Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 3

GLENFEOSEN
feet), is finely wooded, and during tlie last hundred
years has been improved at a cost of over £30,000.
Held by the Stewarts of Traquair from 1533, it was sold
in 1789 for £8400, in 1805 for £9910, in 1824 for
£24,000, and in 1849 for £25,500 to William Chambers,
LL.D. (1800-83), the well-known writer and publisher,
who held 835 acres in the shire, valued at £891 per
annum. — Ord. Sur., sh. 24, 1864.
Glenprosen, a glen and a quoad sacra parish in Kirrie-
muir parish, NW Forfarshire. The glen is that of
Pkosen Water, rising at an altitude of 2750 feet on the
western slope of Mayar, and running 18 mUes south-
eastward through the northern division of Kirriemuir
and along the borders of Cortachy, Kingoldrum, and
Kirriemuir proper, till, after a total descent of nearly
2400 feet, it falls into the South Esk at a point 1| mile
SE of Cortachy Castle. The quoad sacra parish, com-
prising the northern division of Kirriemuir, was con-
stituted in 1874, and is in the presbytery of Forfar and
synod of Angus and Mearns. Its church stands on the
left bank of the Prosen, 9J miles NNE of Kirriemuir
town ; and a public school, with accommodation for 50
children, had (1881) an average attendance of 50, and a
grant of £35, 6s. Pop. (1881) 175.— Ord. Sur., sh. 56,
1870.
Glenquaich. See Glengarry.
Glenquaich, a glen in detached sections of Dull,
Weem, and Kenmore parishes, Perthshire. It is tra-
versed by the Quaich, which, rising at a point 5J miles
S by E of Kenmore vOlage and 2700 feet above sea-
level, winds 7J miles eastward to the head of Loch
Fkeuchie (880 feet).— Ord &»■., sh. 47, 1869.
Glenquharry, a burn in Kirkconnel parish, NW
Dumfriesshire, rising close to the Ayrshire border at an
altitude of 1420 feet, and winding 4| miles southward,
till, after a descent of 900 feet, it falls into the Nith at
Kirkconnel village. Its upper clench is a deep and
sequestered recess, flanked by desolate moorlands, and
formed a frequent retreat of Covenanters in the days of
the persecution. — Ord. Sur., sh. 15, 1864.
Glenquicken, a moor in Kirkmabreck parish, SW
Kirkcudbrightshire, 3| miles E by N of Creetown. A
cairn here in 1809 yielded a rude stone cofBn, contain-
ing an uncommonly large skeleton ; and Glenquicken is
traditionally said to have been the scene of a very
early battle, probably between the Caledonians and the
Romans. Near it are a stone circle and a well-preserved
Roman encampment. — Ord. Sur., sh. 4, 1857.
Glenquiech, an estate, with a mansion, in Tannadice
parish, Forfarshire, 7 miles NNE of Kirriemuir. Its
owner, John Alex. Sinclair-Maclagan, Esq. (b. 1833 ;
sue. 1872), holds 2216 acres in the shire, valued at £1071
per annum.
Glenquithle. See Glendowachy.
Glenquoich or Glenquiech. See Glengarry and
Quoicii.
Glenranza, a narrow glen on the mutual border of
Kilmore and Kilbride parishes, in the N of Arran,
Buteshire. It is traversed by the Eanza, an impetuous
stream, which, issuing from tiny Loch na Davie (1182
feet), runs 3§ miles north-north-westward till it falls
into the head of Loch Eanza. It is joined on the right
side by Glenhalmadale, and above that point is some-
times known as Glen Easan Biorach. — Ord. Sur., sh.
21, 1870.
Glenrath Bum, a rivulet in Manor parish, Peebles-
shire, rising on the NW side of Blackhouse Heights at
an altitude of 2000 feet, and running 3j miles north-
north-westward till, after a descent of 1240 feet, it falls
into Manor Water opposite Posso, 7 mUes SSW of
Peebles.— Ord Sur., sh. 24, 1864.
Glenrianes, the narrow vale of Dullan Water, and
a quoad sacra parish in Mortlach and Aberlour parishes,
Banffshire. The quoad sacra parish, constituted in
1865, is in the presbytery of Aberlour and synod of
Moray ; its minister's stipend is £120. The church,
originally a mission chapel under the royal bounty,
stands towards the head of the glen, 5^ miles SSW of
Dufftown ; and a public school, mth accommodation
194
GLENROT
for 102 children, had (1881) an average attendance of
42, and a grant of £51, 9s. Pop. (1871) 466, (1881)
401, of whom 283 were in Mortlach parish. — Ord. Sur.,
sh. 85, 1875.
Glenrosie, a glen in the middle of the E side of Arran,
Buteshire. Commencing at an altitude of 1750 feet, it
descends 5J miles south-south-eastward to the sea at
Brodick Bay, and a little above its mouth is joined by
Glenshm-tg and Glencloy. With Goatfell (2866 feet) on
the E and Ben Tarsuinn (2706) on the W, its upper
reach exhibits sublimely picturesque scenery ; its middle
reach displays a blending of grandeur and loveliness ;
and its lowest reach is so exquisite as to be called Glen-
shant — the 'vale of enchantment.' — Ord. Sur., sh. 21,
1870.
Glenroy, a narrow precipitous glen in Kilmonivaig
parish, Inverness-shire, traversed by the Roy, a salmon
and trout stream that flows 14J miles south-westward,
till at Keppoch, SJ furlongs below the Bridge of Roy
and 12f miles NE'of Fort William, it falls into the
Spean, descending in this course from 1100 to 290 feet
above sea-level. It lies in the Lochaber district ; and
its great interest arises from the three distinctly-marked
terraces, known as the ' Parallel Roads of Glenroy,'
which can be traced almost continuously on both sides
of the valley. Each forms a gently sloping shelf from
3 to 30 feet wide, and the most striking characteristic
of all is their absolutely constant level. The highest
(1144 to 1155 feet) can be traced from the col (1151
feet) at the head of Glenroy — which forms the lowest
part of the watershed between the Roy and the Spey —
to Bohuntine Hill, near the mouth of the glen. 'The
second shelf (1062 to 1077 feet) runs parallel to the
first, but can be traced round Glen Glaster, which opens
into Glenroy just below where the first road terminates.
This second road corresponds in height to the col (1075
feet) at the SE end of Glen Glaster, which is part of the
watershed between the Glaster and the FeitheU, a small
tributary of the Spean. The third and lowest shelf
(850 to 862 feet) can be traced right round Glenroy,
Glen Glaster, and Bohuntine Hill, and away eastward
along Glen Spean to a little below Loch Laggan. It
corresponds in height to the col (848 feet) at MuckaU
above Loch Laggan, which forms part of the watershed
between the Spean and Mashie Water, a tributary of
the Spey. In Glen Gloy, to the W of Glenroy, is another
similar road at a height of from 1156 to 1173 feet. The
col at the head of this glen, wliich looks over to Glenroy,
is 1172 feet above sea-level.
The constant level at which each of these roads re-
mains suggests at once that they have been the shores
of former lakes or seas. The marine theory advanced
by Darwin, who regarded the glens as former arms of
the sea, is not now generally accepted. The hypothesis
which ascribes them to fresh -water lakes was first brought
forward by Macculloch {Trans. Geol. Soc. Land., vol.
iv., 1st ser.), and taken up by Sir T. Dick-Lauder
{Trans. Roy. Soc. Ediiib., vol. ix.). They were forced
to assume the former existence of gigantic barriers of
debris, which were washed away by the water, after it had
been kept for long periods at the heights of the various
shelves. The difficulties of this theory are, first, where
did the dihris come from ; and, secondly, where did it
disappear to, without leaving even the slightest trace of
its existence. Such difficulties do not exist in the bold
speculation of Agassiz, who finds the necessary barrier
in a huge glacier which slid down from Ben Nevis.
This theory is supported by the numerous evidences of
former glaciers in the district. Suppose a glacier to fill
all the lower portion of Glenroy up to where the highest
road terminates above Glen Glaster. The water col-
lected in the glen could escape only at the col at the
head of Glenroy. Let the glacier now recede till it
reaches the points where the second road terminates on
Bohuntine Hill. Glen Glaster will now be open, and
the waters will be discharged over the lower col at the
head of that glen. Let the glacier now recede quite
out of Glenroy, and stretch across Glen Spean below the
bridge of Roy. The water will then fall to the level of