enable them to turn. Then came
* A footman, now one of the Pages of the Presence.