Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 2

KILT
KILT
chial schools are maintained in the burgh, at Chapel-
Green, and at Banton j the master of the first has a
salary of £30, with a house and garden, and the fees,
averaging £60. The master of the Banton school has
a salary of £12. 6., with fees amounting to £23 ; and
the master at Chapel -Green a salary of £9, to which are
added £22, the proceeds of a bequest by Mr. John
Patrick, and fees averaging £30 per annum. At Con-
ney park and Balcastle are remains of Pictish forts, of
which the latter is the most entire of all the works of
the kind in the kingdom. There are also some of the
ruins of Colzium Castle, and of a smaller mansion of
the Livingstone family which was burnt by Oliver
Cromwell on his route to Stirling. Small remains still
exist of the ancient castle of Kilsyth, on an eminence
overlooking the town ; and in the town is the old man-
sion of Kilsyth, now inhabited by poor families, but in
which are yet preserved the apartments where Prince
Charles Edward spent a night. Under the old church
was the burying-place of the Livingstone family, of whom
William, the third viscount, after his attainder retired to
Holland, where Lady Kilsyth and her infant son were
killed by the accidental falling in of the roof of the
house in which they lived. Their bodies were em-
balmed, and, being inclosed in a leaden coffin, were
sent to Scotland, and interred in the family vault, now
in the open churchyard. On examining the coffin in
1796, the remains of both were found in so perfect a
state, and even the complexion so fresh, as to present
every appearance of natural sleep.
KILTARLITY, a parish, in the county of Inver-
ness, 4 miles (S. W. by W.) from Beauly ; containing
2S69 inhabitants. This place, the origin of the name of
which is altogether uncertain, and which comprehends
the old parish of Convinth, is situated in one of the
most beautiful and romantic districts in the Highlands.
The parish is separated from the main part of that of
Kilmorack by the Beauly river, which, a few miles to
the north-east, forms the loch of the same name, the
latter communicating with the Moray Frith. It is one
of the largest parishes in the country, measuring in
length, from the north-eastern to the south-western
extremity, about forty-five miles, though the average
breadth doth not exceed six miles. The surface is
characterized by hills and mountains, and thickly-
wooded glens and ravines, interspersed with numerous
lochs, and some verdant pastures and well-cultivated
tracts, rendered more strikingly picturesque in many
parts by the course of rapid streams with various cas-
cades. Among the lochs, which are of great number
and diversity of appearance, and which abound in pike,
trout, char, and other fish, the largest, and those most
famed for their scenery, are, Loch Affaric, Loch Naluire,
and Loch Beinnemhian. Each of these is about a mile
broad, and varies in length from three to seven miles ;
all are very deep, and embosomed in hills and moun-
tains, shrouded with birch, mountain-ash, and stately
firs, the remains of the old Caledonian forest. The
three lakes are united by the river Glass, which, rising
in Loch Affaric, and proceeding north-easterly through
the other two lakes, is in its course along the north-
western boundary of the parish, skirted on each side by
lofty hills, and joined at Fasnacoil by the rapid stream
of Deaothack. The Deaothack is celebrated for its
waterfalls, especially those of Plodda and Easnambroc,
63
and for the splendid firs on its banks, intermixed with
birch and oak. At Invercannich, about four miles from
Fasnacoil, the Glass is joined by the river Cannich, a
large stream ; and again, at the distance of a few miles,
by the Farrer, after which it takes the name of Beauly.
The distance from the last junction to the Beauly Frith is
about nine miles ; and though the river is only naviga-
ble for a mile and a half from the frith, up to the village
of Beauly, it is found of great service for transporting
timber for exportation. The fishery of the Beauly be-
longs to Lord Lovat, producing a rent of £1600 per
annum.
On the north-eastern side of the parish is a tract of
land measuring about nine square miles, which is flat
and low ; but, with this exception, the surface is hilly
and rocky throughout, and intersected with glens and
valleys, the principal of which are Glen-Convinth and
Strath-Glass. The latter of these was formerly covered
with wood, which supplied Cromwell with a large por-
tion of the timber used in the fortifications at Inverness,
but of which none now remains except the forest of
Cugie, where are firs of immense bulk and stature. The
highest hill is supposed to be that of Aonach-Sassan,
" English Hill," rising about 2000 feet above the level
of the sea. In the south-western part of the parish
the rocks are so lofty, rugged, and inaccessible, that they
are not only the resort of eagles, falcons, and numerous
birds of prey, but furnish lurking-places for large herds
of goats, so wild as to bid defiance to capture. The
soil is generally thin and light, of a reddish hue, and
very hard. It is found intractable for successful hus-
bandry, except on the lower grounds in the north-
eastern district, which are much more fertile than the
higher portion, where, on account of its mossy cha-
racter, the crops are stunted and sickly, especially in
seasons of drought. Agriculture has, however, made
considerable progress within the last twenty ) 7 ears. The
most approved rotation of cropping has been introduced ;
and where trenching, liming, and draining have been
adopted to a sufficient extent to counteract the natural
impediments of the land, the produce is of good quality.
The rocks in the parish consist chiefly of gneiss, inter-
sected with veins of granite ; and sandstone, with
asbestos, rock-crystal, and other varieties, is found in
the hills. There are several interesting caves, one of
which, called Corriedow, is said to have been a retreat,
for some days, of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Wood
was once the only article exported from this locality ;
and independently of the old Scotch firs, and other
noble trees, the memorials of former ages, extensive
plantations still exist, and have been recently aug-
mented. These comprise ash, elm, beech, plane, and
especially larch, all of which attain a fine growth,
and prove a source of considerable emolument to the
proprietors. The rateable annual value of the parish is
£6160.
The gentlemen's seats are numerous, and in general
are so well situated as to command views of the most
interesting groups of scenery. Beaufort Castle, the
property of Lord Lovat, is a spacious but plain building,
standing on the site of the old fortress of Beaufort, or
Downie, which, in the time of Alexander I., was be-
sieged by the royal troops. Cromwell, also, seized a
castle here, and demolished the citadel ; and imme-
diately after the battle of Culloden, the then fortress