SIXTH TOUR.

STIRLING—DOUNE—CALLANDER—THE TROSACHS—LOCH KATRINE

LOCH LOMOND.

There are two roads which lead from Stirling to Doune, the first stage on the way to Loch Katrine: one crosses the Forth hy Stirling Bridge, and proceeds along the east bank of the Teith, passing, in succession, the beautiful village of Bridge of Allan, and the neat parish church o Lecropt, built in the Gothic style; the other, proceeding up the valley of the Forth, passes the House of Craigforth, (Callander, Esq.,) and, two miles from Stirling, crosses the river at the Bridge of Drip. At the distance of about four miles from Stirling, the road passes Ochtertyre, (Dundas, Esq.,) once the residence of Mr. J. Ramsay, the friend of Blacklock, of Burns, and of Scott; a mile and a half farther on, the road passes the mansion of Blair Drummond, (Home Drummond, Esq.,) embosomed in fine woods and plantations. About sixty or seventy years ago, the late Lord Kames became proprietor of this estate, and commenced that series of operations, by which what was once a bleak marsh has been turned into rich corn fields. The road now crosses the Teith, by a fine old bridge built by Robert Spittal, tailor to Queen Margaret, widow of James IV., and, about nine miles from Stirling, enters the village of

Just before crossing the bridge, and on the left hand, are Deanston Works, one of the most extensive cotton factories in Scotland. The village of Doune was, in former times, celebrated for the manufacture of Highland pistols. The ruins of Doune Castle, a massive and extensive for. tress, supposed to have been built about the fourteenth

century, are situated on the point of a steep and narrow green bank, washed on one side by the Teith, and on the other by the Ardoch. It was anciently the seat of the Earls of Menteith, but, about the beginning of the fifteenth century, it was forfeited to the Crown, and became the favourite residence of the two successive Dukes of Albany, who governed Scotland during the captivity of James I.; Queen Margaret, and the unfortunate Queen Mary, are also said frequently to have resided in this fortress. It was held for Prince Charles during the rebellion of 745, and here he disposed his prisoners taken at Falkirk, and, among the rest, the author of the tragedy of Douglas.* Doune Castle has long been the

*"This noble ruin," says Sir Walter Scott, "holds a commanding station on the banks of the river Teith, and has been one of the largest castles in Scotland. Murdock, Duke of Albany, the founder of this stately pile, was beheaded on the Castlehill of Stirling, from which he might see the towers of Doune, the monument of his fallen greatness. In 1745-6, a garrison, on the part of the Chevalier, was put into the castle, then less ruinous than at present. It was commanded by Mr. Stewart of Balloch, as governor for Prince Charles; he was a man of property, near Callander. This castle became, at that time, the actual scene of a romantic escape made by John Home, the author of Douglas, and some other prisoners, who, having been taken at the battle of Falkirk, were confined there by the insurgents. The poet, who had, in his own mind, a large stock of that romantic and enthusiastic spirit of adventure which he has described as animating the youthful hero of his drama, devised and undertook the perilous enterprise of escaping from his prison. He inspired his companions with his sentiments, and when every attempt at open force was deemed hopeless, they resolved to twist their bed-clothes into ropes, and thus to descend. Four persons, with Home himself, reached the ground in safety. But the rope broke with the fifth, who was a tall, lusty man. The sixth was Thomas Barrow, a brave young Englishman, a particular friend of Home's. Determined to take the risk, even in such unfavourable circumstances, Barrow committed himself to the broken rope, slid down on it as far as it could assist him, and then let himself drop. His friends beneath succeeded in breaking his fall. Nevertheless, he dislocated his ankle, and had several of his ribs broken. His companions, however, were able to bear him off in safety. The Highlanders next morning sought for their prisoners with great activity. An old gentleman told the author, he remembered seeing the commander Stewart,

'Bloody with spurring, fiery red with haste,'

riding furiously through the country in quest of the fugitives."—Note, Waverley, vol. ii., pp. 81, 82.

property of the Earls of Moray, who derive from it their second title of Lord Doune. About a mile to the northwest, the Earl of Moray has a mansion named Doune Lodge, formerly designated Cambus-Wallace, when it was the property of the Edmonstones. At the distance of three miles from Doune, on the opposite side of the river, is Lanrick Castle, the seat of Sir Evan Murray M'Gregor, chieftain of Clan-Gregor, and three miles farther on is Cambusmore, (A. Buchanan, Esq.,) where Sir Walter Scott, in his juvenile days, spent some months, for several summers.* The village of

CALLANDER,

sixteen miles from Stirling, is situated at the foot of the chain of mountains which forms the Highland boundary. It is a neat and regular modern village, with a comfortable inn. Although not within the boundary of the Highlands, "yet, from having been so long in the near

* He has given a striking sketch of the most interesting objects on this route, in his description of Fitz-James's ride, after the combat with Roderick Dhu :

'They dash'd that rapid torrent through,

And up Carhonie's hill they flew ;
Still at the gallop prick'd the knight,
His merry-men follow'd as they might.
Along thy banks, swift Teith! they ride,
And in the race they mock thy tide;
Torry and Lendrick now are past,
And Deanstown lies behind them cast;
They rise, the banner'd towers of Doune,
They sink in distant woodland soon;
Blair-Drummond sees the hoofs strike fire,
They sweep like breeze through Ochtertyre;
They mark just glance and disappear
The lofty brow of ancient Kier;

They bathe their courser's sweltering sides,
Dark Forth! amid thy sluggish tides,
And on the opposing shore take ground,

With plash, with scramble, and with bound.
Right-hand they leave thy cliffs, Craig-Forth!
And soon the bulwark of the North,

Grey Stirling, with her towers and town,
Upon their fleet career look'd down."

Lady of the Lake, c. v., st. 18.

neighbourhood, it has caught much of the very best part of the Highland character. Few hills out of the Highlands—if, indeed, they be out of it—exhibit bolder bosoms of wooded crag and pastoral enclosure, than those which overhang the village, securing it from the blasts of the east and the north, and receding in grand perspective far back in the sky."* To the westward two little rivers, issuing respectively from Loch Lubnaig and Loch Venachar, unite and form the Teith. At the east end of the village there is a neat villa, the property of Lady Willoughby D'Eresby. The Falls of Bracklinn,