Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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PERTHSHIRE—BENLEDI.
It is generally ascended from the north side of Loch Yenachar
at Portinellan *
The Gaelic name of Benledi is said to be the hill of the
deity ; and it has the reputation of being an altar for ancient
heathen worship. In the statistical accounts it is said that
down to a late period the beltane mysteries, remnants of
heathen rites, and connecting themselves with the symbol of
heathen worship, Bel or Baal, were performed on Benledi. On
the farther shoulder of the mountain, there is a small desolate
loch called Loch-an-corp, or the lake of the dead bodies, because
a funeral party once crossing there on the ice, fell through and
were drowned.
The ascent from the Callander side of the hill is the
most gentle and easy, and unless mist come on there can
be no danger, if the tourist is hardy enough to bear the
fatigue. One of the chief cares is to avoid bogs, and this
can be best accomplished by observing, when there is not
hard stony ground, that where heath or juniper grows, there
is generally dry footing. Patches of very pallid green, almost
approaching to yellow, should always be avoided ; these mossy
coverings, which look soft and enticing as velvet, often
cover treacherous hidden springs. Black peaty ground has
also to be avoided, unless a dry summer has hardened it; and
the eye should become familiar with the wild hyacinths, the
cotton grass, and the other scanty herbage which indicates not
only a damp footing, but a bewildering interruption to the
journey, sometimes danger. There may be much danger to the
unguided wanderer if he do not look well to the ground he is
going over, or if he is prevented from seeing it by mist. There
are rough precipices on the eastern side, towards Loch Lubnaig,
and still more formidable rocks on the northern spurs of the
mountain, to which, if he be not careful, he may chance to
stray.
* The way to it is as follows :—fj) Cross Callander Bridge, (11) Cross Carchonzie
Bridge on right, then turn to left, (2) Coilantogle Ford on left, (2J) Portinellan,
From this strike up the hill to the right.