Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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EDINBURGH—ENVIRONS.
About the period of the Revolution, the Castle and estate
of Craigmillar were purchased by Sir Thomas Gilmour, an
eminent Scottish lawyer, to whose descendant, Walter Little
Gilmour, Esq., they still belong. After the Gallon Hill and
Arthur Seat, it may without exaggeration be said to command
the most striking and picturesque view of Edinburgh, and the
surrounding country.
HOPETOUN HOUSE AND DUNFERMLINE.
[The best way to visit these places is by coach from 4 Princes Street. Dunferm¬
line may also he reached by Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Railway, from Waverley
Bridge Station, but it is a round-about and not so picturesque a road; and besides,
the ferry across the Perth in this way is six miles long, whereas at Queensferry it is
only two, and the water generally calmer. Those who do not dislike the sea, may go
the one way and return the other.]
The coach leaves Edinburgh by Princes Street and the
Queensferry Road, crossing the Water of Leith at the Dean
Bridge, a superb edifice of four arches, each ninety feet in
span. Below, on the right, is St. Bernard’s Well. On the left,
in the hollow, stands the village of the Water of Leith, and
further in the distance may be seen the mosque-like turrets of
Donaldson’s Hospital. The road now passes (left) Trinity
Episcopal Chapel, (right) Clarendon Crescent, (left) Stewart’s
Hospital, (right) Dean House, Craigleith House, and Craigleith
Quarry, from which the stone employed in building the New
Town of Edinburgh was chiefly procured. (2) At a short
distance to the left are Ravelston (Lady Keith), and Craigcrook
(John Hunter, Esq.), the favourite residence of Lord Jeffrey.
(4) On the right, Barnton House (Hon. Mrs. Ramsay). (4-|)
Cross the Almond by Cramond Bridge, and pass on the left
New Saughton (Lord Aberdour), and Craigiehall (Hope Yere,
Esq.) On the shore is the village of Cramond, and on the
right the entrance to Dalmeny Park, the seat of the Earl of
Rosebery. The grounds of Dalmeny slope beautifully to the
sea, and present views of the most pleasing description. They
are open to the public on Mondays, but admission on other
days may be obtained on application to the proprietor’s agents.
The banks of the river Almond in this neighbourhood are very