DUNKELD TO KENMORE, LOCH TAY, AND KILLIN.

This forms a most interesting route through the beautiful valley of Strath-Tay, where nature and art have done their utmost, and lakes, waterfalls, pleasure-grounds, mountains, and forests, all combine to render the scenery delightful. If, when at Lochearnhead, the traveller prefers making this tour onwards to Perth, he has merely to reverse the order of description which follows.

Leaving Dunkeld by the village of Inver, the road takes the south-west bank of the Tay; and on the left hand are passed Dalguise (Stewart), and Glenalbert; then on the right Kinnaird, belonging to the Duke of Atholl. The road now sweeps westward with the bend of the river, and the inn of Balnaguard is passed. Grandtully, an old castle, pointed out by Sir Walter Scott as the prototype of Tullyveolan, is next seen on the left, and then the tourist comes to

Aberfeldy Village. This is a thriving place; and the "Birks of Aberfeldy," with the waterfall, or Falls of Moness, have rendered it famous in song. These falls are a short way south of the village, and are approached by a footpath, through a dark glen or ravine. There are two falls, an upper and a lower. They are thus accurately described by Burns:

"The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream deep-roaring fa's,
O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldy.

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
While o'er the linn the burnie pours,

And rising weets wi' misty showers

The birks of Aberfeldy."

The valley of Strath-Tay now stretches on each side, presenting a picture of fertile fields and rich plantations unequalled in any part of Scotland. Leaving Aberfeldy, on the right, in the distance, is seen Castle Menzies, beautifully situated; and a mile farther, Balfracks House on the left. The beautiful grounds of Taymouth are now entered.

Taymouth Castle is the princely residence of the Marquis of Breadalbane. The ancient seat here was called Balloch Castle; but a modern mansion of splendid dimensions, and of the ancient castellated form, has been erected by the present proprietor.

No expense has been spared in tastefully disposing of the interior; there is a magnificent stair-case and splendid suite of rooms, with a baron's hall of most ample dimensions, and large windows of stained glass. There are also some valuable pictures.

Walks have been formed around the domains and connected by a light chain bridge these are well worthy of a visit; one avenue in particular is completely embowered amid spreading trees, and in the hot summer noon, forms a delicious shady retreat. Around the mansion are lofty wood-covered mountains, among which are eminently conspicuous, Ben Lawers to the west, and still farther to the southward Ben More; Kenmore, and the blue waters of Loch Tay make up the fore-ground. The extent of the Marquis of Breadalbane's property is immense; it stretches from Aberfeldy along the whole county westward to the sea, a distance of 100 miles. A story is told of the late Earl, being on a visit to a Bedfordshire nobleman, who remarked that he wished the Breadalbane estates were in their county; the Highland chieftain contemp

tuously replied that they would need to extend the boundaries of their county before it could contain his lands!

Kenmore is a neat village at the eastern extremity of Loch Tay. Here there is a bridge across the Tay near where that river issues from its parent lake. There is also a good inn now commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding scenery. A little island is here seen tufted with trees, and containing the ruins of a priory, founded by Alexander I., and containing the remains of his queen, who was the daughter of Henry I. of England.

Loch Tay is a beautiful sheet of water, 15 miles in length, and varying from 1 to 2 miles in breadth; it is of a serpentine form. Its banks are beautifully wooded, and Ben Lawers towers majestic on its northern shores. There is a road on each side of the lake. From Kenmore to Killin is 16 miles. The southern road presents the most varied scenery; the north road is best adapted for a carriage. The complete circuit of the lake should however, if possible, be made. The Falls of Achern, a little to the south of Kenmore, will well repay a visit.

On the north side a road leads off to Glenlyon, then the tourist sweeps along the base of Ben Lawers, a mountain 4000 feet high. The margin of Loch Tay is here beautifully wooded and studded with a number of cottages.

Finlarig Castle is near the western extremity; it stands embowered among venerable trees, and was built in 1513 by Sir Colin Campbell, whose family was famed for hospitality.

Killin is a village most beautifully situated on the

western extremity of Loch Tay, on the banks of the small stream Dochart. From an eminence called Stroneclachan, above the manse of Killin, a rich and splendid prospect is obtained, which has been justly eulogised by Pennant. Westward of Killin is Glenlochy, through which winds the stream which gives name to the glen.

From Killin, a road leads through the solitary Glenogle to Lochearn-Head. Half-way to this latter a road strikes off to the west through Glendochart, and hence to Tyndrum, whence the tourist may proceed to Lochawe, or, penetrating farther northwards by Kingshouse, visit the celebrated valley of Glencoe, and join the route of the Caledonian Canal.

We now return to Logierait Inn, on the road from Dunkeld to Blair Atholl, which runs along the north eastern banks of the Tay, and conducts the tourist through this route, which may be reckoned the very centre of the Highlands.

Logierait village is beautifully situated on a point of land where the Tummel joins the river Tay. Bal

linluig village, through which the road passes, is directly opposite, and a narrow ferry divides the two. Logierait was at one period the seat of baronial jurisdiction for the district of Atholl. A splendid view is obtained from an elevated station near the Church.

Moulinearn Inn is passed two miles onward, and about the same distance more, the village of Pitlochrie. Edradoun, belonging to the Duke of Atholl, is seen on the right, where there is a waterfall, and the remains of an ancient circular tower.

Advancing still onwards, the country now begins to assume a more alpine appearance, dark and rugged mountains hemming in the road on each side. Cluny and Fascally are seen on the left; the situation of the latter is singularly beautiful. Following the course of the Tummel, a little way on the left, a waterfall is

seen.

Falls of the Tummel-Loch Rannoch.

Proceedcalled Mount AlexThis was the birthStruan, the Scottish

At the bridge near Fascally a road leads off on the left, to the falls of the Tummel. The stream issuing from the lake of the same name, a little to the westward, precipitates the whole body of its waters over an edge of rock 16 feet high, and of considerable width. A road now leads onward by the north banks of Loch Tummel, richly wooded on each side. Here the lofty mountain Schihallion, 3560 feet in height, is seen in the distance. ing some miles westward, a wooded eminence ander is gained, where there is a good view. place and paternal property of Robertson of poet. The road now enters a valley about 20 miles in length, where Loch Rannoch stretches its blue waters to the length of ten miles, its waved banks varied and relieved by jutting mountains and wooded knolls. The road winds along the south side of the lake, through a succession of woods and numerous seats, to its western extremity, altogether a distance of 32 miles. At the village of George's Town there is a good inn.