Title: The Rivers of Great Britain, Descriptive, Historical, Pictorial: Rivers of the East Coast
Author: Various
Release date: December 20, 2014 [eBook #47726]
Most recently updated: October 24, 2024
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47726
Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive)
W.H.J. Boot R.B.A. delt
C.O. Murray sculpt
On the Wharfe—Bolton Abbey.
The Wharfe, from Bolton Abbey.—A few signed Artist’s Proofs of this Etching on India paper can be obtained, price £1 1s. each, on application to the Publishers,
CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited, Ludgate Hill, London.
DESCRIPTIVE HISTORICAL PICTORIAL
RIVERS OF THE EAST COAST
CASSELL & COMPANY Limited
LONDON PARIS NEW YORK & MELBOURNE
1889
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]
| THE HIGHLAND DEE.—By FRANCIS WATT. | PAGE |
| The Source: Larig and Garchary Burns—In the Heart of the Cairngorm Mountains—Ben Macdhui and Braeriach—“A Fery Fulgar Place”—A Highland Legend—The Linn of Dee—Byron’s Narrow Escape—The Floods of 1829—Lochnagar and Mary Duff—Influence of the Dee on Byron—Braemar and the Rising of ’15—Corriemulzie and its Linn—Balmoral—The “Birks” of Abergeldie—Their Transplantation by Burns—What is Collimankie?—Ballater: the Slaying of “Brave Brackley”—Craigendarroch—The Reel of Tullich and the Origin Thereof—The Legend of St. Nathdan—Mythological Parallels—The Muich—Morven: the Centre of Highland Song and Legend—Birse—Lunphanan Wood—The Battle of Corrichie—Queen Mary and Sir John Gordon—At Aberdeen | 1 |
| THE TAY.—By JOHN GEDDIE. | |
| The Tiber and the Tay—History and Legend—Perthshire and the Tay—The Moor of Rannoch—Blair—Pitlochrie—Killin—Kenmore—The Lyon—The “Rock of Weem”—The “Birks” of Aberfeldy—Dunkeld and Birnam—Invertuthil—The Loch of Clunie—The Isla—Strathmore—Dunsinane Hill—Scone and the Ruthvens—Perth—The Views from Moncrieffe and Kinnoull—Strathearn and the Carse of Gowrie—Dundee—The Tay Bridge, New and Old—View from the “Law”—“Men of Blood” and Men of Business | 17 |
| THE FORTH.—By JOHN GEDDIE. | |
| Comparative—Poetry, Romance, and History—Loch Ard and Flora McIvor—The “Clachan of Aberfoyle”—Lake of Menteith—The Trossachs and Loch Katrine—Ellen and Helen—Loch Achray—Ben Ledi—The View from Stirling Castle—Stirling Town—Bannockburn—The Ochils and the Devon Valley—Alloa—Clackmannan—Kincardine-on-Forth—Tulliallan Castle—Culross: Abbey and Burgh—The “Standard Stone”—Torryburn—Rosyth Castle—“St. Margaret’s Hope”—Dunfermline: Tower, Palace, and Abbey—The New Forth Bridge—Inch Garvie and its Castle—Inverkeithing Bay—Donibristle House—Aberdour—Inchcolm, Cramond, Inchkeith, and May Islands—The Bass Rock—Kirkcaldy Bay—Edinburgh—Leith—Seton—Aberlady—Round to North Berwick—Tantallon Castle | 41 |
| THE TWEED.—By W. W. HUTCHINGS. | |
| CHAPTER I.—From Berwick to Kelso.—Leading Characteristics—The View from Berwick—Lindisfarne—The History and Present State of Berwick—Norham Castle and Marmion—Ladykirk—Tillmouth—Twisell Castle and Bridge—Ford Castle and Flodden—Coldstream—Wark Castle—Hadden Rig | 72 |
| CHAPTER II.—From Kelso to Tweedswell.—Kelso and its Abbey—Roxburghe Castle—Floors Castle—The Teviot—Ancrum—Carlenrig—The Ale—The Jed and Jedburgh—Mertoun—Smailholm Tower and Sandyknowe—Eildon and Sir Michael Scott—Dryburgh—The Leader and Thomas the Rhymer—Melrose—Skirmish Hill—Abbotsford—The Ettrick and the Yarrow—Ashestiel—Innerleithen—Horsburgh Castle—Peebles—Neidpath—Manor—Drummelzier—The Crook Inn—Tweedswell | 90 |
| THE COQUET.—By AARON WATSON. | |
| The Fisherman’s River—“Awa’ to the Border”—Peat-Hags—Eel-Fishing—Alwinton and Harbottle—The Village of Rothbury—Brinkburn Priory—Weldon Bridge and Felton—Warkworth Hermitage and Castle—The Town of Amble—Coquet Isle | 113 |
| THE TYNE.—By AARON WATSON. | |
| CHAPTER I.—The North Tyne.—Peel Fell—Deadwater Bog—Keilder Castle and the Keilder Moors—The Border Peel—Border Feuds and Friendships—The Charltons—Bellingham—The Reed—Tyne Salmon—The Village of Wark—Chipchase Castle—Haughton Castle and the Swinburnes—Chollerford and the Roman Wall—The Meeting of the Waters | 129 |
| CHAPTER II.—The South Tyne.—On the “Fiend’s Fell”—Tyne Springs—Garrigill—Alston and the Moors—Knaresdale Hall—The Ridleys—Haltwhistle—Allendale—Haydon Bridge and John Martin—The Arthurian Legends | 143 |
| CHAPTER III.—From Hexham to Newcastle.—Hexham and the Abbey Church—Dilston Hall—The Derwentwater Rising—Corbridge—Bywell Woods—Prudhoe and Ovingham—Stephenson’s Birthplace—Ryton and Newburn—The Approach to Newcastle | 150 |
| CHAPTER IV.—From Newcastle to the Sea.—The Growth of Tyneside—“The Coaly Tyne”—Newcastle Bridges—Local Industries—Poetical Eulogies—Tyneside Landscapes—Sandgate and the Keelmen—Wallsend—Jarrow and the Venerable Bede—The Docks—Shields Harbour—North and South Shields—The Tyne Commission—Tynemouth Priory—The Open Sea | 157 |
| THE WEAR.—By JOHN GEDDIE. | |
| William of Malmesbury on the Wear—Its Associations—Upper Weardale and its Inhabitants—Stanhope—Hunting the Scots—Wolsingham—Bollihope Fell and the “Lang Man’s Grave”—Hamsterley—Witton-le-Wear—Bishop Auckland—Binchester—Brancepeth Castle—The View from Merrington Church Tower—Wardenlaw—Durham—St. Cuthbert—His Movements during Life and Afterwards—The Growth of his Patrimony—Bishop Carilepho and his Successors—The Battle of Neville’s Cross—The Bishopric in Later Times—The Cathedral, Without and Within—The Conventual Buildings—The Castle—Bear Park—Ushaw—Finchale—Chester-le-Street—Lumley and Lambton Castles—Biddick—Hylton—Sunderland and the Wearmouths—The North Sea | 173 |
| THE TEES.—By AARON WATSON. | |
| Among the Fells—The Weel—Caldron Snout—High Force—Gibson’s Cave—Bow Leys—Middleton-in-Teesdale—The Lune and the Balder—Scandinavian Names—Cotherstone Cheese—History in Teesdale—Scott’s Description of the Tees—Egliston Abbey—Greta Bridge—Dickens and Mr. Squeers—Brignal Banks and Rokeby—The Village of Ovington—Gainford—Pierce Bridge—High and Low Coniscliffe—Croft—Yarm—The Industries of the Tees—Stockton—Middlesbrough—The Sea | 197 |
| THE HUMBER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. | |
| By the REV. CANON BONNEY, D.Sc., F.R.S. | |
| CHAPTER I.—The Trent, from the Source to Newton Solney.—The Course of the Trent—A Lowland Stream—Etymological—A Fish-Stream—The Source—The Potteries—Burslem, Etruria, and Josiah Wedgwood—Stoke-upon-Trent—Trentham Hall—Stone—Sandon—Chartley Castle—Ingestre and its Owners—The Sow—Tixall—Essex Bridge—Shugborough—Cannock Chase—Rugeley—Beaudesert—Armitage—The Blyth—Alrewas—The Tame—Burton-upon-Trent—Newton Solney | 221 |
| By EDWARD BRADBURY. | |
| CHAPTER II.—The Dove.—What’s in the Name—Axe Edge and Dove Head—The Monogram—Glutton Mill—Hartington—Beresford Dale—Pike Pool—Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton—Beresford Hall—Dove Dale—Its Associations—Ilam—The Manifold—Ashbourne—Doveridge—Uttoxeter—Sudbury—Tutbury—The Confluence | 240 |
| By CANON BONNEY. | |
| CHAPTER III.—The Trent, from Newton Solney to the Derwent.—Newton Solney—Repton: the School and the Church—Swarkestone: its Bridge and its Church—Chellaston—Donington Park and Castle Donington—Cavendish Bridge | 251 |
| By EDWARD BRADBURY. | |
| CHAPTER IV.—The Derwent.—The Derwent in its Infancy—Derwent Chapel and Hall—Hathersage—Eyam—Grindleford Bridge—Chatsworth—The “Peacock” at Rowsley—Haddon Hall—The Wye and the Lathkill—Darley Dale and its Yew-tree—The Sycamores of Oker Hill—The Matlocks and High Tor—Cromford and Willersley Castle—Ambergate—Belper—Derby—Elvaston | 257 |
| By CANON BONNEY. | |
| CHAPTER V.—The Trent, from the Derwent to the Humber.—The Soar—Trent Junction—The Erewash—Gotham and its Wise Men—Clifton Hall and Grove—Nottingham and its History—Colwich Hall and Mary Chaworth—Sherwood Forest—Newark—Gainsborough—Axholme—The Confluence with the Humber | 277 |
| By W. S. CAMERON. | |
| CHAPTER VI.—The Wharfe.—General Characteristics—The Skirfare—Langstrothdale—Kettlewell—Dowkabottom Cave—Coniston and its Neighbourhood—Rylstone and the Nortons—Burnsall—Appletreewick: an Eccentric Parson—Simon’s Seat—Barden Tower and the Cliffords—The “Strid”—Bolton Abbey and Bolton Hall—The Bridge—Ilkley—Denton and the Fairfaxes—Farnley Hall and Turner—Otley—Harewood—Towton Field—Kirkby Wharfe—Bolton Percy | 292 |
| By W. S. CAMERON. | |
| CHAPTER VII.—The Ouse.—The Ure and the Swale—Myton and the “White Battle”—Nun Monckton, Overton, and Skelton—The Nidd—York—Bishopthorpe—Selby—The Derwent—The Aire—Howden—Goole—The Don | 310 |
| By W. S. CAMERON. | |
| CHAPTER VIII.—The Estuary.—Drainage and Navigation—Dimensions of the Humber—The Ferribys—Barton-upon-Humber—Hull—Paull—Sunk Island—Spurn Point—Great Grimsby—Places of Call | 320 |
| THE RIVERS OF THE WASH.—By CANON BONNEY. | |
| The Witham: Grantham—Lincoln—Boston. The Nen: Naseby—Northampton—Earls Barton—Castle Ashby—Wellingborough—Higham Ferrers—Thrapston—Oundle—Castor—Peterborough. The Welland: Market Harborough—Rockingham—Stamford. The Ouse: Bedford—St. Neots—Huntingdon—St. Ives. The Cam: Cambridge—“Five Miles from Anywhere”—Ely. Fens and Fenland Towns: Wisbeach—Spalding—King’s Lynn—Crowland | 326 |
| THE RIVERS OF EAST ANGLIA.—By W. SENIOR. | |
| The Crouch: Foulness—Little Barsted and Langdon—Canewdon—Rayleigh—Hockley Spa. The Blackwater: Saffron Walden—Radwinter—Cadham Hall and Butler—Bocking—Braintree—Felix Hall—Braxted Lodge—Tiptree—Maldon. The Chelmer: Thaxted—The Dunmows—Great Waltham—Springfield—Chelmsford—Mersea Island. The Colne: Great Yeldham—Castle Hedingham—Halstead—Colchester. The Stour: Kedington—Sudbury—Flatford and John Constable—Harwich. The Orwell: Stowmarket—Barham—Ipswich. The Deben: Debenham—Woodbridge—Felixstowe. The Alde: Aldborough—Southwold—Halesworth. The Waveney: Diss—Bungay—Mettingham—Beccles—Breydon Water—Horsey Mere. The Bure: Hickling Broads—St. Benet’s Abbey—Salhouse and Wroxham Broads—Hoverton Great Broad—Horning Ferry—Fishing in the Broads. The Yare: Norwich—Yarmouth | 350 |
| On the Wharfe—Bolton Abbey —— Frontispiece. | |
| THE HIGHLAND DEE:— | PAGES |
| Ben Macdhui—The Highland Dee (Map)—Linn of Dee—Linn of Corriemulzie—Lochnagar—Braemar—View from the Old Bridge, Invercauld, Braemar—Balmoral—The Castle—Abergeldie Castle—Ballater—Aberdeen | 1-16 |
| THE TAY:— | |
| Bridge of Tay, Kenmore—The Tay (Map)—“Birks” of Aberfeldy—Aberfeldy, from the West—Bridge of Garry—Birnam, from Birnam Hill—Dunsinane Hill—Scone Palace, Perth—Perth, from the West—Tay Street, Perth—On the Firth of Tay—The New Tay Viaduct, from the South—Dundee, from Broughty Ferry—Dundee—Broughty Ferry Castle | 17-40 |
| THE FORTH:— | |
| Ben and Loch Lomond—The Forth (Map)—“Ellen’s Isle”—The Trossachs and Ben Venue—Old Bridge of Forth, Stirling—Stirling, from Abbey Craig—Alloa Pier—Salmon Fishing near Stirling—Culross, from the Pier—Culross Abbey—Dunfermline—Forth Bridge, from the South-West—Shore Street, Leith—Edinburgh, from the Fife Shore—Portobello—Kirkcaldy, from the South-East—The Bass Rock, from North Berwick—Tantallon Castle, looking East—North Berwick, from the Harbour | 41-71 |
| THE TWEED:— | |
| Berwick-on-Tweed—High Street, Berwick, with the Town Hall—The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick—The Course of the Tweed (Map)—View from the Ramparts, Berwick—Norham Castle—Junction of the Till and the Tweed—Tillmouth House, from the Banks of the Till—Ford Castle—Flodden Field—Twisell Bridge—Junction of the Till and the Glen—The Glen at Coupland—Coldstream Bridge, from up-stream—Ruins of Wark Castle—Kelso, with Rennie’s Bridge—Dryburgh Abbey, from the East—Ruins of Roxburghe Castle—Melrose Abbey, from the South-East—Melrose Abbey: the East Window—Abbotsford—Galashiels—Peebles, from a little below Neidpath—Neidpath Castle—Hart Fell | 72-112 |
| THE COQUET:— | |
| Among the Fells—The Course of the Coquet (Map)—Harbottle—Alwinton Bridge—The Coquet at Farnham—On the Coquet, Brinkburn—At Felton—Morwick Mill, Acklington—Warkworth Castle—The Village of Warkworth—Hunting on Coquetside | 113-128 |
| THE TYNE:— | |
| Keilder Moors (with Peel Fell to the Right)—The Course of the Tyne (Map)—Keilder Castle—Greystead Bridge—Dally Castle—Bellingham Church—Chipchase Castle—Haughton Castle—At Warden—Alston Moor—Featherstone Castle—Featherstone Bridge—Haltwhistle—Haydon Bridge—Hexham Abbey—Prudhoe Castle—Corbridge—Bywell Castle—Newburn—Ovingham—The High-level Bridge at Gateshead—Coal Trimmers—A Coal Staithe—Newcastle-on-Tyne—Quay at Newcastle—Shields Harbour: the High Lights—The River at Tynemouth Castle—Jarrow Church: the Saxon Tower—Tynemouth, from the Sea—Tynemouth, from Cullercoats | 129-172 |
| THE WEAR:— | |
| In Weardale—The Course of the Wear (Map)—Stanhope Bridge—Rogerley—Wolsingham—Harperley—Witton-le-Wear—Bishop Auckland Palace and Park—Willington—Brancepeth Castle—Distant View of Durham—Durham Cathedral and Castle—Chester-le-Street—Distant View of Lambton Castle—Monkwearmouth Church—Looking up the River, Sunderland | 173-193 |
| THE TEES:— | |
| Cross Fell—The Course of the Tees (Map)—High Force—From York Side—Barnard Castle—Barnard Castle: the Town—On the Greta at Rokeby—Junction of the Greta and the Tees—Wycliffe—Gainford Croft—Blackwell Bridge—Yarm—Stockton—High Street, Stockton—Ferryboat Landing, Middlesbrough—Blast Furnaces, from the River, Middlesbrough | 197-220 |
| THE HUMBER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES:— | |
| The Trent, from the Source to Newton Solney.—In the Potteries—The Trent, from the Source to Newton Solney (Map)—Etruria—Josiah Wedgwood—Trentham—Ingestre Hall—Wolseley Bridge—Shugborough—Rugeley, from the Stone Quarry—Cannock Chase, from the Trent—From the Meadows near Alrewas—Armitage—Burton-upon-Trent | 221-237 |
| The Dove.—Dove Head—Map of the Dove—The Monogram at Dove Head—The Banks of the Dove—Ilam Hall—Ashbourne Church—The Straits, Dovedale—John of Gaunt’s Gateway, Tutbury Castle | 240-250 |
| The Trent, from Newton Solney to the Derwent.—Junction of the Trent and the Dove—Repton—The “Crow Trees,” Barrow-on-Trent—The Trent, from Newton Solney to the Derwent (Map)—Trent Locks | 251-256 |
| The Derwent.—Junction of the Derwent and the Trent—The Course of the Derwent (Map)—At Ashopton, Derwentdale—Chatsworth—The “Peacock,” Rowsley—The Terrace, Haddon Hall—Haddon Hall, from the Wye—Derwent Terrace, Matlock—The High Tor, Matlock—Matlock Bath—Markeaton Bridge—Allestree—Derby, from the Long Bridge—Derby, from St. Mary’s Bridge—In the South Gardens, Elvaston | 257-276 |
| The Trent, from the Derwent to the Humber.—Trent Bridge, Nottingham—The Trent, from the Derwent to the Humber (Map)—Nottingham, from the Castle—Newark Castle—Carlton—On the Trent at Gainsborough—Old Sluice Gate at Axholme—Meadow Land at Axholme | 277-290 |
| The Wharfe.—Bolton Bridge—The Course of the Wharfe (Map)—Skipton Castle, from one of the Towers—Ilkley Bridge—The Bridge, Otley—Farnley Hall—Ruins of Harewood Castle—At Tadcaster—Kirkby Wharfe | 292-309 |
| The Ouse.—The Ouse at York—The Course of the Ouse (Map)—Bishopthorpe—Cawood—Selby | 310-317 |
| The Estuary.—Barton-upon-Humber—The Course of the Humber—Queen’s Dock, Hull—Distant View of Great Grimsby | 320-325 |
| THE RIVERS OF THE WASH:— | |
| A Bit of Fen—On the Fens in Winter—Map of the Rivers of the Wash—Lincoln, from Canwick—Lincoln Cathedral from the South-West—Boston Church: the Tower—Northampton—Peterborough—Rockingham Village and Castle—Gateway of the Castle—Stamford—Bedford Bridge—Huntingdon Bridge—Old Bridge, St. Ives—Junction of the Cam and the Ouse—Queen’s Bridge, Cambridge—Ely Cathedral, from the River—Among the Fens | 326-349 |
| THE RIVERS OF EAST ANGLIA:— | |
| A Norfolk Broad—Cadham Hall—Portrait of Samuel Butler—Maldon—Map of the East Anglian Rivers—The Shire Hall, Chelmsford—Mill on the Colne—High Street, Colchester—On the Orwell at Ipswich—Harwich: The Quay—The Beach, Yarmouth—Outward Bound | 350-370 |
We are indebted for the use of Photographs on pages 1, 4, 8, 9, 12, 15, 17, 21, 24, 25, 29, 32, 33, 40, 45, 48, 57, 65, 71, 76, 77, 100, 108, and 109, to Messrs. J. Valentine and Sons, Dundee; on pages 12, 13, 16, 20, 28, 44, 60, 69, 93, 125, 245, 329, and 334, to Messrs. G. W. Wilson and Co., Aberdeen; on pages 53, 73, 74, 92, 96, 105, 193, 205, 217, 250, 300, 316, 317, and 324, to Messrs. Poulton and Son, Lee; on pages 80 and 89, to Mr. T. Scott, Birmingham; on pages 79 and 88, to Mr. T. Foster, Coldstream; on page 85, to Mr. W. Green, Berwick-on-Tweed; on pages 82, 137, and 189, to Mr. H. Piper, Gateshead; on pages 116, 140, 141, 145, 148, 152, 153, and 204, to Mr. J. P. Gibson, Hexham; on pages 120 and 124, to Mr. J. Worsnop, Rothbury; on page 121, to Rev. G. Smith, Bedlington; on pages 145, 200, 208, 209, 211, 213, and 308, to Mr. E. Yeoman, Barnard Castle; on page 150, to Mr. C. C. Hodges, Hexham; on pages 154 and 155, to Messrs. O. M. Lairs and Son, Newcastle-on-Tyne; on pages 181, 184, 189, 265, 269, 277, and 296, to Messrs. Frith and Co., Reigate; on page 212, to Mr. J. W. Cooper, Darlington; on page 224, to Mr. F. Pearson, Basford; on pages 228, 248, 252, 253, 262, 272, 273, 276, 284, and 292, to Mr. R. Keene, Derby; on pages 263 and 264, to Mr. J. W. Hilder, Matlock Bath; on page 288, to Messrs. Allen and Sons, Nottingham; on page 304, to Mr. M. Shuttleworth, Ilkley; on page 336, to Mr. G. A. Nicholls, Stamford; on pages 340 and 341, to Mr. A. Hendrey, Godmanchester; on page 345, to Messrs. Hills and Saunders, Cambridge; on page 353, to Mr. W. W. Gladwin, Maldon; on page 360, to Mr. Gill, Colchester; on pages 350, 357, 360, 361, 364, and 370, to Mr. Payne Jennings, Ashtead.
BEN MACDHUI.
The Source: Larig and Garchary Burns—In the Heart of the Cairngorm Mountains—Ben Macdhui and Braeriach—“A Fery Falgar Place”—A Highland Legend—The Linn of Dee—Byron’s Narrow Escape—The Floods of 1829—Lochnagar and Mary Duff—Influence of the Dee on Byron—Braemar and the Rising of ’15—Corriemulzie and its Linn—Balmoral—The “Birks” of Abergeldie—Their Transplantation by Burns—What is Collimankie?—Ballater: The Slaying of “Brave Brackley”—Craigendarroch—The Reel of Tullich and the Origin Thereof—The Legend of St. Nathdan—Mythological Parallels—The Muich—Morven: The Centre of Highland Song and Legend—Birse—Lunphanan Wood—The Battle of Corrichie—Queen Mary and Sir John Gordon—At Aberdeen.
Among the streams that meet together in the wild south-west of Aberdeenshire to form the Dee, it is not easy to decide which is chief, or where is the fountain, far up the dark mountain-side, where this parent rill has birth. Dismissing minor pretenders, we can at once state that the original is either the Larig or the Garchary Burn. The first is more in the main line of the river, whilst it has also more water; the second rises higher up, and has a longer course before it reaches the meeting-place. Popularly, the source of the stream is a place about the beginning of the Larig, called the Wells of Dee. Here Nature has built a reservoir perfect in every part. The water escapes from this fountain-head in considerable volume, so that it forms a quite satisfactory source, which we may well adopt. Here, then, our journey commences among
We are in the very heart of the Cairngorm Mountains, confronted on every side by all that is most savage and grand in nature—frowning precipices, mist-covered heights, sullen black lochs, an almost total absence of vegetation, an almost unbroken solitude. Here rise Ben Macdhui, Braeriach, and Cairntoul, whose streams, running down—often hurled down—their weather-beaten sides, rapidly increase the volume of our river. Braeriach fronts Ben Macdhui on the other side of the infant Dee. It presents to the view a huge line of precipices, dark and sombre, save when the hand of Winter, powdering them with snow, changes them to masses of glittering white. Even at a good distance away you hear the splash and dash of innumerable waterfalls, caused by the burns leaping the cliffs. If you venture to wander among those wilds you must know your ground well, for however bright the day may be one hour, the next you may be shrouded in mist, or drenched with rain, or battered by hail. The mist, indeed, is rarely absent. You see it clinging round the heights and moving restlessly up and down the hillside like some uneasy and malignant spirit. As you walk you are startled at a huge figure striding along. It requires an effort to recognise a mist-picture of yourself—a sort of Scotch Spectre of the Brocken.
It was of these wild regions that an old Highlander once remarked to Hill Burton that it was “a fery fulgar place, and not fit for a young shentleman to go to at all.” Let us not scorn the ingenuous native; Virgil has said, in the Eclogues (much more elegantly, ’tis true), very much the same thing about very much the same kind of scenery. All our way by Dee will not be among views like this. Indeed, at the mouth are scenes of rich fertility. It is on the fat meadows near Aberdeen that a portion of those innumerable flocks and droves are raised which have so great a reputation in the London market. These are the two extremes, but between them there is every variety of Highland scenery. He who has seen the banks of Dee has seen, as in an epitome or abridgment, all that the north of Scotland has to show. In the midst of variety one thing is constant, whatever landscape you may be passing through: you always have the great hill masses on the horizon. Thus the Dee is a typical Highland river. Even with the sternest parts soft touches are interwoven. Thus take the Lui, which, rising in Ben Macdhui, falls into the Dee at an early point of its course. The lower part of Glen Lui is remarkable for its gentle beauty. The grass is smooth as a lawn, the water of the burn which moves gently along is transparently clear, the regular slope is covered with weeping birches. The perfect solitude of this sweet valley has its own charm, though it be the charm of melancholy. Higher up, nearer Ben Macdhui, in Glen Lui Beg, the scenery is wilder, and the water dashes down more swiftly, as if it longed to be away from its wild source. We must go with it, and bid farewell to Ben Macdhui and the sources of Dee. And for farewell, here is a mountain legend.