14 THE EASTERN BORDERS. 



northern limit of our district. It is about two miles in length, 

 and presents "throughout this distance a succession of scenes 

 the most beautiful which can be imagined." Other denes of 

 note are Heriot's or the Tower-dene, Edmond's-dene, Pease- 

 dene and its branches, Howpark-dene, Dulaw-dene, Ayton, Rid- 

 path-dene, &c. Dulaw-dene, although only about half a mile in 

 length, with a narrow bottom and very steep rugged sides, is 

 botanically rich ; nor can the searcher for these riches fail to 

 have awe and solemn thoughts for his companions. Of the Pease- 

 dene we have a graphic description from Patten in 1548 : — " We 

 marched an viii. mile till we came to a place called the Peaths. 

 It is a valley running from a vi. mile west ; straight eastward 

 and toward the sea, a xx. skore broad from bank to bank above, 

 and a v. skore in the bottom, wherein runs a little river; so 

 steep be these banks on either side, and deep of the bottom, that 

 who goeth straight down shall be in danger of tumbling ; and 

 the comer up so sure of puffing and pain ; for remedy whereof 

 the travellers that way have used to pass it, not by going di- 

 rectly, but by paths and footways leading slopewise, from the 

 number of which paths, they call it (somewhat nicely indeed) 

 the Peaths*." Much of this character remains to the dene, 

 but its sides have been copiously planted ^dth alien wood, and 

 a romantic bridge saves the traveller his puffing and pain when 

 he would cross the steep ravine f. 



Of still waters Coldingham Loch is the only one of any extent 

 in Berwickshire. It lies in a basiu amidst the high grounds 

 above Erne's-cleugh in the parish of Coldingham, and is remark- 

 able for its proximity to the sea. It covers about thirty acres, 

 and, being clean and clear, imparts a lively feature to the bleak 

 tract by which it is encompassed. There is a considerable loch 

 at Dunse Castle, and a lesser one at the Hirsell, but both of 

 them owe much of theii- character to art. Lochtillum, in the 

 parish of Eccles, has been once of great extent, and now it appears 

 to be rapidly diminishing, and will before long probably disap- 

 pear. Two small lochs in the parish of Stitchel may have a 

 longer permanency ; but of those numerous smaller ponds with- 

 out a name which meet us unawares on many a farm, there will 

 soon be merely the residue that may be required for agricultural 



* Carr's Hist. Coldingham, p. 103; Ridpath's Bord. Hist. p. 560 ; Kerr's 

 View, p. 112. 



f " The depth of this ravine is, on an average, for about two miles of its 

 course, 150 feet. During the lower half of its course, and, in particular, 

 for some hundred yards below the Pease Bridge, the sides of the ravine are 

 neai'ly perpendicular, and not more than fifty feet, in some places only 

 twenty apart." — Milne, Geology of Berwickshire, in Quart. Journ. of Agri- 

 culture, vol. vi. p. 182. 



