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

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| moors in the hills (the whole of this is “the forest”),
and rode on a mile and a half till near the head of
the Livet on the right of the Sowie, a high, bare,
I heathery, mossy hill; Cairn-ta-Bruar to the left. Here
-we had a fine view of Ben Aven and Ben-na-Bourd,
and this was the very way we should have ridden from
Tomnavoulin. We had a slight sprinkling of rain, but
l very little at this time. We saw eight stags together
l' at a distance. Oh! had dearest Albert been here with
his rifle! We rode on and back till we came to a
l sheltered place near the burnside, about one mile and
three-quarters from Glenfiddich Lodge, where one of
the Duke’s keepers had prepared a fire and got a
kettle boiling, and here we took our tea. Afterwards
I sketched, but we were surrounded by a perfect cloud
of midges which bit me dreadfully. The gentlemen
left us, after tea, and walked home. I walked a little
i while, and then rode back by a quarter to seven. A
•-beautiful mild evening, the sky a lovely colour. Dear
[good Sharp* was with us and out each day, and so
i affectionate.
A. Thomson, S. Forbes, Kennedy, and J. Stewart,
the latter with the ponies, as well as the Duke’s forester
: Lindsay, were out with us. Dinner as yesterday. Jane
Churchill finished reading “Pride and Prejudice” to us
after dinner. A very clear starlight night.
Friday, September 27.
A fair but dull morning. These quiet breakfasts
with dear Louise, who was most amiable, attentive,
A favourite collie of mine,