Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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ABERDEEN TO BALLATER.
About a tenth part of the whole surface of the county is under wood; and the
trees found in the peat mosses indicate the existence of still more extensive forests
in former ages. These woods consist chiefly of Scotch fir and birch, and grow so
naturally that it is only necessary to shut out the cattle by inclosures, and the birds
and winds supply it with seeds, that soon rise into vigorous plants. The forests of
Marr, Ballochbui, and Abergeldie abound in red deer; and grouse, partridges, and
other kinds of game, are plentiful in all the higher parts of the county.
Numerous remains of ancient edifices are seen in different parts of the county,
and ruins of two buildings, supposed to have belonged to Malcolm Canmore, king of
Scotland, are still pointed out. One of them, situate at Castleton of Braemar, was
his hunting seat; the other stands in a small island in the Loch of Kinnoir. The
castle of Kildrummy, which in 1150 was the property of David Earl of Huntingdon,
must have been a princely edifice, covering nearly an acre of ground; and its exten¬
sive remains still testify to the power and grandeur of the chieftains by whom it
was inhabited.
The chief mineral wealth of the county is its granite, for which it has long been
famous, and which has brought considerable sums into the county, besides supplying
the inhabitants with excellent stones for building and other purposes.
The principal seats in Aberdeenshire are Balmoral, the summer residence of the
Queen; Abergeldie Castle, H.R.H. Duchess of Kent; Aboyne Castle, the Earl of
Aboyne; Haddo House, the Earl of Aberdeen; Huntly Lodge, the Duke of Rich¬
mond; Keith HaU, the Earl of Kintore ; Marr Lodge, the Earl of Life; Philorth
House, Lord Saltoun; Strichen, Lord Lovat; Castle Forbes, Lord Forbes; Inver-
cauld House, Farquharson; Skene House, Duff; Slanes Castle, the Earl of Errol.
The prevaihng names among the proprietors are, Gordon, Forbes, Grant, Fraser,
Duff, and Farquharson. The county has four parliamentary burghs, Aberdeen,
Peterhead, Inverury, and Kintore, with a constituency of 4022. The first returns a
member to Parliament, and the other three are contributary burghs to Elgin. The
county also sends a member to Parliament.
ABERDEEN TO BALLATER,
By Railway and Coach.
The first part of this route, as far as Banchory, is travelled
by railway, which greatly facilitates the journey. Passing up
Deeside, the first object that attracts our notice is the Roman
Catholic College of Blairs, endowed by the munificent Mr.
Menzies of Pitfodels, which is seen on the left, and is six miles
from Aberdeen. In its vicinity the churches of Mary Culter
and Peter Culter front each other—the former on the south, the
latter on the north side of the river. A little farther on, the
line is carried across the burn of Culter, its banks steep and
wooded, being the first specimen of picturesquely broken ground
which the tourist passes. Nine miles from Aberdeen, on the