SUTHERLAND. i6i 



The railway now passes through one of these " braes," 

 and is carried across the gorge, a short distance from the 

 hotel, upon a very substantial and considerably elevated 

 bridge. I mused much along the pleasant walk up the 

 burn side to the waterfall. What happy exploits in 

 times long past became associated in my memory with 

 every surrounding object ! Did I not recognize every 

 hazel as an old familiar friend, whose stem in my young 

 days I had eagerly clasped, and whose branches at times 

 I subjected to rather rough treatment in order to gain my 

 purpose .'' And did I not sorrow over the departure of 

 other trees equally cherished in my recollection — the old 

 gean (wild cherry) trees which the railway embankment 

 had so ruthlessly swept away .'' Still the whole locality 

 awoke also in my mind the thought that engineering 

 science had not destroyed its beauties. 



Within a mile of the hotel is Dunrobin Castle, the 

 princely Highland seat of the Duke of Sutherland, which 

 has on several occasions, of late years, been graced by 

 the presence of Royalty. The castle has been built 

 on the verge of a moderately elevated terrace, which 

 marks an ancient boundary of the sea, which it now over- 

 looks at a little distance. It has been the residence 

 of the Earls of Sutherland since an early period of the 

 thirteenth century. It has since then played, in the 

 history of the family, many important parts, which are 

 recounted by Sir Robert Gordon, the family chronicler. 

 During the present century it has been on two occasions 

 much enlarged — the last and most important enlargement 

 being finished in 1849, by which it has been rendered the 



