A DAY AT CLOVA. 



Ul 



report; and to such as have visited it, they may call up some pleasurable 

 recollections of a similar excursion: — 



The Clova glens are oflfsets of the 

 Grampians, about twenty miles north- 

 west of Forfar. The district to which 

 I am alluding, consists of one broad and 

 wild, but beautiful valley, called Glen 

 Clova, terminating in the Grampian chain, 

 in three smaller valleys; the most 

 northerly being called Glen Esk; that 

 to the south. Glen Fee; and the middle. 

 Glen Dole. The bottom of these valleys 

 is considerably elevated above the sea 

 level, and the mountains which bound 

 them rise from about fifteen hundred to 

 two thousand feet above this elevated 

 base. The South Esk river flows from 

 Glen Esk, and passing out into the 

 main valley, glides placidly along, widening 

 as it advances, forming a capital trout stream, in whose sedgy margin may be 

 found the Carex aquatilis and the Grainless Water-Dock, {Bumex aquaticus;) 

 while the handsome heads of the Melancholy Thistle, (Carduus hetercphyllus,) 

 are conspicuous above all their sisters of the stream. The nearest habitation 

 to these glens is a house at a spot called Kirktown Clova, containing two 

 beds for travellers; but as our party was large, we were fain to sleep in a 

 spacious barn-like apartment, used occasionally by the assembled clans as a 

 dancing-room. On the floor of this barn, for it was certainly more like a 

 barn than a ball-room, a few trusses of clean straw had been scattered, and, 

 our hardship being voluntary, we passed a not uncomfortable night. This 

 house is marked A in the accompanying plan, and the dotted line refers to 

 the route of our excursion. 



It was a lovely morning in the latter part of July, when, after performing 

 our toilet, sub dio, on the banks of the clear flowing Esk, and partaken of a 

 hearty breakfast, we set out about seven o'clock in high spirits, exhilarated 

 alike by the cool morning air, the quiet grandeur of the scene, and the 

 anticipation of the botanical novelties that we expected to meet with. Fully 

 equipped with vascuium, spud, and knapsack, we bent our course straight up 

 the Clova valley towards the north-west, our path being for some time covered 

 with the beautiful yellow flowers of the Mountain Saxifrage, (Saxifraga aizoides;) 

 while the less conspicuous Alpine Bistort, {PolygoHum vivijjarum,) proved very 

 abundant upon a slight search. . The outskirts of our party lighted upon a large 

 patch of the cream-coloured Gymnadenia albida, and the delicate and hand- 

 some Wintergreens, (Pyrola rotundifolia and P. media,) held their tall and 

 drooping flowers too high to escape our notice. How unfortunate it is, by 



