Imperial gazeteer of Scotland, or, Dictionary of Scottish topography > Volume 1

ARNTULLY
7!)
ARK AN.
ARNTULLY, an estate and a village, in the par-
ish el' Kinelaven, Perthshire. The estate has re-
cently undergone great improvements. The village
is situated 8 miles north of Perth, and inhabited by
linen-weavers, and is in a very declining condition.
Population, 1.7.1.
AROS, a streamlet, a bay, a post-office station,
and an old castle, on the east coast of the island of
Mull, 9 miles south-south-east of Tobermory and
18 north-north-west of Auclmacraig ferry. A road
leads hence 4 miles to the head of Loeh-na-Keal on
the west side of the island, iind thence 7 miles to
Laggan-Alva, the most convenient point of embarka-
tion for Iona and Staffa. The bay of Aros receives
the rivulet, and is capacious and wildly picturesque.
The old castle crowns a basaltic promontory on its
north side, and was a residence of the Lords of the
Isles. " Only two walls and part of a third are
standing; but they present an interesting memento
of the rude and gloomy grandeur of former days."
ARRADOUL. See" Ratiiven.
ARRAN, an island, in the frith of Clyde, forming
part of the shire of Bute. It lies in the mouth of
the frith, or in the centre of the large bay of the
Northern channel formed by the peninsula of Kin-
tyre on the west, and the Ayrshire coast on the east ;
from the former it is distant about 6 miles, and is
separated by the sound of Kilbrannan; from the lat-
ter, the average distance is about 13 miles, and the
channel betwixt them is distinguished from the
sound on the west of the island as being the frith of
Clyde. From the island of Bute on the north, the
least distance is 5 miles. Its greatest length, from
the Cock of Arran, on the north, to the Struey rocks
on the south, is about 26 miles; and the greatest
breadth, from Clachland's point on the east to Dri-
modune point on the west, is 12 miles. * The gen-
eral outline is that of an irregular ellipse, little
indented by bays or inlets. The largest indentation
if that of Lamlash hay betwixt Clachland's point
and King's cross point, on the east coast. Loch
Ranza, near the Cock, or northern extremity of the
island, is a very small inlet. Brodick bay, a little
to the north of Lamlash bay, between Corriegill
point on the south, and Merkland point on the north,
affords good anchorage in about 5 fathoms water,
but little shelter to vessels, especially in a north-
east gale. Including the islet of Pladda on the
south, and Holy isle in the mouth of Lamlash bay,
the area of Arran is about 100,000 Scots acres, of
which 11,179 are arable, and 613 are under planta-
tions. There is also a considerable extent of natural
coppice-wood on the north-west and north-east
coast. The south end of the island is remarkably
destitute of any thing approaching to plantation,
and even of copsewood.
The island of Arran comprises only two parishes,
—Kilbride on the east, and Kilmorie on the west ;
but it is topographically divided into the five dis-
tricts of Brodick, Lamlash, Southend, Shiskin, and
Loch Ranza.
The Brodick district is that portion of the island
* Headrick estimates the length of this island, measuring
Irom N. E. to S. W., at 34 or 35 miles ; and its breadth as vary-
ing from 15 to 20 miles. Mr. Jardine states its length to be
only 21 miles, and its breadth 9. Professor Jaraieson, in his
1 Outline of the Mineralogy of Arran,' estimates its length at 32,
and breadth at 12 miles. The writer of the article Arrau, in the
' Penny Cyclopedia,' vaguely estimates its length from near Loch
Ranza, in the N. N. vy„ to'Kildonan, in the S. S. E., at "some-
what more than 20 miles; and its greatest breadth at 12." The
Rev. Angus Macmillan, minister of Kilmorie, in his evidence be-
fore the Commissioners of Religious Instruction, [Report VIII. p.
470.] states the greatest length of his parish to be upwards of 30
miles. The admeasurements in our text have been given after
a careful examinatioi and comparison of the best maps and re-
ports on the island.
most frequently visited by tourists, and most gen
orally resorted to for sea-bathing. It lies around
the bay of the same name, and extends northwards
to South Sannox. Its northern part is composed of
the towering Goatfell, and its brother-mountains;
and the beautiful glens or mountain-ravines called
Glen Rosa or Rossie, Glen Sherrig, Glen Shant, and
Glen Cloy, occur here. The base of the mountains
here approaches close to the sea, so that the full
effect of their altitude — which in Goatfell is 2,865
feetf — imposes itself on the eye of the spectator
from the sea or beach, while they are constantly
varying their appearance, as seen from any quarter,
under the accidents of weather, light, and shade.
The lower part of Goatfell is composed of red sand-
stone; then follows mica-slate, which is surmounted
by a pyramidal mass of granite. The view from the
summit embraces the coast of Ireland from Fairhead
to Belfast loch; and the mountains of Isla, Jura,
and Mull. The ascent may be accomplished, with
the aid of a guide, in about two hours ; and is best
achieved from the inn at Brodick. The natives call
this mountain Gaodh JBhein, or Ben-Ghaoil, that is
' the Mountain of Winds. 1 To the eye of a specta-
tor on the summit of Goatfell — which is the loftiest
peak in this granitic district — the neighbouring
mountains present a wild assemblage of bare ridges,
yawning chasms, abrupt precipices, and every fan-
tastic form of outline, while the profound gulfs be-
tween them are darkened by eternal shadow. The
scenery here is nnrivalled in its kind, except per-
haps among the Cuchullin Mountains in Skye. — On
the north side of Brodick bay, adjoining the village,
is the castle of Brodick, one of the seats of the Duke
of Hamilton. It is an old irregular pile of building,
of secluded aspect, but in good repair. The grounds
around it are well- wooded; and the majestic heights
of Goatfell, and Bennish [2,598 feet,] rise in the im-
mediate background. This stronghold was surprised
by James Lord Douglas, Sir Robert Boyd, and other
partisans of Brace in 1306, demolished in 1456, re-
built by James V., and garrisoned by Cromwell.
Cromwell's garrison, to the number of 80 men, it is
traditionally related, were surprised and cut off by
the natives. — On the opposite side of the bay, and
at about one mile's distance from the sea, in Glen
Cloy, is Kilmichael, the seat of John Fullarton, Esq.,
whose immediate ancestors received this estate, and
a farm on the west side of the island, from Robert
Bruce, for services rendered to him while in con-
cealment in this island. Martin says: "If tradition
be true, this little family is said to be of seven hun
dred years standing. The present possessor obliged
me with the sight of his old and new charters, by
which be is one of the king's coroners within this
island, and as such, he hatb a halbert peculiar to his
office; be has his right of late from the family of
Hamilton, wherein his title and perquisites of coro-
ner are confirmed to him and his heirs. He is
obliged to have three men to attend him upon all
public emergencies, and be is bound by his office to
pursue all malefactors, and to deliver them to the
steward, or in his absence to the next judge. And
if any of the inhabitants refuse to pay their rents at
the usual term, the coroner is bound to take him
personally, or to seize his goods. And if it should
happen that the coroner with his retinue of three
men is not sufficient to put his office in execution,
then he summons all the inhabitants to concur with
him ; and immediately they rendezvous to the place,
where he fixes his coroner's staff. The perquisites
due to the coroner are a firlot or bushel of oats, and
t This is Dr. Macculloch's admeasurement. Professor Play-
fair estimates its height at 2,945; Mr. Galbraith at 2.S63 feet