Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

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ARGYLESHIBE, ETC.
The first portion of this road is carried along Glen Aray,
with the river Aray running almost all the way on the right.
After leaving the pleasure-grounds round Inverary Castle,
there is little to attract the attention till we reach the head of
the glen and begin to descend towards Cladich,* when the
beautiful expanse of Loch Awe breaks upon the view.
From Cladich there is a much shorter way to Oban by
Portsonachan Ferry f across Loch Awe. This road runs along¬
side of the water of Naint through the romantic forest of
Muckairn ; but it is not so interesting or picturesque as the
other road by Dalmally.
Loch Awe is surrounded by lofty mountains of a rude and
savage aspect, the highest of which (Ben Cruachan) rises to
the height of 3400 feet. The towering proportions of this
mountain, and the numerous wooded islands, give a striking
character to the scenery at the eastern extremity of the loch,
where its sloping banks are richly clothed with natural wood
to the water’s edge. The point of land which runs into the
lake immediately beyond the village of Cladich, is called
Innistrynich, or the Island of the Druids, and is the pro¬
perty of Mr. M‘Allister of Innistrynich, an extensive proprietor
on the opposite shore of the lake.
Of the other twenty little islands.! some are beautifully
* Gladioli Inn, which is situated here, is a very pretty spot, and a well known
station for anglers frequenting Loch Awe and the streams in the vicinity. The
neighbourhood abounds with game, consisting of grouse, black-game, partridges,
and hares, and there is a great extent of woodland stocked with roe and pheasants,
and in season woodcocks and wild-ducks are also to he found on the loch. Boats are
kept at the river’s mouth, by which the tourist may visit several interesting places,
distant from this as follows:—Kilchum, 4 miles; Fraoch Elan, 2 ; the Pass of
Awe, 5; Inishail, 1; Ardhonnel Castle and Island, 15. It is a delightful row to
Ardhonnel, and there is a clean little inn close to it at Inish Erreth.
t To the south of Portsonachan, on the western side, in the district of Nether
Lorn, is Loch Avich, anciently called Lochluina, a beautiful sheet of water, of a
regular triangular form, about eight miles in circumference, full of trout; having
one castle and several islands, the resort of gulls, cranes, water-eagles, and wild-
ducks. This lake discharges itself into Loch Awe by the stream of Avich, buried in
wood; having six fine falls, with large circular ponds at the foot of each, and pos¬
sessing the peculiarity of never freezing; even in the year 1740 not a particle of ice
was observed on it, though the lake from whence it issues was entirely frozen over.
J The chapel on the islet of Inishail was suppressed at the Reformation, and its
possessions were erected into a temporary lordship in favour of Hay, Abbot of Inch-
affray, who abjured the Roman Catholic faith. The old churchyard contains a