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X INTRODUCTION.
and press closely on the whole flank of the Glenmore-nan-albin. One of the highest
summits of the region, as well as of all Scotland, is Bennevis, 4,380 feet above sea-level,
situated on the south-east side of Loch-Eil, near the entrance of the Caledonian canal.
The boundary of the most mountainous part of the region extends south-westward from
this monarch-height to Ben-Cruachan, on the south side of Loch-Etive ; it runs thence
south-eastward to the mountains of Arroquhar on the east side of Loch-Long, one of the
most northerly branches of the frith of Clyde ; it extends thence eastward to Benlomond,
at the sources of the Forth ; it thence passes on in the direction of east-north-east to
Benledi, on the west side of the fresh-water lake Loch-Lubnaig ; it thence diverges east-
ward to the enormously-based Beniglo, in latitude 56° 50', and west longitude 3° 40'; it
runs thence due east to the lofty ridge of Lochan-nagar, nearly in latitude 57°, and west
longitude 3° ; it extends thence northward, to the water-shed between the sources of the
river Deveron and those of the Avon, an affluent of the Spey ; it thence passes on west-
ward to the northern extremity of Loch- Ness ; and it thence extends south-westward
along the flank of the whole of Glenmore-nan-albin to Bennevis. All the country com-
prehended within these boundaries, excepting Strathspey and a few deep glens, lies pro-
bably at a minimum of 1,000 feet above sea-level ; it embosoms multitudinous scenes of
grand and magnificent beauty, and of alternately savage and picturesque sublimity ; it
has many tracts which afford rich pasture, and not a few which are finely and produc-
tively feathered over with forest ; it even contains, in well-sheltered situations, spots,
small individually, but considerable in the aggregate, which are available for agriculture ;
but over by far the greater part of its extent, it either sends up wild and untameable
summits to the clouds, or is an impracticable waste and wilderness region of rocky
steeps, unproductive moors, and extensive bogs. Large tracts of continuous mountains
lie on all sides, except the north-west, immediately beyond the boundaries we have indi-
cated, and form, jointly with the great territory within these boundaries, the upland
district of the central division of Scotland ; but, though equally inhospitable, they are
much inferior in mean height, and, in general, have less boldness, angularity, and rocki-
ness of surface. The greatest range of the whole region cuts it from west to east into
not very unequal parts, forms all the way a water-shed between streams respectively on
the north and on the south, has a breadtli of from 12 to 25 miles, runs at no great dis-
tance south of the 57th parallel, and extends from Bennevis by Loch-Ericht, and along
the northern boundary of the counties of Perth and Forfar, to Mount-Caerloch in Kin-
cardineshire, 18 miles west by north of Stonehaven, and thence sends off two hilly ridges
to the coast, one terminating at Stonehaven, and the other at Girdleness. It thus
bristles up as a stupendous rampart from sea to sea, sends up many summits 3,000 feet
above sea-level, has probably a mean altitude, west of Caerloch, of 2,500 feet, measures
in length from Bennevis to Girdleness about 100 miles, and, besides carrying the great
north mail-road over the east end of its forking hilly ridges, is pierced in three places
with gorges or passes which admit the transit of military roads. Another range com-
mences in the vicinity of Loch-Lydoch, several miles from the south side of the former
range, in west longitude 4° 35' ; and runs south-westward to Bendoe, and thenie south-
ward, by the mountains of Arroquhar, along the west side of Loch- Long and the frith of
Clyde, to a soft and gentle termination at Toward-point, the eastern peninsular headland
of the district of Cowal. This range is not more than 50 miles in length, and, in Cowal,
not more than 6 in mean breadth, and considerably less than 2,000 feet in the average
height of its summits ; but, north of Arroquhar, it is from 12 to 15 miles broad, sends
up numerous summits to the height of nearly 3,000 feet, and forms a water-shed between
the streams which flow respectively to the German and the Atlantic oceans. The section
of the mountain or Highland district lying east of this range, and south of the great
central range from Bennevis to Caerloch, somewhat nearly resembles in outline the
figure of a quadrant, and contains many elevations, such as Benlomond, Benvenu, Ben-
ledi, Benvoirlich, Benlawers, and Schihallion, which rise about 3,000 ieet or upwards,
and in one instance even 4,000 feet, above sea-level. Its mountains are in some cases
isolated ; but, in general, they run in lateral spurs or offshoots eastward from the south
and north range, and more or less parallel with the great central range. These are
short in the southern part of the district, but towards the north they gradually increase
from 10 to 15 or 18, and even to upwards of 20 miles ; they enclose glens which are
deep throughout, and in part high above sea-level, which have a contracted narrowness
on the west, akin to that of profound gorges, but usually expand into vales toward the
and press closely on the whole flank of the Glenmore-nan-albin. One of the highest
summits of the region, as well as of all Scotland, is Bennevis, 4,380 feet above sea-level,
situated on the south-east side of Loch-Eil, near the entrance of the Caledonian canal.
The boundary of the most mountainous part of the region extends south-westward from
this monarch-height to Ben-Cruachan, on the south side of Loch-Etive ; it runs thence
south-eastward to the mountains of Arroquhar on the east side of Loch-Long, one of the
most northerly branches of the frith of Clyde ; it extends thence eastward to Benlomond,
at the sources of the Forth ; it thence passes on in the direction of east-north-east to
Benledi, on the west side of the fresh-water lake Loch-Lubnaig ; it thence diverges east-
ward to the enormously-based Beniglo, in latitude 56° 50', and west longitude 3° 40'; it
runs thence due east to the lofty ridge of Lochan-nagar, nearly in latitude 57°, and west
longitude 3° ; it extends thence northward, to the water-shed between the sources of the
river Deveron and those of the Avon, an affluent of the Spey ; it thence passes on west-
ward to the northern extremity of Loch- Ness ; and it thence extends south-westward
along the flank of the whole of Glenmore-nan-albin to Bennevis. All the country com-
prehended within these boundaries, excepting Strathspey and a few deep glens, lies pro-
bably at a minimum of 1,000 feet above sea-level ; it embosoms multitudinous scenes of
grand and magnificent beauty, and of alternately savage and picturesque sublimity ; it
has many tracts which afford rich pasture, and not a few which are finely and produc-
tively feathered over with forest ; it even contains, in well-sheltered situations, spots,
small individually, but considerable in the aggregate, which are available for agriculture ;
but over by far the greater part of its extent, it either sends up wild and untameable
summits to the clouds, or is an impracticable waste and wilderness region of rocky
steeps, unproductive moors, and extensive bogs. Large tracts of continuous mountains
lie on all sides, except the north-west, immediately beyond the boundaries we have indi-
cated, and form, jointly with the great territory within these boundaries, the upland
district of the central division of Scotland ; but, though equally inhospitable, they are
much inferior in mean height, and, in general, have less boldness, angularity, and rocki-
ness of surface. The greatest range of the whole region cuts it from west to east into
not very unequal parts, forms all the way a water-shed between streams respectively on
the north and on the south, has a breadtli of from 12 to 25 miles, runs at no great dis-
tance south of the 57th parallel, and extends from Bennevis by Loch-Ericht, and along
the northern boundary of the counties of Perth and Forfar, to Mount-Caerloch in Kin-
cardineshire, 18 miles west by north of Stonehaven, and thence sends off two hilly ridges
to the coast, one terminating at Stonehaven, and the other at Girdleness. It thus
bristles up as a stupendous rampart from sea to sea, sends up many summits 3,000 feet
above sea-level, has probably a mean altitude, west of Caerloch, of 2,500 feet, measures
in length from Bennevis to Girdleness about 100 miles, and, besides carrying the great
north mail-road over the east end of its forking hilly ridges, is pierced in three places
with gorges or passes which admit the transit of military roads. Another range com-
mences in the vicinity of Loch-Lydoch, several miles from the south side of the former
range, in west longitude 4° 35' ; and runs south-westward to Bendoe, and thenie south-
ward, by the mountains of Arroquhar, along the west side of Loch- Long and the frith of
Clyde, to a soft and gentle termination at Toward-point, the eastern peninsular headland
of the district of Cowal. This range is not more than 50 miles in length, and, in Cowal,
not more than 6 in mean breadth, and considerably less than 2,000 feet in the average
height of its summits ; but, north of Arroquhar, it is from 12 to 15 miles broad, sends
up numerous summits to the height of nearly 3,000 feet, and forms a water-shed between
the streams which flow respectively to the German and the Atlantic oceans. The section
of the mountain or Highland district lying east of this range, and south of the great
central range from Bennevis to Caerloch, somewhat nearly resembles in outline the
figure of a quadrant, and contains many elevations, such as Benlomond, Benvenu, Ben-
ledi, Benvoirlich, Benlawers, and Schihallion, which rise about 3,000 ieet or upwards,
and in one instance even 4,000 feet, above sea-level. Its mountains are in some cases
isolated ; but, in general, they run in lateral spurs or offshoots eastward from the south
and north range, and more or less parallel with the great central range. These are
short in the southern part of the district, but towards the north they gradually increase
from 10 to 15 or 18, and even to upwards of 20 miles ; they enclose glens which are
deep throughout, and in part high above sea-level, which have a contracted narrowness
on the west, akin to that of profound gorges, but usually expand into vales toward the
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Gazetteers of Scotland, 1803-1901 > Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1 > (22) Page x |
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