HIGHLANDS OF PERTHSHIRE.

Among all the provinces in Scotland, if an intelligent stranger were asked to describe the most varied and the most beautiful, it is probable he would name the county of Perth. A native, also, of any other district of Caledonia, though his partialities might lead him to prefer his native county in the first instance, would certainly class that of Perth in the second, and thus give its inhabitants a fair right to plead, that-prejudice apart-Perthshire forms the fairest portion of the northern kingdom. It is long since Lady Mary Wortley Montague, with that excellent taste which characterises her writings, expressed her opinion, that the most interesting district of every country, and that which exhibits the varied beauties of natural scenery in greatest perfection, is that where the mountains sink down upon the champaign, or more level land. The most picturesque, if not the highest hills, are also to be found in the county of Perth. The rivers find their way out of the mountainous region by the wildest leaps, and through the most romantic passes connecting the Highlands with the Lowlands. Above, the vegetation of a happier climate and soil is mingled with the magnificent characteristics of mountain-scenery, and woods, groves, and thickets in profusion clothe the base of the hills, ascend up the ravines, and mingle with the precipices. It is in such favoured regions that the traveller finds what the poet Gray, or some one else, has termed, Beauty lying in the lap of Terror.

From the same advantage of situation, this favoured province presents a variety of the most pleasing character. Its lakes, woods, and mountains may vie in beauty with any that the Highland tour exhibits ; while Perthshire contains,

amidst this romantic scenery, and in some places, in connexion with it, many fertile and habitable tracts, which may vie with the richness of merry England herself. The country has also been the scene of many remarkable exploits and events, some of historical importance, others interesting to the poet and romancer, though recorded in popular tradition alone. It was in these vales that the Saxons of the plain, and the Gael of the mountains, had many a desperate and bloody encounter, in which it was frequently impossible to decide the palm of victory between the mailed chivalry of the Low Country, and the plaided clans whom they opposed.-Fair Maid of Perth.

To the Tourist it presents attractions of almost every kind. It is a sort of shifting diorama, in which new scenes remarkable for new beauties continually present themselves to his view, leaving upon his mind the impression that the last is, in some respects, the finest he has yet beheld. Fertility and barrenness, the wildest alpine magnificence, and the most delicious scenes upon which the eye of the lover of natural beauty could desire to rest; the rugged mountain towering in rude majesty, and the sweet glen enlivened with sunshine or curtained with mist; the rich alluvial plains of England contrasting with the glories of Switzerland in a more softened and subdued form; these are the general and prominent features by which it is distinguished.

To the Sportsman it opens a boundless field of amusement in its beautiful streams and its extensive moors, where the grouse, undeterred by the deadly hostility of man, renew their race but only to invite renewed destruction. Feathered game of every description abounds in the upland district of Perthshire, and affords a rich treat to the sportsman. Many of the moors are let to sportsmen, and bring large sums annually. The deer forest of Athole is said to contain 80,000 acres; and the number of the deer in the whole county is estimated at 6000, of which about 100 are annually killed. Harts are destroyed in the months of August and September, and hinds in January, the last month of the From several of the large proprietors having combined to preserve the deer, it is considered that their

season.

ITS MOUNTAINS AND LOCHS.

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number must be greatly upon the increase Salmon is amazingly plentiful, especially in the Tay, and is also found in the tributaries of that river. The fisheries on the Tay alone are understood to bring a rental of £10,000 a year.

Mountains.-Benlawers (the highest), 3992 feet; Benmore, 3903; Stobinian, 3813; Cairn Gower, 3690; Schehallion, 3564; Ben Feskineth, 3521; Benvoirlich, 3300; Farragon, 2584; Benvenue, 2388; Benledi, 2381; Bencleugh (Ochils), 2420; Damyat (Ochils), 1345; Birnam Hill, 1580; Dunsinnane, 1040.

Lochs.-The lochs of Perthshire may be divided into three principal groups-1. Lochs Katrine, Achray, Venachar, Monteith, Ard, Chon, Lubnaig, and Voil, forming a nucleus in the south-western portion of the county, and well known in connection with the scenery of the Trosachs. 2. Lochs Tay, Earn, and Dochart, in the centre of the county. 3. Lochs Tummel, Rannoch, Lydoch, Garry, and Ericht, in the northern part of the county—the last, from their position and inferior features, being much less visited than the other two. In the eastern quarter of the county a minor chain of small lakes extends from near Dunkeld towards Blairgowrie. These are the lochs of the Lowes, Marly, and Clunie.

Rivers. The Tay with its tributaries Lochy and Dochart, Tilt, Bruar, Garry, Tummel, Lyon, Braan, Almond, Ardle, Shee, Ericht, and Isla. The Forth with its tributaries Teith, Allan, and Devon. The Earn with its tributaries Renhill, Ruthven, and Moy.

Principal Towns.- Perth, Culross, Crieff, Callander, Kincardine, Doune, Comrie, Dunblane, Auchterarder, Dunkeld, and Blairgowrie.

Seats and Mansions.* Ardvoirlich (Lochearnhead), Auchlyne (Killin), Moness (Aberfeldy), Taymouth Castle (Kenmore), Marquis of Breadalbane; Dunkeld House and Blair Castle, Duke of Atholl; Scone Palace (Perth) Earl of Mansfield; Kinfauns Castle (Perth) Lord Gray; Doune Lodge, Earl of Murray; Dupplin Castle (Perth) Earl of Kinnoul; Drummond Castle (Crieff) Lord Willoughby

The places within parentheses are the post towns.

D'Eresby; Freeland House (Perth) Lord Ruthven; Rossie Priory (Perth) Lord Kinnaird; Invermay (Perth) Belches; Fingask Castle (Perth) Thriepland, Knt.; Pitfour (Perth) Richardson, Bart.; Moncrieff (Perth) Moncrieffe, Bart.; Belmont Castle (Meigle) Lord Wharncliffe; Blair-Drummond (Stirling) H. Home Drummond; Craighall (Blairgowrie) Rattray; Dunira (Comrie) Dundas, Bart.; Monzie, (Crieff) Campbell; Ochtertyre (Crieff) Murray, Bart.; Aberuchill Castle (Comrie) Campbell, Knt. ; Keir and Kippendavie (Dunblane) Stirling; Castle Menzies (Aberfeldy), Rannoch Lodge, and Foss House, Menzies, Bart.; The Barracks (Rannoch) Rt. Hon. Grandtully; Tulliallan Castle (Kincardine) Count Flahault; Faskally (Pitlochrie) Butter; Murthly Castle (Dunkeld) Stewart, Bart.; Urrard House (Blair Atholl) Hay; Gartmore (Callander) Graham ; Lanrick Castle, (Callander) Jardine; Rednoch House (Callander) Stirling ; Duncrub (Dunning) Lord Rollo; Castle Huntly (Perth) Paterson.

STIRLING.*

The Royal Hotel: The Golden Lion Hotel.

36 miles from Edinburgh, and 293 from Glasgow by the Scottish Central Railway. Five hours' sail from Edinburgh, by steamer from Granton up Firth of Forth. (For this, see end of volume). Population, 12,834.

We take the liberty of supposing that the tourist has found his way to Stirling, now accessible from all parts of Scotland by the Scottish Central Railway and by the steamers on the Forth. The remarkable resemblance in general outline of Stirling to Edinburgh immediately strikes the stranger who may have just left the capital of Scotland. Stirling is, indeed, a very perfect relic of the manner in which the Scots of old built their towns when they found ground of a suitable character. On a rock, precipitous on one side, they would raise the acropolis or castle, building the town in one sloping street downwards, so as to be under its protection.

Although this town is not in the county of Perth, it is placed here as the most convenient point from which the tourist can enter the county, especially with the view of making the tour of the Trosachs.