Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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AKGYLESHIKE, ETC.
sides the coast is bold and steep, and the hills high and craggy ;
but the wildness of the scenery is agreeably diversified by
extensive natural woods of hazel, which cover the land near
the coast, and rise to a considerable distance from the shore.
The mountains have a very grand appearance from the loch,
and rise to the height of about 2500 feet above the level of the
sea.
Garrick Castle, an old stronghold of the Dunmore family,
occupies a most noble and picturesque position on the west
side of the loch, and the massy square building, standing
upon a low and nearly sea-girt rock, looks the perfect embodi¬
ment of mediaeval influence ; but now, in the words of the
poet,—
“All ruin’d and wild is their roofless abode,
And lonely the dark raven’s sheltering tree,
And travell’d by few is the grass-cover’d road.
Where the hunter of deer and the warrior trod.
To his hills that encircle the sea.”
Behind it are a few straggling trees, one of them an oak of
considerable dimensions. The age of this fastness can be
traced as far as the end of the fifteenth century, but it was
probably built by the Danes. It was burnt by the Athol-men,
and nothing now remains but part of the walls.
As the steamer proceeds towards the head of the loch, the
tourist may be reminded of Thomas Campbell’s pathetic bal¬
lad of “ Lord Ullin’s Daughter.” This poet, one of the noblest
of our century, drew much of his inspiration from his native
Argyleshire. The wild tumultuous-looking mountains tower¬
ing above, contrast strongly with the peaceful little village of
Loch Coil-head, which, rich in beauties, seems as if it had
been called into existence by the wand of an enchanter.
Standing upon the pier, we see these mountains to great
advantage. Looking westward, the most conspicuous in
the centre is Ben-an-Tshelich ; on the right hand, Ben
Donich; above the wharf, the Steeple; and farther down
the loch, on the same side, An Diolaid. On the opposite side
of the loch is Ben Lochan, a steep conical mountain, its sum¬
mit looking almost as if it would topple over ; and Ben Bheula
to the east of it, a large massy mountain of irregular form.
The village itself contains a good hotel, and scattered along
the shore are numerous villas.