Gazetteer of Scotland

DOL
sidence of the noble family of Argyll.
It is situated on the top of a found
mound, on each side of which is a deep
glen or ravine, down which run streams
that unite immediately below the cas-
tle. A ditch divided the castle from
the surrounding mountains, which
rendered it inaccessible but by a draw-
bridge. It is not known when or by
Whom this venerable pile was erected.
It was formerly called the castle of
Gloom, a name expressive of its situa-
tion, surrounded by the glen of Care,
and the burn of Sorrow, and looking
down upon the town of Darkness, for
so the Gaelic names of the surround-
ing places are said to signify. Upon
the whole, the scenery around this
ancient seat, consisting of rocks and
woods, glens and mountains, contains
a pleasing picture of the beautiful,
the picturesque, and the awfully ro-
mantic. In the parish of Dollar there
are several extensive coal-works, the
property of the Duke of Argyll. Iron-
stone likewise abounds, said to be of
an excellent quality. The hills are
ehiefly composed of whinstone, but
there are several valuable freestone
quarries. N A vein of lead was some
years ago found near the town of Dol-
lar: Silver has been found in the glen
of Care, near Castle-Campbell, and on
the top of a hill called the White
Wisp beautiful agates are often found.
Population in 1801, 693.
DOLLAR-BURN ; a hill in the
parish of Manor, county of Peebles,
elevated 2840 feet above the level of
the sea.
DOLPHINGTON ; a parish in
the county of Lanark, extending about
15 miles from E. to W. and 2^ from N.
to S. The great road from Edinburgh
to Leadhills by Biggar passes through
it. The soil is for the most part a
light black mould, on a red clay bot-
tom, inclining to till, which makes it
generally wet, and the harvest late.
On the top of one of the hills are the
remains of an encampment or fortifi-
cation, inclosing about 4 acres of
ground ; and on another hill, called
the Kip* is a cairn, on the top of which
fires used to be kindled, to warn the
country of invasion or predatory in-
cur'sion. Population in 1801, 331.
DON; a river in Aberdeenshire.
It takes its rise in the mountains of
Curgarff, at the head of the parish of
DOR
Strathdon, and takes a course nearly*
due E. At Inverury it receives the
waters of the river Ury, and, passing
by Kintore, falls into the German,
ocean on the N. side of the old town
of Aberdeen, about 2 miles from the
mouth of the river Dee. It abounds
with salmon ; and the fishing of aL
small space of its banks, not more
than 300 Or 400 yards in length, has
been known to rent at nearly 20001.
per annum: It is navigable to small
vessels up to the bridge, which was
thrown over it by Bishop Cheyne, in
1323, on the high road from Aberdeen"
to the northward.
DOQN; a lake and river of Ayr-
shire. The lake iV situated chiefly in
the parish of Straiton, and is about 7
miles in length. On an island are the
remains of an old castle. The ris'er
issues from the N. W. end of the-lake,
and, after a' circuitous course of up-
wards of J 8 miles^ fall's into the At-
lantic, about 2 miles S. of Ayr. The
banks of this river are very beau-
tiful, and have been rendered famous
by a song of the Ayrshire bard, begin-
ning, " Ye banks and braes of bonny
Doon." Both lake and river abound
with trout and salmon; The river
forms the N. E. boundary of the dis«
trict of Carrick.
DORES; a parish in Inverness-
shire, situated on the banks of Loch
Ness, extending 20 miles in lengthy
and 3 in breadth. The surface is
mountainous, having a narrow valley
running nearly the whole length of
the parish. The soil is light, but not
much cultivated. The proportion of
arable land is very small, by far the
greater part being fit only for sheep
pasture. At Gortuly much has been
done in the way of agricultural im-s
provement. Besides Loch Ness,
which with its environs furnibhes A
beautiful landscape, there are two or
three smaller lakes, which abound
with trout. Extensive plantations of
fir ornament this district. There are
several vestiges of antiquity in the pa-
rish, which are pointed out by tradi-
tion as the scenes of Fingalian exploits.
Population, in ISO I, 3113.
DORNOCH ; a royal borough in
the County of Sutherland, situated on
the N. coast of the Frith of Dornoch,
nearly opposite to the borough of
Tain, which lies on the S. side of the
K