Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 5
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LOMOND HILLS
-Along its shores might you voyage in your swift
schooner, with shifting breezes, all a summer's day,
nor at sunset, when you dropped anchor, have seen half
the beautiful wonders. It is many-isled, and some of
them are in themselves little worlds, with woods and
hills. . . . Ships might be sailing here, the largest
ships of war ; and there is anchorage for fleets. But
the clear course of the lovely Leven is rock-crossed
and intercepted with gravelly shallows, and guards Loch
Lomond from the white-winged reamers that from all
seas come crowding into the Firth of Clyde, and carry
their streaming flags above the woods of Ardgowan.
. . . We should as soon think of penning a critique
-on Milton's Paradise Lost as on Loch Lomond. People
there are in the world, doubtless, who think them both
too long ; but, to our minds, neither the one nor the
other exceeds the due measure by a leaf or a league. You
may, if it so pleaseth you, think it, in a mist, a Medi-
terranean Sea. For then you behold many miles of
tumbling waves, with no land beyond ; and were a ship
to rise up in full sail, she would seem voyaging on to
some distant shore. '
The loch may be reached by rail to Balloch Pier, and
thence steamers ply to the piers at Balmaha (E), Luss
(W), Rowardennan (E), Tarbet (W), Inversnaid (E),
and Ardlui at the N end. In summer three runs daily
are made each way. — Ord. Sur., shs. 38, 30, 1871-66.
See also Dorothy Wordsworth's Torir in Scotland
(Edinb. 1874) ; Alexander Smith's Summer in Skye
(Edinb. 1865) ; William Eraser's Chiefs of Colqulioun
and their Co^intry (Edinb. 1869) ; Irving's Book of
Dimibartotishire (Edinb. 1879) ; Macleay's Historical
Memoirs of Hoh Hoy (1st ed. 1819 ; 2d ed. 1881) ; A. H.
Millar's History of Sob Moy (1883) ; and the notes to
Scott's Rob Roy.
Lomond Hills, an isolated ridge of hills on the borders
of Kinross-shire and Fifeshire, NE of Loch Leven.
From the E shore of Loch Leven the hills pass north-
wards, north-eastwards, and eastwards for a distance of
6J miles through Portmoak, Strathmiglo, and Falk-
land parishes, and between the basins of the Eden and
Leven. The W and N fronts are steep and rocky, the
E and S smooth and gently sloping, while the top is a
flat plateau, on an average about 1250 feet high. Of the
section that trends eastward the principal tops are West
Lomond (1713 feet). East Lomond (1471), and a point
between, often called Mid Lomond, (1186). The section
trending N and S is known as Bishop Hill, and has two
tops (N, 1292 feet; S, 1492). This latter, though some-
times counted not to belong to the Lomond chain proper,
does so in reality, being onh^ separated from it by the
deep and narrow glen that has been cut by the Glen
Burn on its way to join the Eden. The hills form con-
spicuous landmarks all over Fife, Forfarshire, and the
Lothians, and command extensive and beautiful views.
Sir David Wilkie, a Fifeshire man himself, used to
admire the Lomonds very much, and talked of them as
his ' own blue Lomonds. ' The ridge presents in some
parts a face of regular columnar basalt, and elsewhere
it is formed of sandstone, limestone, coal, and interbedded
volcanic rocks. The NE and E portions are well wooded.
Besides Glen Bm-n, Maspie Burn, rising between East
and Mid Lomonds, and some other small bm'ns flow to
the Eden ; and Arnot, Lothrie, and Conland Burns to the
Leven. The boundary line between the counties of Fife
and Kinross passes along the hollow between Bishop Hill
and West Lomond. South of Mid Lomond is a .small
lochan known as Miller's Loch. On the top of West
Lomond there is a cairn, and on the edge of the Glen Burn,
below Edge Head, on the SE shoulder, are the remains of a
hill-fort. There are also hill-forts E by S of Mid Lomond
and on the very top of East Lomond. Bishop Hill was in
1852 the scene of extensive search for gold, particularly
about the limestone quarry known as Clattering Well.
Ovej'lying the limestone, which is richly fossiliferous, is a
bed of ochre, in which round masses of iron pyrites occur,
and these were eagerly carried oft' as lumps of the precious
metal. East Lomond Hill was one of the great stations
during the Ordnance Survey ; and Carlyle in Ms Eemini-
554
LONGFOEGAN
scences (1881) thus describes a visit he and Edward Irving
then paid to the top : 'Another time military tents were
noticed on the Lomond Hills (on the eastern of the two).
"Trigonometrical Survey," said we, " Ramsden's theo-
dolite and what not ; let us go. " And on Saturday we
went. Beautiful the airy prospect from that eastern
Lomond far and wide. Five or six tents stood on the
top ; one a black stained cooking one, with a heap of
coals close by — the rest all closed and occupants gone,
except one other, partly open at the eaves, through
which you coidd look in and see a big circular mahogany
box (which we took to be the theodolite), and a saucy-
looking, cold, oflficial gentleman diligently walking for
exercise, no observations being possible, though the day
was so bright. No admittance, however. Plenty of
fine country people had come up, to whom the ofBcial
had been coldly monosyllabic, as to us also he was.
Polite, with a shade of contempt, and unwilling to let
himself into speech. Irving had great skill in these
cases. He remarked — and led us into remarking —
courteously this and that about the famous Ramsden
and his instrument, about the famous Trigonometrical
Survey, and so forth, till the official in a few minutes
had to melt ; invited us exceptionally in for an actual
inspection of his theodolite, which we reverently en-
joyed, and saw through it the signal column — a great
broad plank, he told us, on the top of Ben Lomond,
sixty miles oS' — wavering and shivering like a bit of
loose tape, so that no observation could be had. We
descended the hill refactd.' — Ord. Stir., sh. 40, 1867.
Lonaig. See Inchlonaig.
Lonan, a rivulet of Muckairn and Kilmore parishes,
Lorn, Argyllshire, rising at an altitude of 1230 feet above
sea-level, and running 6J miles west-by-northward to the
head of fresh- water Loch Nell (48 feet). — Ord. Sur.,
sh. 45, 1876.
Loncarty. See Luncarty.
Lonehead. See Loanhead.
Lonfeam, a village in Kilmuir parish. Isle of Skye,
Inveruess-shire.
Longa, an islet off the E side of Skye, Inverness-shire,
1 mile NE of Scalpa, S-J miles NNW of Pabbay, and 6
WNW of Kyle-Akin. Measuring 1,^ mUe in circum-
ference, and mainly consisting of red sandstone, it forms
an uneven table-land, everywhere abrupt on the coast,
and rising to a height of 200 feet above sea-level ; and is
merely a pasture for sheep and a haunt of sea-fowl.
Longa, a small island (IJ x J mile ; 229 feet high)
of Gairloch parish, Ross-shire, within the N side of the
mouth of Gair Loch, 8 miles WSW of Poolewe. — Ord.
Siir.,sh. 91, 1882.
Longannat. See Tulliallan.
Longart, Loch. See Glaslettek.
Long Calderwood. See Calderwood, Long.
Longcastle. See Dowalton and Kirkinnek,
Long Causeway. See Caitsewayhead.
Longcroft, a village in Denny parish, Stirlingshire, 2J
miles SSW of Denny town. It lies between Parkfoot
and Haggs, and forms part of the long line of nearly
continuous village from Denny-Loanhead to Haggs.
Pop., with Parkfoot, (1871) 547, (1881) 606.
Long Dalmahoy. See Dalmahot.
Longfaugh. See Criohton.
Longforgan, a village and a parish on the eastern
border of Perthshire. The village, standing on a ridge
135 feet high, is 1 mile NNW of Longforgan station on
the Dundee and Perth section of the Caledonian, this
being 5 J miles W by S of Dundee and 164 ENE of
Perth. It commands a sj)lendid view over the Carse of
Gowrie and the Firth of Tay ; consists of a straggling
main street ; served long as an appanage of Castle-
Huntly ; and in 1672 was created a burgh of barony,
with many privileges ; but has fallen away from its
former prosperity. It has a post office under Dundee,
with money order and savings' bank departments.
Pop. (1831) 451, (1861) 442, (1871) 363, (1881) 366.
"The parish, containing also the villages of Kingoodie
and Mylnefielt) Feus, is bounded NW by Kettins
in Forfarshire, NE by Fowlis-Easter and by Liff and
-Along its shores might you voyage in your swift
schooner, with shifting breezes, all a summer's day,
nor at sunset, when you dropped anchor, have seen half
the beautiful wonders. It is many-isled, and some of
them are in themselves little worlds, with woods and
hills. . . . Ships might be sailing here, the largest
ships of war ; and there is anchorage for fleets. But
the clear course of the lovely Leven is rock-crossed
and intercepted with gravelly shallows, and guards Loch
Lomond from the white-winged reamers that from all
seas come crowding into the Firth of Clyde, and carry
their streaming flags above the woods of Ardgowan.
. . . We should as soon think of penning a critique
-on Milton's Paradise Lost as on Loch Lomond. People
there are in the world, doubtless, who think them both
too long ; but, to our minds, neither the one nor the
other exceeds the due measure by a leaf or a league. You
may, if it so pleaseth you, think it, in a mist, a Medi-
terranean Sea. For then you behold many miles of
tumbling waves, with no land beyond ; and were a ship
to rise up in full sail, she would seem voyaging on to
some distant shore. '
The loch may be reached by rail to Balloch Pier, and
thence steamers ply to the piers at Balmaha (E), Luss
(W), Rowardennan (E), Tarbet (W), Inversnaid (E),
and Ardlui at the N end. In summer three runs daily
are made each way. — Ord. Sur., shs. 38, 30, 1871-66.
See also Dorothy Wordsworth's Torir in Scotland
(Edinb. 1874) ; Alexander Smith's Summer in Skye
(Edinb. 1865) ; William Eraser's Chiefs of Colqulioun
and their Co^intry (Edinb. 1869) ; Irving's Book of
Dimibartotishire (Edinb. 1879) ; Macleay's Historical
Memoirs of Hoh Hoy (1st ed. 1819 ; 2d ed. 1881) ; A. H.
Millar's History of Sob Moy (1883) ; and the notes to
Scott's Rob Roy.
Lomond Hills, an isolated ridge of hills on the borders
of Kinross-shire and Fifeshire, NE of Loch Leven.
From the E shore of Loch Leven the hills pass north-
wards, north-eastwards, and eastwards for a distance of
6J miles through Portmoak, Strathmiglo, and Falk-
land parishes, and between the basins of the Eden and
Leven. The W and N fronts are steep and rocky, the
E and S smooth and gently sloping, while the top is a
flat plateau, on an average about 1250 feet high. Of the
section that trends eastward the principal tops are West
Lomond (1713 feet). East Lomond (1471), and a point
between, often called Mid Lomond, (1186). The section
trending N and S is known as Bishop Hill, and has two
tops (N, 1292 feet; S, 1492). This latter, though some-
times counted not to belong to the Lomond chain proper,
does so in reality, being onh^ separated from it by the
deep and narrow glen that has been cut by the Glen
Burn on its way to join the Eden. The hills form con-
spicuous landmarks all over Fife, Forfarshire, and the
Lothians, and command extensive and beautiful views.
Sir David Wilkie, a Fifeshire man himself, used to
admire the Lomonds very much, and talked of them as
his ' own blue Lomonds. ' The ridge presents in some
parts a face of regular columnar basalt, and elsewhere
it is formed of sandstone, limestone, coal, and interbedded
volcanic rocks. The NE and E portions are well wooded.
Besides Glen Bm-n, Maspie Burn, rising between East
and Mid Lomonds, and some other small bm'ns flow to
the Eden ; and Arnot, Lothrie, and Conland Burns to the
Leven. The boundary line between the counties of Fife
and Kinross passes along the hollow between Bishop Hill
and West Lomond. South of Mid Lomond is a .small
lochan known as Miller's Loch. On the top of West
Lomond there is a cairn, and on the edge of the Glen Burn,
below Edge Head, on the SE shoulder, are the remains of a
hill-fort. There are also hill-forts E by S of Mid Lomond
and on the very top of East Lomond. Bishop Hill was in
1852 the scene of extensive search for gold, particularly
about the limestone quarry known as Clattering Well.
Ovej'lying the limestone, which is richly fossiliferous, is a
bed of ochre, in which round masses of iron pyrites occur,
and these were eagerly carried oft' as lumps of the precious
metal. East Lomond Hill was one of the great stations
during the Ordnance Survey ; and Carlyle in Ms Eemini-
554
LONGFOEGAN
scences (1881) thus describes a visit he and Edward Irving
then paid to the top : 'Another time military tents were
noticed on the Lomond Hills (on the eastern of the two).
"Trigonometrical Survey," said we, " Ramsden's theo-
dolite and what not ; let us go. " And on Saturday we
went. Beautiful the airy prospect from that eastern
Lomond far and wide. Five or six tents stood on the
top ; one a black stained cooking one, with a heap of
coals close by — the rest all closed and occupants gone,
except one other, partly open at the eaves, through
which you coidd look in and see a big circular mahogany
box (which we took to be the theodolite), and a saucy-
looking, cold, oflficial gentleman diligently walking for
exercise, no observations being possible, though the day
was so bright. No admittance, however. Plenty of
fine country people had come up, to whom the ofBcial
had been coldly monosyllabic, as to us also he was.
Polite, with a shade of contempt, and unwilling to let
himself into speech. Irving had great skill in these
cases. He remarked — and led us into remarking —
courteously this and that about the famous Ramsden
and his instrument, about the famous Trigonometrical
Survey, and so forth, till the official in a few minutes
had to melt ; invited us exceptionally in for an actual
inspection of his theodolite, which we reverently en-
joyed, and saw through it the signal column — a great
broad plank, he told us, on the top of Ben Lomond,
sixty miles oS' — wavering and shivering like a bit of
loose tape, so that no observation could be had. We
descended the hill refactd.' — Ord. Stir., sh. 40, 1867.
Lonaig. See Inchlonaig.
Lonan, a rivulet of Muckairn and Kilmore parishes,
Lorn, Argyllshire, rising at an altitude of 1230 feet above
sea-level, and running 6J miles west-by-northward to the
head of fresh- water Loch Nell (48 feet). — Ord. Sur.,
sh. 45, 1876.
Loncarty. See Luncarty.
Lonehead. See Loanhead.
Lonfeam, a village in Kilmuir parish. Isle of Skye,
Inveruess-shire.
Longa, an islet off the E side of Skye, Inverness-shire,
1 mile NE of Scalpa, S-J miles NNW of Pabbay, and 6
WNW of Kyle-Akin. Measuring 1,^ mUe in circum-
ference, and mainly consisting of red sandstone, it forms
an uneven table-land, everywhere abrupt on the coast,
and rising to a height of 200 feet above sea-level ; and is
merely a pasture for sheep and a haunt of sea-fowl.
Longa, a small island (IJ x J mile ; 229 feet high)
of Gairloch parish, Ross-shire, within the N side of the
mouth of Gair Loch, 8 miles WSW of Poolewe. — Ord.
Siir.,sh. 91, 1882.
Longannat. See Tulliallan.
Longart, Loch. See Glaslettek.
Long Calderwood. See Calderwood, Long.
Longcastle. See Dowalton and Kirkinnek,
Long Causeway. See Caitsewayhead.
Longcroft, a village in Denny parish, Stirlingshire, 2J
miles SSW of Denny town. It lies between Parkfoot
and Haggs, and forms part of the long line of nearly
continuous village from Denny-Loanhead to Haggs.
Pop., with Parkfoot, (1871) 547, (1881) 606.
Long Dalmahoy. See Dalmahot.
Longfaugh. See Criohton.
Longforgan, a village and a parish on the eastern
border of Perthshire. The village, standing on a ridge
135 feet high, is 1 mile NNW of Longforgan station on
the Dundee and Perth section of the Caledonian, this
being 5 J miles W by S of Dundee and 164 ENE of
Perth. It commands a sj)lendid view over the Carse of
Gowrie and the Firth of Tay ; consists of a straggling
main street ; served long as an appanage of Castle-
Huntly ; and in 1672 was created a burgh of barony,
with many privileges ; but has fallen away from its
former prosperity. It has a post office under Dundee,
with money order and savings' bank departments.
Pop. (1831) 451, (1861) 442, (1871) 363, (1881) 366.
"The parish, containing also the villages of Kingoodie
and Mylnefielt) Feus, is bounded NW by Kettins
in Forfarshire, NE by Fowlis-Easter and by Liff and
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