Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

G O L S P Y.
503
212 feet, produced the second, and which, on
its final drainage^ left the third and lowest, and
the present valley such as we now see it. If
this deduction should arouse the indignation of
a Fingalian, he ought to be satisfied in the
proud possession of one of the most striking
and magnificent phenomena of the universe ;
singidar, unexampled, and no less interesting to
philosophy, than it is splendid in its effects,
and captivating by its grandeur and beauty."
GLENSHEE, the vale of the river Shee,
lyingbetween the higher parts of Forfarshire and
Perthshire, but chiefly in the latter. It is a
pass into the Highlands of Brae Mar, and near
its head is a stage on the great military road
to Fort George, called the Spittal of Glen-
shee. It is situated fifteen miles south from
Castletown of Braemar, and seventy-seven
north from Edinburgh.
GLENSHIEL, a Highland pastoral pa-
rish in the south-west part of Ross-shire adja-
cent to Kintail, and lying on the south-west
side of Loch Duich, an arm of the sea. In a
narrow pass in the highest part of the parish,
a skirmish was fought in 1719, by the Earl of
Seaforth, for the cause of the Stewarts, and
the Hanoverian forces, in which the former
were defeated Population in 1821, 768.
GLENSHIRA, a glen in the parish of
Laggan, in the upper or western part of Bade-
noch, forming the basm of the river Spey for
the first twelve miles of its course. Its prin-
cipal feature is the imposing grandeur of the
mountains which rise around, sending down
numberless torrents, particularly on the north-
ern side, to swell the waters of the Spey. Not-
withstanding the unpromising aspect of this
part of the country, which is increased by the
almost total absence of trees, the hills furnish
excellent pasture for sheep, while the low
ground by the river-side yields crops in suffici-
ent abundance to supersede the necessity of
importation.
GLENSHIRA, a picturesque glen about
five miles long, at the head of Loch Fyne, near
Inverary, consisting of a deep and fertile soil.
GLENSPEAN, a beautiful glen of con-
siderable extent in the parish of Kilmanivaig
in the district of Locbaber, Inverness-shire,
commencing near the lower end of Loch Lag-
gan, where it marches with Badenoch, and
following in a westerly direction the course of
the Spean, from which it receives its name.
This glen in many places presents appear-
ances of the operation of water similar to
those described in Glenroy, and confirming by
their levels the theory entertained of their
formation. — See Glenroy.
GLENTANAR, a woody district in Marr,
Aberdeenshire, once a separate parish, but
now united to Aboyne.
GLENTILT, a vale or pass in a wild part
of Athole, Perthshire, through which runs the
river Tilt. The glen is narrow and bounded
by lofty mountains, covered with a fine ver-
dure. On its south side is the enormous hill
of Beinglo.
GLENTRATHEN See Lenteathen.
GLENTURRET or GLENTURIT,
a vale north of Crieff, Perthshire, through
which flows the water of Turit, from a loch of
the same name. The glen is famed for its
romantic beauties, and is noticed in Scottish
song.
GLENTURRIT, a small glen branching
off in a westerly direction from Glenroy.
GLENURQUHART, a vale in Inver-
ness-shire, west of Loch Ness, in the parish
of Urquhart.
GLETNESS, two or three small islets of
Shetland, five miles north-east of Lerwick, in
the mouth of Catfirth Voe.
GLIMSHOLMor GLIMPSE HOLM,
a small island of Orkney, in Holm Sound,
lying between Burry island and Pomona.
GLUSS, an islet on the north coast of
Shetland.
GOATFIELD or GAOLBHEIM, a
mountain in the isle of Arran, parish of Kil-
bride, elevated 2840 feet above the level of
the sea, and famed for different kinds of rare
stones found upon it.
GOGAR BURN, a rivulet in the coun-
ty of Edinburgh, parish of Corstorphine, a
tributary of the Water of Leith. It takes its
name from a hamlet on its banks called Gog-
ar, at which there was a chapel before the
Reformation.
GOIL, (LOCH) one of the terminating
arms of Loch Long in Argyleshire, which it
leaves in a north-westerly direction.
GOLSPY or GOLSPIE, a parish lying
on the south-east coast of Sutherlandshire,
north of Loch Fleet. It is in length about
ten miles by about two in breadth. A prodi-
gious improvement has been effected within
these few years in this part of the country, at
the instigation of the Marquis and Marchioness