675. CRIFFEL is an isolated mountain ridge, about 6 miles long, overhanging the Solway at the influx of the Nith. Its highest point, situated 3 miles south of Newabbey, has an altitude of 1830 feet above the level of the sea, and commands a map-like view of the Solway's basin, with perspectives, in clear weather, to the mountains of North Wales, of the north of Ireland, and of the island of Arran. Its rocks are crystalline, but of many varieties, with striking phenomena, and offer a good study to the geologist.

crown; and the heart of the foundress's husband having been sepultured with her own body near the high altar, the pile was long designated Sweetheart Abbey. The walls of the church-a cruciform structure, 194 feet from east to west, 102 feet from north to south, surmounted by a tower 90 feet high-are still tolerably entire, and show interesting features. A ruined, ivy-clad, square tower, which was used as an occasional residence by the abbots, and bears the name of the Abbots' Tower, stands half a mile distant, on the farm of Landis. A granite column, 50 feet high, built in 1817 in 676. KIRKBEAN is a small, but very honour of the Duke of Wellington and pretty sea-side village, and has a post his army, stands on the neighbouring office under Dumfries, and a parish hill of Glen, at an elevation of about 400 | church with a handsome cupola-crowned feet above the level of the sea. Loch Kinder, 1 mile south of the village, measures 3 miles in circuit, contains two islets, and abounds with different kinds of excellent trout. Sham belly House, the seat of William Stewart, Esq.; and Kinharvey, a large, embellished shooting-lodge of Mr. Maxwell of Terregles, are in the vicinity.

ern.

tower. Cavens, the seat of Alexander Oswald, Esq., and Arbigland, the seat of General Balfour, both ornamental edi fices, are situated 6 and 12 furlongs to the south. A residence of the Regent Morton stood at Cavens, but has disappeared. Remains of an ancient castellated house stand at Wreaths.

LIII.-FROM DUMFRIES TO PORT-PATRICK.

By railway from the Dumfries Station of the Glasgow and South-WestOnly the part of the railway to Castle Douglas is yet in operation; but the parts thence to Port-Patrick have been in progress since the beginning of 1859, and are going vigorously forward. We have been favoured by the engineers, Messrs. B. and E. Blyth, with a delineation of the railway's course, and with a note of the stations on it, in so far as these have yet been determined on; and we shall here trace the whole, in prospect of its soon

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677. KIRKPATRICK-IRONGRAY | surrounding parish. An ancient peel parish, lying along the lower part of tower, on its west side, stands in a state Cluden Water, contains, on Old Water, of excellent preservation. A hill, about the romantic chasm and waterfall of 1 mile to the east, is crowned by a Routing Bridge; contains also the ele- Druidical circle, and commands an exgant recent mansion of Grove, built by tensive view. Lochfoot village, at the Wellwood Maxwell, Esq., after a design foot of the lake, has a post office under by Rickman; enjoyed the ministry of Dumfries, and about 140 inhabitants. John Welsh, the great-grandson of John Merkland Spa, in the vicinity, of chalyKnox; gave much shelter to the Covenan- beate quality, was formerly in high reters during the times of the persecution, pute, and still draws some visitors. and contains the graves of two of them, Crocketford village, 44 miles to the west, hanged near its church, 4 miles west- has a post office under Dumfries, and north-west of Dumfries; and was the about 350 inhabitants. birth-place of Helen Walker, the original of Sir Walter Scott's Jeanie Deans in his "Heart of Mid-Lothian," and contains a monumental stone to her memory, with an inscription by Sir Walter himself. Terregles House, the seat of M. C. Maxwell, Esq., the representative of the Earls of Nithsdale, 1 mile south-east of Kirkpatrick-Irongray Church, is a large and elegant mansion, in full view of a great expanse of the valley of the Nith.

678. LOCHRUTTON, 6 miles westsouth-west of Dumfries, is a lake of 3 miles in circuit, giving its name to a

679. KIRKGUNZEON village, 14 mile west of Kirkgunzeon Station, has a post office under Dumfries, and a parish church. One ruined castle of Lord Herries, who figured conspicuously in the time of Queen Mary, stands at Corrah, in the southern vicinity of the village; another stands at Barclosh, 2 miles further south; and a third old castle, a Druidical circle, and several ancient camps, are in the neighbourhood.

680. DALBEATTIE, adjacent to the station, on a burn, near the left side of Urr Water, is a small seat of commerce

URR WATER-THRIEVE CASTLE.

and manufactures, founded in 1780. It contains a post office under Castle Douglas, an office of the Union Bank, a public reading-room, a mechanics' institution, three places of worship, and two chief inns, the King's Arms and the Maxwell Arms. Its population in 1851 was 1551. The parts of the coast nearest it, within the parish of Colvend, formerly were rife with bold smuggling scenes, and are believed to have furnished Sir Walter Scott with some of the chief incidents of his novel of " Guy Mannering."

681. URR WATER issues from Loch Urr, 4 miles south of Minniehive, and runs 24 miles southward to the Solway Frith, midway between the estuaries of the Nith and the Dee. Its course, for a number of miles, is overhung by wild pastoral uplands, but afterwards lies along a narrow vale with tumulated screens. Loch Urr measures 3 miles in circuit, and contains very large trout, and some enormous pike. An islet in it was the site of a Caledonian town, and contains some ruins of a very strong baronial castle. Urr Water is well frequented by salmon and by sea-trout, but has suffered great havoc by poachers. The Moat of Urr, on the left bank of the stream, 3 miles north of Dalbeattie, is an artificial mound of successive concentric terraces, used in the feudal times as a seat of justice,—probably the largest antiquity of its class in Scotland; and was formerly surrounded by outworks, which are supposed to have been constructed by the Romans. The parish church of Urr; the village of Haugh of Urr, with a post office under Dumfries; and the mansion of Spottes Hall, the seat of William Young Herries, Esq., are in the vicinity of the Moat.

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they sufficiently show it to have been both large and strong. A vitrified fort occurs on a hill of Castlegower farm, 2 miles to the west.

683. CASTLE DOUGLAS stands on a gentle acclivity rising from the northwest side of Carlinwark Loch-a lake three quarters of a mile in length, studded with pretty islets. The town took its present name in 1792, in allusion to the Castle of Thrieve; and was previously called Carlinwark. Its streets are laid out on a regular plan; its edifices are good; and its general appearance is neat, airy, and pleasant. It has a Town Hall with a tower, a key post office, three banking offices, a weekly market, several great annual fairs, a chief inn, called the Commercial, a subscription library, a mechanics' institute, a burgh school, and three places of worship. Its population in 1851 was 1992. Carlinwark House, the seat of Captain Stodart, R.E., is in the vicinity; Greenlaw, the seat of William Gordon, Esq., is 1 mile to the north; and Gelston Castle, a modern mansion, built by the late Sir William Douglas, is 2 miles to the south-southeast. The famous large gun, called Mons Meg, preserved in Edinburgh Castle, is believed to have been made at Buchan's-Croft, in the neighbourhood of Castle Douglas.

684. THRIEVE CASTLE, on an islet in the Dee, 13 mile west of Castle Douglas, occupies the site of a very ancient fortalice of the petty kings of Galloway; was built by one of the Earls of Douglas as a palace-fort for maintaining their power in the south-west of Scotland; witnessed many a scene of cruelty during the period of their sway; passed afterwards to the Maxwells, who became Earls of Niths682. BUITTLE CASTLE, adjacent to dale; and was garrisoned in the cause of the railway, 1 mile west of Dalbeattie, the Crown during the troublous times was the favourite residence of John of Charles I. A large square tower of Baliol, and belonged successively to the it, of great strength, and part of an Baliols, the Comyns, the Douglases, and encompassing wall, with one entire tower the Caillie branch of the Lennoxes. Only and ruins of two others, are still standvaults and ditches of it now remain; but ing. Balmaghie House, about 23 miles to,

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CROSSMICHAEL-NEW GALLOWAY.

from the backbone of the Southern Highlands, and traverse an upland region; while the main stream runs along a plea

the north, the seat of T. D. Gordon, Esq., | fluence 20 miles southward to the Solway is an old mansion of different dates. Bal- Frith, at the mouth of Kirkcudbright maghie church-yard, 12 mile further | Bay. The two head-streams descend north, contains the grave-stones of three martyrs of the Covenant. Duchrae House, still further north, built in 1824, by John Cunninghame, Esq., is a hand-sant vale through a rolling country of some edifice in the old English style. Lochenbreck, 5 miles west of Balmaghie Church, has a strong chalybeate spa of considerable repute, and an inn for the accommodation of visitors. The Rev. John Macmillan, the founder of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, was minister of Balmaghie.

swells and hills. The Ken expands for 5 miles to lacustrine width, under the name of Loch Ken, to the vicinity of the confluence with the Black Dee; and the main stream expands, within its first 5 miles, into the widths of Loch Dee and Long Loch. The river, in a general view, contains salmon, sea-trout, 685. CROSSMICHAEL village, on the river-trout, pike, and perch; while a Dee, adjacent to the Station, has a post number of lakes in its basin are also office under Castle Douglas, an inn called rich in fish; and one of them, called Loch the Thistle, a parish church, and about Grannoch, 10 miles west of Parton, 250 inhabitants. A hill in the south-abounds with char. The salmon of the eastern vicinity, overlooking the railway Dee are darker and much fatter than and the Dee, is crowned by a very beau- those of most rivers in the south of Scottiful oval camp. Three lakes, within 13 land; and so plentiful as to have yielded mile on the north-east, abound with pike a rental of £700. A pike was caught in and perch. The village of Kirkpatrick- Loch Ken, with rod and fly, of so monDurham, 5 miles to the east-north-east, strous a size that the head of it, which is has a post office under Dumfries, a parish preserved in Kenmure Castle, weighed church, and about 500 inhabitants. 72 pounds.

686. PARTON village, on the Dee, adjacent to the station, is a small place, with a post office under Castle Douglas, and a parish church. The tract of country to the north of it embosoms grand scenery of glen and mountain, lake and brae, and is the subject of a descriptive poem by the late Mr. Gil- | lespie of Kells. Two artificial mounds, engirt by ditches, occur in the vicinity of the village; and the ruin of an old tower, the residence of Robert Nelson of Corsock, who figured prominently among the persecuted Covenanters, stands 5 miles to the north-east.

688. NEW GALLOWAY stands on the right side of Ken Water, threequarters of a mile above the head of Loch Ken, 4 miles north by west of New Galloway Station. It has the rank of a royal burgh, grouped in the franchise with Wigton and Stranraer, but is practically a mere village. It contains a court-house with a spire, a post office under Castle Douglas, a banking office, and two inns-the Kenmure Arms and the Cross Keys. Its population in 1851 was 447. Kenmure Castle, the seat of the Hon. Mrs. B. Gordon, formerly the seat of the Viscounts Kenmure, stands three687. DEE WATER is formed, in the quarters of a mile to the south, on a vicinity of the railway viaduct, a mile circular, isolated mound at the head of west of Parton, by the confluence of the Loch Ken; and is a very ancient strucKen and the Black Dee. The Ken comes ture, of different dates, in different styles, to the confluence 22 miles from the north; all castellated and of venerable appearthe Black Dee, 18 miles from the north-ance, on the site of a pristine fortalice of west; and the Dee goes from the con- the petty kings of Galloway. The title

GATEHOUSE-OF-FLEET-CREETOWN.

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of Viscount Kenmure was acquired in | Samuel Rutherford, stands a little to the 1633, by the Gordons of Lochinvar, and south-west; and a granite obelisk to his became dormant at the death of the ninth memory, 56 feet high, erected in 1842, Viscount in 1847. Kells Church, a neat stands on a neighbouring hill. Cardoedifice of 1822, stands half a mile north ness House, the seat of Sir D. Maxof New Galloway; and Glenlee Park, well, Bart., stands 2 miles south of Anthe seat of Wellwood Maxwell, Esq.; Gar- woth Church; and Cardoness Castle, roch, the seat of H. M'Connel, Esq.; a tall, ancient tower, last inhabited by and Knocknelling, the seat of John L. Sir Godfrey M'Culloch, who was exeKennedy, Esq., stand from 2 to 5 miles cuted in 1697 for murder, stands a mile further up. Balmaclellan and Dalry, two south of Gatehouse. Rusco Castle, once small church villages, stand on the left side a seat of the Viscounts Kenmure, is 2 miles of Ken Water, 13 mile and 3 miles above to the north. Anwoth and the Fleet are New Galloway. Dalry was the cradle of sung in the "Lays of the Kirk and Cothe great rising of the Covenanters which venant." The Fleet has a total course terminated on the field of Rullion Green; southward of about 14 miles; and, exand Lochinvar, a lake of 3 miles in cir- cept for expanding below Cally into a cuit, 3 miles north-east of Dalry, con- fine bay, is an insignificant stream. Sal tains vestiges of the ancient baronial mon and sea-trout used to frequent it, fortalice of the knights of Lochinvar, the but cannot now ascend beyond Gateancestors of the Viscounts Kenmure. house.

690. CREETOWN stands on the estuary of the Cree, 14 mile south of Creetown Station. It consists chiefly of modern houses, with a large amount of orchard and garden. It has a post office under Dumfries, a town-hall, a subscription library, and an inn called the Barholm Arms. Its population in 1851 was 1303. The parish church of Kirkmabreck stands in its eastern neighbourhood; and an extensive quarry of excellent granite, whence the stones are sent for the new docks at Liverpool, is worked on the glebe. Dr. Thomas Brown, the distinguished professor of moral philosophy in Edinburgh, was born in Kirkmabreck manse, and interred in the old

689. GATEHOUSE-OF-FLEET stands on Fleet Water, 8 miles north-west of Kirkcudbright, on the road thence to Newton-Stewart; but is 6 miles south of the nearest point of the railway. It comprises Gatehouse proper on the left bank of the Fleet, and the suburb of Anwoth on the right bank. Its environs are picturesque. Its site was occupied, so late as about the middle of last century, by only one house; and that, being at the gate of the avenue to the mansion of Cally, was the "Gatehouse-of-Fleet." The town rose rapidly, and made brilliant display of manufacturing and commercial enterprise, but suddenly received a shock, and has for forty-seven years been nearly stationary. Its streets are re-church-yard. Barholm House, the seat gularly planned and neatly edificed. It has of Captain George Grant, stands a little a handsome bridge, a neat Establishment north of the town; and Kirkdale, the Church, two other places of worship, a seat of Major J. R. Hannay, stands 4 post office under Dumfries, two banking miles to the south. The sea-board, all offices, a public news-room, and a pub- along the estuary, is picturesque; and lic library. Its population in 1851 was some parts of the coast, especially oppo1750. Cally House, in the southern vici- site Ravenshall, are pierced with curious nity, the seat of H. G. M. Stewart, Esq., caves, and contest, with the shores round is an elegant granite edifice, after a de- Nith Mouth, the credit of being the sign by Adam. Anwoth Church, the theatre of Sir Walter Scott's novel of scene of the ministry of the famous" Guy Mannering." Cairnharrow Hill,