Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/252

234 side, under the grand sweeping mountains of Red hill, &c.; nothing but the road, the width of a cart between the hills and the lake, and that often on a shelf cut out of the rocks, hanging over the water; with continued patches of alder, birch, whins, and mountain ash; and ash trees bending over the crags to the lake, and creeping up the rugged mountains' sides. Here and there wide channels filled with round loose stones, brought down from the mountains by torrents and burns, in hard rains. The projecting shore on which the grand ruin of Castle Urquhart stands, forms a noble object in the view; and the bold rocks and woods of the southern bank complete this truly sublime scene. I was unable to walk as far as the beginning of Glen Urquhart; but I was told it is a perfect Eden. The fine ruin of the castle of Urquhart, erected by the Cummings, and demolished by King Edward, now belongs to Sir James Grant. It seems the inhabitants of Glen Urquhart are so wedded to it, that not one native has quitted it, nor one foreigner taken up an abode therein, for ninety years. There is also a curious well, of which women drink after childbirth, instead of being churched.

With great regret I turned my back on this