BUCHANAN,-DRYMEN. 109 village of Bonhill, in the cemetery of which is a very large ash tree. On the opposite side of the river are seen, in succession, Smollet's monument, the villages of Renton and Alexandria, the houses of Cordale, Bonhillplace, Broomly, and Tillichewn Castle, as stated in a preceding section. Three miles from Bonhill village, pass the road to the ferry of Balloch, which crosses the river near its efflux from Loch Lomond, and from whence a steam boat plies daily through the lake. On the left Balloch Castle, Buchanan; and, at some distance, on a considerable elevation of Nockone hill, is the ruin of Bertruick Castle. A little further on, to the right, Waterstoun, Alston; and, at a short distance, Lochend, Pearston. From different parts of the road, views of Ben Lomond and the loch, with several of its islands, are to be obtained. On the left, 3 miles more, Ross, Buchanan; and 1 mile further, the remains of Kilmaronock Castle, at one time an extensive and magnificent edifice. On the north side of the river Endrick, a beautiful serpentine stream, is seen Buchanan, the mansion of the Duke of Montrose, surrounded with extensive lawns and plantations. This place was originally the seat of the chiefs of the Buchanans, who occupied it as such for more than 700 years; but, like many other properties in Scotland, was alienated from the owners by means not now necessary to scrutinize. Not far from the road, the traveller passes the church of Kilmaronock; and, 2 miles more, crosses the water of Endrick, by Drymen bridge, and soon enters the village of Drymen, where there is an excellent inn. From this the roads to Stirling, Aberfoil, and the Trosachs, and the north side of Loch Lomond, go off; but that to Glasgow returns by the bridge, and takes a southerly course. On the left, pass Spittal, Hamilton, soon after, Endrick Bank, Campbell; and opposite, on the right, Fennich, Leckie. The road now begins to be hilly, with several steep 110 BUCHANAN'S MONUMENT,-KELVIN BRIDGE. pulls. Craglechey on the left. At a short distance is the house of Killearn, Blackburn; and village of that name, in which is situated an elegant obelisk, 103 feet high, erected to the memory of George Buchanan, the Scottish historian and poet. The road passes, for several miles, through a dreary muir called Stockie, where no human habitation is to be seen for several miles. Half way across this muir, about 2 miles to the right of the road, is a curious formation of basaltic rock. The course of the river Endrick displays several falls, one of which is above 90 feet high. At the Spout of Ballagan, an interesting section of the hill is presented, and discovers 192 alternate strata of earth and limestone. Emerging from this muir, but still in situations wild and exposed, are seen on the right, Aucheneen, Wilson; and, on the left, Carbeth, Guthrie. On the hill side, and after descending, Mugdock Castle ruins, and Craigton, Lord Succoth, on the left. One mile more, Balvie, Glassford, and further off, Clober, Stirling. Further on, Mains, Douglas ; and Burnbrae, Douglas. Numerous houses and farm steads on both sides the road. Cross the Kelvin. On the right Carscube, Sir Ilay Campbell; and, on the left, Killermont, Lord Register. Two miles more, on the left, the Kelvin Aqueduct Bridge, a stupendous structure, romantically situated. Along which the Forth and Clyde Canal crosses that river. This aqueduct is formed of four magnificent stone arches, which conduct the water across a ravine of 400 feet in breadth, and more than 80 in depth; and is well worthy the minute inspection of the tourist. For 3 miles more pass several villas, the northern suburbs of Glasgow, and enter that city. CALLANDER. 111 IV. EXCURSION TO LOCH KETTURIN AND THE TROSACHS. It was not our intention, on the present occasion, to have included any sketches of the scenery of Loch Ketturin and the Trosachs; but as most Scottish tourists visit those places, they may be gratified with the concise description given in this section. There are different routes by which a traveller can explore the romantic wonders of the Trosachs, but the most approved is that from the village of Callander, 16 miles west of Stirling, and 37 north of Glasgow, from whence there is a carriage road to Loch Ketturin. Callander is immediately upon the confines of the Highlands, and is beautifully situated upon the banks of the river Teith. Due west, at a short distance, is the stupendous mountain of Ben Ledi, and to the north is the Craig, a long ridge of high rocks; and it is on all sides surrounded with wood. Close to it are the remains of a Roman camp; this situation being the extremity of the conquests of that people, who were prevented from further progress in this direction, by what appeared to them, the inaccessible barriers of the mountains that rise immediately, and in an abrupt manner, west of this place. Indeed, in the present day, the Pass of Leny could, with a few men, be defended against a great army. It is very beauti 112 BRIDGE OE KELTY, BEN LEDI. ful and wild, and being only about 2 miles beyond Callander, is an object well worth a visit. In another direction, north-east from the village, a singular romantic bridge across the river Kelty, should be seen. It crosses a dark and rugged chasm of 100 feet deep, by two projecting rocks, surrounded and overhung by finely variegated copse-wood. The path to it winds along the sides of shelving rocks that hang overhead, while the roaring of a cataract, partly tossed over a broken precipice, falls, at last, in one sheet, into a ravine far below. The gloom and perfect horror of this place is, in general, appalling to the strongest nerves; for a more seemingly hazardous place is hardly to be conceived. 1 Near this is seen a delightful view of the whole vale of Monteith, by Down and Stirling Castles, which form charming objects in the picture. The journey to the Trosachs from Callander, generally occupies a day, so that it is necessary to provide refreshments for it, which are procured at an excellent inn at the west end of the village. The road goes off to the west, and about 3 miles farther, is the lake Venachoir; in approaching which, the scenery begins to assume a new and interesting character. The margin of the lake, is adorned with wood, and has many points of land, which beautify the scenery. On the right, all along, Ben Ledi is seen, with its green summit, from which there is a very extensive prospect, from the borders of England to Inverness-shire, and along the rivers and friths of the Forth and Clyde. Many druidical reliques are to be seen upon and along the base of Ben Ledi, from the sacred point of view in which it was held during the days of Paganism in Scotland. At some distance, is the bridge of Tusk, encompassed with soft and beautiful scenery; and, a little further, Loch Achray, which is very romantic, being closely wooded from the brink of the water, to the top of the almost perpendicular hills that surNear this is a road to Glenfinglas, an round it. TROSACHS,-LOCH KETTURIN. 113 cient deer forest, formerly belonging to the Scottish monarchs. At the first point which runs into Loch Achray, is a distant glimpse of the Trosachs, scattered in wild confusion across the western extremity of the lake. Passing Loch Achray, the traveller enters the first opening of the Trosachs, when to his wondering eye is presented a scene of the utmost magnificence, far surpassing description. But at the second headland, a short way on, the prospect becomes more perfect, extending from Benvenue on the left, to Benean on the right. The fore ground is composed of a small lake, fringed with wood, with the softening intermixture of meadows and corn fields; while the back ground is formed of rugged mountains, and dislocated cliffs, in such diversity of figures, that, with the elegant natural disposition and picturesque effect of the woods, dispersed in every possible point of view, a coup d'œil is exhibited, to which there is probably no parallel; indeed every step discloses new objects of admiration. Upon entering a narrow and dark defile, the further extremity of which opens upon Loch Ketturin, there is a fine echo produced from the concave rocks on the left, which repeats several syllables in a very distinct manner. The stranger, when he arrives on the banks of Loch Ketturin, will instantly be astonished with the magnificent landscape which is exposed before him Nature in her wildest yet most romantic aspect, seems as if she had here collected her every production to render the scenery sublime. Mountains and rocks in wild confusion, but adorned with trees and shrubs of every description growing around, and even to the tops of the highest altitudes, give a wonderful variety of the grand and picturesque to the view. "Crags, knolls, and moulds, confusedly hurl'd, And mountains, that like giants stand, To centinel enchanted land,” |