Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/229

Rh till I came within sight of gigantic mountains indeed, particularly those to the left, from amongst which the Spey issues, to receive the tributary water of Truim. I think I never saw such bare, black, tremendous mountains in any part of Scotland, as those near the junction of the Truim water with the Spey.

Spey bridge is a noble arch of grey stone; and the face of the country around it becomes more smiling than the other part of Badenoch I had passed through. After crossing Spey bridge, the road winds round some noble mountains, and soon ascends to the neat inn at Pitmain, from whence is a fine view of a small lake, formed by the Spey river, called Loch Inch: the vale it is in is tolerably well sprinkled with trees, besides a pretty extensive wood, through which the road advances, still catching the banks of the lovely Spey, until it sweeps round a beautiful craggy mountain, and is lost to the traveller for a few miles. I was sorry to lose sight of this charming river; but I was made some amends by the scene around two small lakes, with the noble crags of Alvie, and the mountains to the right, where I lost the Spey. About half a mile further, by a zig-zag amongst crags and wood, the road sweeps