ROSENEATH. 247 TENTH DIVISION. THE CLYDE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS. THIS district comprehends the right side of the basin of the Clyde from Helensburgh to the Atlantic. Its surface is an assemblage of mountain, glen, island, and peninsula, interlocked with the arms of the Frith, or cut by tributary streams. Its surface generally is mountainous, but has many amenities of wood and vale, and presents, upon a large aggregate of its water margins, a glittering display of human dwellings. Its scenery is rich; its shores, in numerous parts, are well-frequented watering-places; nearly all its navigable recesses are constantly plied by steamers from Glasgow and Greenock; and some of its sea lochs, glens, and isthmuses, lie on the routes from these towns to the Western Highlands. 730. ROSENEATH is a peninsula, 8 | latter part of the 15th century, to the miles long, and from 1 mile to 2 miles broad, extending south-eastward between Gairloch and Loch Long. Its upper and middle districts, to the extent of 6 miles, are chiefly a tabular ridge, culminating on Tamnahara at an altitude of about 800 feet above the level of the sea, and commanding magnificent views. Its lower or south-eastern district is a mixture of dingle, swell, and slope, profusely garnished with wood, containing the ducal park of Roseneath, and gemmed on the shores with the watering villages of Roseneath, Kilcreggan, and Cove. The peninsula belonged, till the Earls of Lennox, and then passed to the noble family of Argyle. An ancient fortalice on its north-east side, 13 mile from the point, was refitted in 1630 as a noble residence by the Marquis of Argyle, and destroyed by accidental fire in 1802. A new palace was founded next year, on a neighbouring spot, after a design by J. Bononi of London. This edifice is in a mixed style of Italian, Roman, and Gothic, with grand Ionic portico and central circular tower; and its offices are constructed to harmonize with it, and make, in some views, a more showy appearance than itself. The surround 248 GAIRLOCH--GAIRLOCHHEAD. ing park abounds in embellishments, | clad in wood and garden, with profuse and is partially accessible to the public. aspersion of elegant villas. It has a Roseneath village stands adjacent, on post office under Helensburgh, a steamGairloch; consists chiefly of scattered boat quay, and an elegant parochial houses, including some elegant villas; and church, of 1850, with a lofty and very has a post office under Helensburgh, a beautiful tower. Its winter population neat Gothic Parochial Church of 1853, is about 350. A plain, disused church and a Free Church. Sir William Wal- stands adjacent to the new one; and the lace is said to have captured and fired the grave and monument of Henry Bell, the ancient fortalice of Roseneath, and then originator of steam navigation, are in to have fled on horseback, making a the church-yard. Ardincaple Castle, the bound over a cliff which still bears the residence of the Duchess Dowager of name of Wallace's Leap. The persecuted Argyle, midway between Row and Covenanters, with even Balfour of Bur- Helensburgh, is chiefly a somewhat ley, found shelter on the peninsula, under modern edifice, but partly very ancient, the friendly Earl of Argyle; and old perhaps as old as the early portion of the David Deans and his daughter Jeanie 12th century. are represented, in the "Heart of MidLothian," as coming hither to repose at the end of their troubles. 731. GAIRLOCH strikes north-westward to within 1 mile of Loch Long. Its length is 7 miles; its average breadth about a mile. Its scenery is variously beautiful, picturesque, and grand. Its mouth looks away to the wooded swells of Ardmore and Erskine; its sides are fringed with villas, mansions, and woods, overhung by pleasant hills; and its head has a near background of broken steeps and massive mountains. The loch affords excellent anchorage for all kinds of vessels, with perfect shelter. Campsaile Bay, on its Roseneath side, 11⁄2 mile from the Castle Point, is probably the best anchoring ground in the west of Scotland; and bore on its bosom, during a night of 1848, the royal yacht with the Royal Family on board. 733. SHANDON, 23 miles north-west of Row, contains a Free Church, a cluster of cottages, Walter Buchanan, Esq.'s Scottish baronial residence of Shandon Lodge, and Robert Napier, Esq.'s magnificent new Tudor mansion of West Shandon. An ancient fortalice, now nearly effaced, gave rise to the name Shandon, which signifies "the old fort;" and an ancient castle of the Earls of Lennox, now represented by only a grassy mound, stood at Faslane, a little to the north-west. 734. GAIRLOCHHEAD village stands dispersedly round the head of Gairloch; includes a number of villas and ornate cottages; and has a post office under Helensburgh, a steamboat quay, an excellent inn, and a parish church. Its winter population is about 300. Whistlefield, at the crown of the ridge between Gairlochhead and Loch-Long, has a small hostelry, and commands a unique and very striking view of Gairloch, Loch 732. ROW is a charming village, on a small bight, embowered among wood and environed by slopes and braes, all | Long, and Loch Goil. |