THE COUNTIES OF FOKFAR AND KIXCAEDINE. 59 



range, and includes, in Forfarshire, about 100 peaks over 1000 

 feet in altitude. The slopes running down to Strathmore 

 are known as the Braes of Angus, the ancient name . of the 

 county of Forfar. These slopes are extensive, very irregular in 

 surface, on the whole moderately fertile, in some parts especially 

 so, and are cultivated high up the hill side. The mountain range 

 is intersected by several large glens, the chief ones being Glenesk, 

 Glenisla, Glen Clova, and Glen Prosen. The scenery in these 

 hilly regions is exceedingly beautiful, particularly in Clova, 

 where the hills are steep and picturesque, and where a large 

 number of rare plants are to be found. The higher peaks are 

 Glasmhaol, which reaches an altitude of 3500 feet, and on 

 which the counties of Forfar, Perth, and Aberdeen meet; 

 Cairnglasha, a little to the north, 3490 feet ; Cairnbannoch, 

 and Broadcairn, in Clova, each 3300 ; Tolmount, also in Clova, 

 3100; Mount Keen, north of Lochlee, 3077. There are 55 

 peaks between 2000 and 3000 feet, and 12 over 3000. 



The Grampian range and the valley of Strathmore both run 

 into Kincardineshire. The former, indeed, make up about one- 

 third of the entire county. The highest peak here is Mount 

 Battock, on which Forfar, Aberdeen, and Kincardine meet, the 

 altitude being 2555 feet. From this point the range gradually 

 descends, until it terminates at Doonie's Hill, on the coast of 

 l:sma and 214 feet above sea level. In the Glen of Dve, and 

 along the course of the Feugh, there is a good deal of cultivated 

 land ; while the slopes running down to the Dee are not only 

 fertile but beautifully wooded and picturesque. The southern 

 and south-eastern division of the county comprises the Howe of 

 the Mearns (the name given to the part of the valley of Strath- 

 more extending into Kincardineshire), the Hill of Garvock, and 

 the coast from the moutli of the North Esk to about Muchalls. 

 The Garvock Hill, like the Sidlaws in Forfarshire, separates the 

 coast from the central plain, which, thougli rather less fertile, 

 and not so well wooded as the corresponding portion of tlie 

 Great Valley in Forfarshire, is nevertheless a moderately rich 

 and very well cultivated stretch of land. Around Fettercairn 

 the scenery partakes a good deal of the soft beauty that charac- 

 terises the most cliarming parts of the valley farther south. 

 The land sloping towards the sea is, generally speaking, bare and 

 uneven. The coast is extremely steep and rocky, and dangerous 

 to shipping. 



There are a good many lochs in Forfarshire, but they are 

 small. The largest is Lochlee, fed by the streams of Lee and 

 Unich. It is only about 1^ mile in length, and barely half a 

 mile in breadth. It lies in the extreme north of the county. 

 A little to the south-west (in Clova) are the small lochs of 

 Wharral and Brandv, while still further south lies Lintrathen 



