PHOTOGIIAPHS OF ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH SCENERY. BY G. W. WILSON, ABERDEEN. TROSSACHS AND LOCH KATRINE. 12 VIEWS. J^ONDON : PUBLISHED BY MARION, & CO., 22 AND 23, SOHO SQUARE. 1868. y^BERDEEN : PRINTED BY JOHN DUFFUS, EXCHANGE COURT. O N T E N T S. Loch Achray and Ben Venue. The Trossachs Hotel. A " Bit" in the Trossachs. The Pass of the Trossachs Loch Katrine, from the Trossachs Pier. Loch Katrine. Loch Katrine, looking West Loch Katrine, looking towards Ben Venue. The Trossachs Pier, Loch Katrine. Ellen's Isle, Loch Katrine. The Silver Strand, Loch Katrine. The Pass of Beal-ach-nam-bo. -7 J Digitized by the Internet Arcliive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/photographsofengOOwils_0 LOCH ACHRAY AND BEN VENUE. LOCH ACHRAY AND BEN VENUE. THE LAKE OF THE LAUREL FIELD. WocH ACHRAY is nearly two miles long, and about ™ half-a-mile broad. Its southern shore has a gentle character in contrast with the bold rocky promontories which skirt it on the north. The road winds " Up the margin of the lake Between the precipice and brake," overshadowed by wood of luxuriant growth, which runs up the sides of the mountains. Many points afford fine views of the Loch which, when placid, reflects in its clear water the nigged brow of Ben Venue; from one of these points the view is taken. ' ' The rocks — the bosky thickets sleep So stilly on thy bosom deep, The lark's blithe carol from the cloud Seems for the scene too gaily loud," v.. THE TROSSACHS HOTEL. THE TROSSACHS HOTEL. HE spacious hotel erected for the accommodation of the numerous tourists who visit the Trossachs is a turreted edifice, standing at the east end of the Pass on the site of a cottage which long gave entertainment to tourists, and which bore the name of Ardcheano-chro- chan, signifying the high end of the rock." Although refering to another scene. Sir Walter Scott's words might well apply to this building — " It was a lodge of ample size, But strange of structure and device j # * # * * Where oft a hundred guests had Iain, And dream'd their forest sports again." "BIT" IN THE TROSSACHS. A "BIT" IN THE TROSSACHS. HE subject of this view is situated about loo yards to the north of the Trossachs Hotel, in a picturesque gorge of the mountain. In rainy weather the stream comes down in a roaring torrent, but in its more usual aspect it is a gentle murm.uring rill, which only serves to lull asleep the tired tourist after his pleasant stroll amongst the scented birches of the Trossachs. " No murmur waked the solemn still, Save tinkling of a fountain rill." THE PASS OF THE TROSSACHS. PASS OF THE TROSSACHS. HE romantic defile which forms the entrance to the " bristled territory," as the Gaelic name signifies, affords numberless fine views of natural scenery of the richest character. Rocks of all shapes and sizes, em- l^osomed in foilage, lie scattered around ; crags, scarred and seam.ed with fissures, overtop the trees, which flourish everywhere, while mountain peaks of varied outline hem in the whole. ' ' But not a setting beam could glow Within the dark ravine below, Where twined the path in shadow hid, Round many a rocky pyramid, Shooting abruptly from the dell Its thunder- splintered pinnacle." LOCH KATRINE, FROM THE TROSSACHS PIER. LOCH KATRINE, I'ROM THE TROSSACHS PIER. HIS is the first view of the Lake which comes sud- denly upon the traveller when emerging from the gorge of the Trossachs dell ; and as it is the first, it is one of the most striking. Here we have ** promontory, creek, and bay, And islands that empurpled bright, Float amid the livelier light. And Mountains, that like giants stand. To sentinel enchanted land." But as the " Rob Roy" steamer for the head of the lake starts from this point, there is often h'ttle time given to the tourist to impress upon his memory the beauties of the scene ; for although enchanted therewith, the shrill call of the steam whistle makes him hasten on to Fresh fields and j^osfurc.s new." LOCH KATRINE. N approaching the east end of Loch Katrine, the tourist comes to a narrow inlet, deep, clear, and rock-girt, and wonders how a steamer can by any possi- bility get out of the labyrinth which the view presents. The water winds hither and thither, and it is difficult to know whether the rocky eminences so densely covered with verdure, and washed by the clear deep waters, are chains of islands or headlands wriggling their way through the water. Aloft, the ash and warrior oak Cast anchor in the rifted rock ; And, higher yet, the pine tree hung His shattered trunk, and frequent flung, Where seemed the chffs to meet on high, His boughs athwart the narrow'd sky." LOCH KATRINE, LOOKING WEST. LOCH KATRINE, LOOKING WEST. HE point from which this view is taken is situated about sixty yards north of the Trossachs Pier, and gives a different view of the same little bay from which the steamer departs. It. is from this point that the pleasure boats, rowed by hardy Highlanders, start for the Gob- lin's Cave and Ellen's Isle. The cave is situated on a rocky platfomi, a consi- derable way up the brow of Ben Venue, which is seen rising beyond the birch-clad promontory in the middle distance. The Cave is formed by an accumulation of rifted rocks scattered about in wild disorder. *' The shaggy mounds no longer stood Emerging from entangled wood ; But, wave encircled, seem to float Like castle girdled with its moat." LOCH KATRINE, LOOKING TOWARDS BEN VENUE. LOCH KATRINE, TOWAll])« BEN VENUE. LUCKING ajpocH KATRINE is about ten miles in length, two in ~ average breadth, and in some places so deep as 488 feet. Its form is serpentine, and a road (from which this view is taken) conducts along its northern shore to Glengyle. From this point the rugged side of Ben Ve- nue forms a prominent feature in the distance, throwing down upon the lake its Crags, knolls, and mounds, confusedly hurl'd The fragments of an earlier world." And it is pleasant to watch its ever-changing aspect, as the long summer day advances to its close. THE TROSSACHS PIER, LOCH KATRINE. THE TROSSACHS PIER. NE of the greatest charms about the Trossachs is the suddenness of the changes in the scenery and their unexpected character. One minute the traveller is plunged into a dark gloomy defile, with precipitous frown- ing rocks shutting out the light of heaven above him, and the next he emerges into the openness of day, and is bathed in sunlight. On emerging from the Pass, Loch Katrine appears " • Still and deep, Affording scarce such breadth of brim As served the wild duck's brood to swim." The waters, of transparent clearness, have a murky hue, caused by the deep shadows of Ben Venue and the hang- ing masses of rocks which form the Trossachs. ELLEN'S ISLE, LOCH KATRINE. ELLEN'S ISLE. llen's isle, the chief seat of action in the Lady of the Lake, Hes at the east end of Loch Katrine, and is a rocky islet, whose crags are concealed by trees. " The stranger viewed the shore around ; ' 'Twas all so close with copsewood bound, Nor track nor pathway might declare That human foot frequented there, Until the mountain maiden showed A clambering unsuspecting road, That winded through the tangled screen. And opened in a narrow green, Where weeping birch and willow round With their long fibres swept the ground. Here, for retreat in dangerous hour, Some chief had formed a rustic bower." THE SILVER STRAND, LOCH KATRINE. THE SILVER STRAND. pposiTE Ellen's Isle, on the north shore of the Lake, is the pebbly Strand where Fitz-James had his first interview with Ellen. A little skiff shot to the bay, That round the promontory steep Led its deep line in graceful sweep, Eddying in almost viewless wave The weeping willow-twig to lave ; And kiss, with whispering sound and slow. The beach of pebbles bright as snow. The boat had touched this Silver Strand Just as the hunter left his stand. " I well believe," the maid replied. As her light skiff approached the side — ' ' I well believe that ne'er before Your foot has trod Loch Katrine's shore." THE PASS OF BEAL-ACH-N AM-BO. PASS OF BEAL-ACH-NAM-BO. THE PASS OF THE CATTLE HE lower end of Loch Katrine, whence the river issues, is as rich in wild grandeur as the more usually visited places in the district, and the precipices of Ben Venue are here seen to great advantage. The tourist should on no account miss the scenery which is to be met with on the south side of the river. The road from the Hotel leads round the head of Loch Achray, past the farm house, and on to the pass of Beal- ach-nam-bo, which is shewn in the view as an indenta- tion in the outline of the distant mountain. The Pass itself is a beautiful glade overhung with birch trees and rich in ferns, by which the cattle, taken in forays, were conveyed within the protection of the Trossachs. C3- I IP T BOOICS, Crown Quarto, Price 10/6, Each Illustrated with Twelve Photographs, By G. W. WILSON, Aberdeen. CALEDONIAN CANAL. BALMORAL. BRAEMAR. DUNKELD. BLAIR ATHOLE. EDINBURGH. THE TROSSACHS AND LOCH KATRINE. GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL. YORK AND DURHAM CATHEDRALS. STAFFA AND lONA. London : Published by Marion & Co., 22 and 23, Soho Square. Also, Price 'js 6d, ABERDEEN AND VICINITY. Aberdeen : Published by John Duffus, Exchange Court.