The Glenkens in the Olden Times. 137 



ceremonies. There are similar driiidical stones to be found in 

 Orkney. 



The only Koman remains to be found in the Glenkens is a 

 portion of the so-called Roman road that led from Ayr to Kirkcud- 

 bright. This line of road can still be easily traced from Dalmel- 

 lington till opposite Dairy Village, where it merges into the present 

 public road to Kirkcudbright. That portion of it from Ayr to 

 Dalmellington was carefully surveyed and examined by Dr Mac- 

 donald, late of Kelvinside College, Glasgow, who found at least 

 some of the characteristics of a Roman road in it. That portion 

 in the Glenkens was in regular use until 1800, when a more level 

 road was made. It is about 15 feet broad, whereas the old native 

 roads are only tracks or 7 feet in width. It has strongly-built 

 culverts, whereas the native roads have only fords over the small 

 streams, and on the whole there seems little doubt it was at least 

 widened and repaired by the Romans. Old roads marked on 

 the Ordnance Maps as Roman can easily be traced on the farm of 

 Altrye, in Dairy, and at Holm of Dalquhairn, in Carsi^hairn. This 

 line of road evidently came from Dumfries, as it goes thx'ough the 

 farm of Shinnelhead, in the parish of Tynron, and enters Dairy 

 parish on the top of Altrye hill at the watershed between the two 

 counties, 1700 feet above sea level. That road joined the old road 

 near Dalmellington, and so led on to Ayr. Dr Macdonald and I 

 examined that road in July, 1894, where marked on the map as a 

 Roman road ; but ^ve found neither kerb stones nor pavement, or 

 anything to indicate that it was Roman. The shepherds called it 

 a Cadger's road. 



There are at least three distinct moraines in the Glenkens ; 

 one a little way up the stream that feeds Loch Dungeon, on the 

 Kells Rhynns. The ice has brought the debris down from the 

 highest point of the hills. There is another by the side of a burn 

 that flows past the steading of Holm of Dalquhairn, which has 

 evidently come from Cairnsmore of Carsphairn, 2635 feet. It 

 forms many knolls or hillocks, which are called the " Alwhanuy 

 knowes." Another moraine is at the foot of the " Meaul " of 

 Garryhorn, also in Carsphairn, quite close to Woodhead lead mines. 

 It is called by the shei)herds " The lumps." 



There is a cairn of large stones on the top of the Kells 

 Rhynns called " The Carlin's Cairn," which has an historical 

 tradition attached to it. It is said that when Robert Bruce was 



