Summer at the Lake of Monteith

126 The Lake of Monteith.
CARDROSS— ITS MOSSES— THEIR AGE
AND TREASURE.
The ancient and fine estate of Cardross is beautifully
situated in the centre of that most charming of all charm-
ing districts, the district of Monteith. On either side lies
stretched the luxuriant plains, teeming with Nature's glo-
ries, and hallowed by historical and traditional associations.
Around it the hills rise, the glens dip deep, lakes repose,
and rivers roll their dark waters. The serpentine Forth
pursues its sluggish course for miles through and around
its southern marches, the silvery waters of the Lake of
Monteith, and the historic Goodie, wash its northern
boundaries, while the heath-capped Grampians throw their
shadows over it.
The historical and traditionary associations that linger
around its ancient walls, where sage kings sat and youth-
ful queens frolicked ; its noble park, with its grand old
trees, spreading wide their hoary arms, and rearing high
their antlered heads; its well-kept garden, clad with down
and rose; and the waveless loch, where the swan with
zephyr-ruffled wing floats proudly along, and the heron,
springing from the reedy inlet, tend to make it, to the
historian, the traditionist, and Nature's worshipper, one of
the most interesting estates in the kingdom.