Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/204

186 hanging over the noble Lin of Campsie, a very fine fall of the Tay. Under this humble roof lived my best friend, with his excellent mother. At his death it returned to his brother; and is become a neglected, wretched, shaven farm.

Somewhat above Taymount, on the opposite bank of the Tay, the ancient walls of Stubhall rise; belonging to Lord Perth.—The house is in the very old style of building, but the situation of it is very romantic and beautiful.

From Stubhall I proceeded to Mieklour house; it is more like a beautiful English place than any I saw in Scotland. The Tay is there full and deep, and glides on as tamely as any English river.

The woods are extensive; and the hills within sight are not very high. From the front of the mansion is seen, at a distance, Dunsinane Hill (rising from Strathmore), at the top of which Macbeth had a castle; and at the base of it is Dunsinane house, surrounded by wood; though, I believe, Birnam Wood never took root there. From Mieklour house, I perceived a large gap in Dunsinane Hill; and the legend tells, that in his flight, Macduff leaped it; and the prints of his horse's feet, on the rock, are still to be seen.