Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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ARGYLESHIRE, ETC.
the south-east coast of the island is Lamlash, six miles from
Brodick, [Inns: Kennedy’s; Bannatyne’s]—which is situated
in the middle of a semicircular bay, sheltered by the Holy Island
—an irregular cone, 900 feet high. This bay forms an ex¬
cellent harbour for the accommodation of ships of all sizes.
The Holy Isle was once the site of an ancient cathedral, said
to have been founded by St. Molios, a disciple of St. Columba,
and the cave in which the saint resided is said to be seen on
the sea-shore. In the interior there is a shelf of rock which
formed his bed, and on the roof a Runic inscription made known
his name and office. He spent the latter part of his life at
Loch Ranza, where he died at the advanced age of 120 years,
and his remains still repose in the burying-ground of the
Clachan.
At the head of Glens Alaster and Meneadmar, which extend
from behind the village of Lamlash, may be seen the remains
of an ancient Druidical sepulchral cairn, measuring 200 feet in
circumference, and which is believed to cover the ashes of
those who fell in a battle fought upon the spot, as on removing
some of the stones several stone coffins were found buried under¬
neath. At the southerly point of Lamlash Bay (three miles from
Lamlash) is King’s-cross Point, whence Robert Bruce is said
to have embarked for the coast of Garrick.* On the other side
of the point is Whiting Bay, and a mile from Learg-a-Beg is
the valley of Glen Ashdale, where there are two cascades, one
above a hundred, the other above fifty feet high.
Arran possesses many specimens of rude sepulchral pillars?
urns, stone chests, cairns, dunes, circles, and cromlechs, which
* There are a number of places in this island traditionally connected with the
romantic career of King Robert the Bruce. Among others is what still goes by the
name of the King’s Cave, and which is said to have been the place of his abode on
his first arrival in the island. This is situated about a mile from the road, at Black-
waterfoot, a little to the north of the basaltic promontory of Drumidoon, on the
west coast of the island. On the wall at the entrance are inscribed the letters
M. 1). R.; and at the southern extremity is still to be seen a rudely cut hunting-
scene, said to have been executed by the fugitive monarch, as a representation of
his own condition when this lonely cavern was the place of his abode. The cave is
114 feet long, 44 broad, and 47i high. Rome of the adjoining caves are equally large;
one is called the King’s Kitchen ; another his cellar; a third his stable; and the
hill above the caves is called the King’s Hill. At the northern side of this hill, on
the farm of Tormore, are the remains of a very perfect and interesting Druidical
circle, called Sindhe choir Thionn, or Fingal’s Cauldron-Seat.