endowed by Menzies of Pitfodels, is seen on the left. In its vicinity the churches of Mary Culter and Peter Culter front each other the former on the south, the latter on the north side of the river. A little farther on, the line is carried across the burn of Culter, its banks steep and wooded, being the first specimen of picturesquely broken ground which the tourist passes. On the lands of Old Culter, and near the line [9 m.] are the very slender remains of a Roman camp, called Norman Dikes (supposed to be a corruption of Roman Dikes, a minute account of which is given in Chalmers' Caledonia), and supposed by some to be the site of the Roman town and station of Devana. In a wooded elevation to the north-east of Norman Dikes there is an oblong space, enclosed by a rampart, which, from its irregular construction, appears to be of British origin. It is called Kemp (viz. Camp) Hill.† Drum House or Castle (Alex. Irvine, Esq.) [10 m.], is situated on a hill slope among scattered forest trees. The most remarkable part of the building is the old keep or donjon, a massive square tower, with rounded corners. The walls are twelve feet thick, and thus, though the outside circumference is considerable, the interior merely consists of a small gloomy vaulted chamber in each floor. The family of Drum is of considerable antiquity, and great fame in local history. It is the subject of a multitude of traditions, the more striking of which concern the great battle of Harlaw, and a long deadly feud * The remains can scarcely be said to exist now, as in the course of agricultural improvements they have been nearly levelled by the plough, and a very tolerable crop of wheat may be seen waving on their site. The old well, said to have been connected with the camp, is still used by the neighbouring cottagers. It is half built in by a dry stone wall. Apropos to this subject, it may be mentioned that the antiquary will find, a few miles to the north-west, in the vicinity of Skene, one of the most remarkable fortified remains in existence. It consists of five concentric ramparts of stone, enclosing the summit of a steep conical hill, which, in reference to these works, is called the Barmekyne (viz. Barbican) of Echt. The outside ring is nearly a mile in circumference, and the inmost incloses about an acre of level land. After toiling up the steep ascent which leads to it, one is astonished by the traces of the mechanical skill, energy, and patience, which must have been combined in the construction of works so gigantic on such a spot. The whole of this neighbourhood bears traces of ancient and long-forgotten conflict. There are many minor fortifications and camps, and the peasantry frequently turn up flint spear and arrow heads of exquisite proportion and finish, remnants of an ancient and partial civilization, that must have passed away long before the commencement of Scottish history. with the Keith family. The House of Durris (Alex. W. Mactier, Esq.) is on the south bank of the river, eleven miles from Aberdeen, and a little farther on is the Kirk of Durris, (pronounced Dores). On the north side of the Dee, is Park House (A. Kinloch, Esq.) Crathes Castle (Sir Jas. Horne Burnett of Leys, Bart.) [15 m.] looks forth on the right from a sloping mass of thick woodland, and is one of those old Flemish buildings, which rises as it were from solid root and stem, into a cluster of varied picturesque turrets, chimneys, and peaked gables. There are some modern additions out of keeping. Here, as at Drum, there is abundant traditionary lore, both in prose and song. We now reach [18 m.] the village of Banchory Ternan, or UPPER BANCHORY. [Inn: The Burnett Arms.] A new Gothic church, in good taste, terminates the steep bank of the river, along which the straggling village is built. The Dee is here joined by the Feugh,* an angry moss-stained stream, which comes thundering down from the mountains. Looking up in the direction whence this stream runs, the traveller will see the broken outline of the hills from which its waters are supplied, and towering above the others is the characteristic summit of Clach-na-bein, with a great stone like a gigantic wart projecting from its brow. Four miles north from Banchory is the Hill of Fare, wide and flat, and not very elevated, presenting little attraction to the searcher after the romantic. A hollow on the south side, however, is not unfrequently visited, from its being the battlefield of Corrichie, where Moray and Huntly fought in 1562, *If the course of the Feugh be followed upwards, the traveller will find, after passing the picturesque villas of "Feugh Cottage," and "Inverey House," the water subsiding into a gentle stream, abounding in trout and occasionally salmon. Four miles westward are the church and village of Strachan, and beyond Strachan, the valley expands into a wide and well cultivated district-the Feugh here receiving the water of Avon, also noted for its fishing, as a tributary stream. At the western extremity of this valley, finely situated and commanding an extensive prospect of it and of the Grampians, is the ancient mansion of Farquharson of Finzean, a family who have held the property for several centuries. The house and extensive woodlands adjoining have been greatly improved by the present proprietor (Francis Farquharson, Esq.) under the eye of Queen Mary. A small fountain near the spot is called Queen Mary's well. In a densely wooded recess at a considerable distance on the northern declivity of this hill rises an oriental-looking cluster of turrets, forming the mansion or castle of Midmar. Little more than a mile beyond Banchory, on the south bank (left hand), is the modern castellated mansion of Blackhall (Colonel Campbell), with a long wide avenue of large trees. On the north bank is Inchmarlo (P. Davidson, Esq.) About a mile further on is Woodend Cottage, peeping from a plantation sloping to the Dee. At the Brig of Potarch, the old south and north road, still used by drovers, crosses to the Cairn o' Mont, Fettercairn, and Brechin, and the Dee is here hurried between two rocks, which leave a space only of twenty feet for its ample waters. The village of KINCARDINE O'NEIL [26 m.]-[Inn: The Gordon Arms]-is frequented in summer by invalids, on account of its pure and bracing air. On the right hand, about half a mile to the north, are Kincardine Lodge (Francis Gordon, Esq.), and a mile beyond, Desswood House (Alexander Davidson, Esq.) A little beyond this, the parliamentary road to Alford and Huntly by Lumphanan, strikes off to the right,* and here the road crosses a stream, on which a few hundred yards up will be found a small cataract, called the Slog of Dess. * If the traveller be of an antiquarian turn, he may follow this road for somewhat more than a mile, until it is joined by the Raemoir and Lumphanan turnpike, and, proceeding along the latter, he will find various sources of gratification, the locality being connected with one of the most remarkable incidents in Scottish history. A little way on he will find an instructive monument of antiquity, in the remains of a fortification called the Peel-ring, or the Peel-bog, on the property of Mr. Farquharson of Finzean. This is undoubtedly one of the most perfect examples, which time has spared to us, of the fortifications of the 13th or 14th century. The circular earthen mound, rising nearly 15 feet above the adjoining level, and about 40 yards in diameter, is surrounded, at a distance of upwards of 20 feet, by an earthen dyke about 6 feet in height, and 10 or 12 in thickness. The object of the outer circumvallation was evidently to retain the water of the fosse or ditch which encircled the mound whereon the castle was raised. The fosse was supplied from the burn of Lumphanan, and the course for the water may still be traced. To many, however, more interesting relics may be found in Macbeth's stone and Macbeth's cairn. On the farm of Cairnbathy, is the brae of Strettum, where Macbeth, according to tradition, was wounded; and "Macbeth's stone" remains to commemorate the event. Proceeding eastward, the traveller passes the church and manse of Lumphanan, and, diverging by the first road northward, with Glenmillan (Robert Smith, Esq.), on the right, he will find "Macbeth's Cairn," on the Perkhill, about a mile distant, |