Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

BLACKSEOPE
ELADENOCH
Blackshope, a burn in the ]STE of Moffat parish,
Dumfriesshire. It rises on White Coomb mountain ;
runs 3 miles southward to Moffat Water, at a point
6 miles NE of Moffat ; and is well stored with trout.
An eminence at its head commands a charming view.
Blackside, a mountain on the mutual border of Sorn
and Muirkirk parishes, Ayrshire, adjacent to the bound-
ary with Lanarkshire, 6J miles EnE of Mauchline. It
lias an altitude of 1342 feet above sea-level ; and it com-
mands a splendid and extensive view, said to compre-
hend parts of sixteen counties.
Blacksmill, a hill, a hamlet, and a burn, in Lammer-
muir, Berwickshire. The hill, 905 feet above sea-level,
is on the mutual border of Langton and Longformacus
parishes, 2J miles SSE of Longformacus village. The
hamlet is on the NW border of Langton parish, and lies
near the burn, 1 ^ mile SE of Longformacus village. The
burn rises on the eastern skirts of the hill, runs 2-J miles
north-by-eastward to Dye Water, a little below Longfor-
macus village, and contains a good store of trout.
Black Spout, a picturesque waterfall, about 120 feet
in leap, in Moulin parish, Perthshire, on Edradour
Burn, a short distance NE of the line of the Highland
railway, and about li mile E of Pitlochrie.
Black Springs, copious natural fountains in Currie
parish, Edinburghshire, affording portion of the public
supplies of water to the city of Edinburgh.
Blackstone, a hamlet in the S of Muiravonside parish,
SE Stirlingshire, with a station on the North British, at
the junction of the Slamannan, Bo'ness, and Bathgate
sections, 12 miles E by N of Coatbridge, 4 NW of Bath-
gate, and 4-J SW of Manuel Junction.
Blackstone, a hamlet and a mansion on the NE bor-
der of Kilbarchan parish, Renfrewshire, on Black Cart
Water, 2 miles NW of Paisley.
Black Stone of Odin, a huge prostrate mass of rock on
the northern shore of Shapinshay island, in Orkney. It
lies on the sand, and is supposed to have been an object
of superstitious veneration in the Scandinavian rites.
Blackwater, a rivulet of the S of Carrick district,
Ayrshire, running north-westward to the Stinchar. See
Dhuisk.
Blackwater, a rivulet in Cabrach parish, Banffshire.
It rises among high mountains, contiguous to the
boundary with Aberdeenshire ; runs about 8 miles north-
ward and north-north-eastward to the Deveron at Dal-
riach ; traverses a grandly Highland glen ; has, in its
basin, a shooting lodge and a deer forest, belonging to
the Duke of Richmond ; and is traditionally said to have
had, on its banks, at a romantic part of its course, still
called King's Haugh, a residence of Malcolm Ceannmor.
Blackwater, a rivulet in Kilmorie parish, Arran island,
Buteshire. Ir rises a little S of the centre of the island ;
runs about 6 miles westward and south-south-westward
to Drimadown Bay ; brings down the inland road from
Brodick to the SW coast ; and drains Shiskin district,
the largest and most fertile tract of arable land in Arran.
A remarkable large cairn stood at its foot ; measured
more than 200 feet in diameter ; and has been greatly
diminished by the abstraction of its stones for building
and draining purposes.
Blackwater, a rivulet in Dairy parish, Kirkcudbright-
shire. It issues from a lakelet at the boundary with
Dumfriesshire ; runs about 6 miles westward, quite
across the centre of the parish, to the river Ken ; and is
well stocked with trout.
Elackwater, a small river of the NE of Perthshire.
It rises near the summit of Cairnwell Mountain, on the
northern border of Kirkmichael parish, adjacent to the
boundary with Aberdeenshire ; runs, under the name of
Beg, through Glenbeg ; debouches at the Spittal of Glen-
shee into Glenshee ; receives there Tetnieh Water, and
takes there the name of Shee ; runs about 6 miles,
under the name of Shee, through Glenshee, takes then
distinctively the name of Blackwater ; runs about 5
miles between sections of Caputh, Bendochy, and Blair-
gowrie parishes on its right bank, and parts of Rattray
and Alyth parishes on its left bank ; and unites with the
Ardle, 4 miles NNW of Blairgowrie town, to form the
164
river Ericht. Its general direction is southward, and its
entire length of course is about 20 miles.
Blackwater, a small river of the SE of Sutherland.
It rises on Ben-an-Armninn, near the meeting-point of
Clyne, Kildonan, and Farr parishes ; runs 2 miles south-
westward across the head of Clyne parish ; proceeds 3i
miles southward, along the boundary between Clyne and
Rogart ; then goes about 10 miles south-westward,
through the interior of Clyne ; receives, on its left
bank, the tributary Skinsdale Water ; and falls into
the Brora, 1J mile WNW of the head of Loch Brora.
Its early course lies through morassy moors, which give
a dark tinge to its waters ; and its later course lies
along a deep rocky channel, and is strikingly romantic.
Two cascades occur on it, respectively near Balnakyle
and at Kilcolmkill, both very magnificent when the
stream is in flood ; and the latter is much visited bj T
tourists.
Blackwater, a rivulet in Uig parish, Lewis, Outer
Hebrides, Ross-shire. It rises very near the centre of
Lewis ; runs westward to Loch Roag ; takes down the
public road from Stornoway to Uig church ; and is fre-
quented by salmon.
Blackwater, Berwickshire. See Blackaddee.
Blackwater or Easay, a small river in the SW of
Ross-shire. It rises on the Derrymore Mountains, at
the head of Strathvaich ; runs about 14 miles south-
south-eastward, under the name of Garve, along
Strathvaich, past the W side of Ben Wyvis, and along
Strathgarve to Loch Garve ; issues from the foot of that
lake under the name of Blackwater or Rasay ; and runs
about 5 miles south-south-eastward to a confluence with
the Conan at Moy. Its waters have a dark colour-, and
they contain pike, large trout, and dark-coloured salmon,
and afford prime rod-fishing. A cascade, called the
Falls of Rogie, occurs on the river a little below Loch
Garve, amid rich accompaniments of rock and wood ;
and presents considerable resemblance to the famous
falls of Tivoli in Italy.
Blackwood, the seat of E. Bradshaw Smith, Esq. , in
the S of Middlebie parish, Dumfriesshire, 3J miles E of
Ecclefechan.
Blackwood, a railway station and an estate in Lesma-
hagow parish, Lanarkshire. The station is on the Les-
mahagow branch of the Caledonian, adjacent to the
river Nethan, near Kirkmuirhill village, 2 miles S of
Stonehouse station, and nearly 4 SE of Stonehouse town.
The estate lies on the NW border of Lesniahagow
parish ; and the mansion on it, 2 miles W of the railway
station, is the seat of Jas. Chas. Hope Vere, Esq. (b.
1S58 ; sue. 1S72), owner of 6863 acres, valued at
£11,303 per annum, including £5781 for minerals. An
ancient Caledonian battle-axe of stone was found on the
estate, and is preserved in the mansion.
Blackwood, an estate, with a mansion and a hill, in
Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire. The mansion stands adjacent
to the river Nith, in the midst of a richly -wooded glen,
| mile N by W of Auldgirth station, and 5| miles SSE
of Thornhill. The hill (604 feet) rises immediately W
of the mansion, in the south-eastern extremity of Keir
parish, and commands a splendid view from the moun-
tains N of Drumlanrig, along all the vale of the Nith,
to the Solway Firth and the Cumberland Mountains.
At Blackwood was born the gardener's son, Allan Cun-
ningham (1784-1842), poet and novelist.
Blackwood, a property, with a hill and a lake, on the
SW border of Eaglesham parish, Renfrewshire.
Black Wood, a great pine forest in Fortingal and
Logierait parishes, Perthshire, clothing aU the S flank
of Loch Rannoch, from the margin of the water half-
way up the mountains.
Bladenoch, a village and a river in Galloway. The
village stands on the left bank of the river and the
southern verge of Wigtown parish, 1 J mile SW of Wig-
town town ; is included within Wigtown parliamentary
burgh ; and has a post office, and a large distillery, for
which Messrs M'Clelland purchase annually between
20,000 and 30,000 bushels of barley. The river issues
from Loch Mabeny, on the Ayrshire border ; winds