Field (Meetings, 188 



Spottes Glen and Moat of Urr. — Id May, 1885. 



The first Field Meeting of the session was held on the above 

 date, when a party of eighteen left Dumfries by the 9.27 a.m. 

 train for Dalbeattie. On arriving there they were joined by two 

 or tliree others, and proceeded thence in waggonettes through the 

 beautiful valley of the Urr to Spottes. Here they were 

 met by Mr Herries of Spottes, who had kindly granted 

 permission to visit the romantic glen, and who now conducted 

 the party to it. Leaving the road at the bridge they followed 

 the winding stream for about a mile, when a halt was made at 

 the Glen fai-mhouse, where Mr Herries pointed out several large 

 stones in the wall, whicli appeared to have been formerly part of an 

 ecclesiastical edifice, and remarked that a chapel at one time had 

 been built in the adjoining field. The only trace of this building 

 now seen was a few feet of a wall on the steep bank of the stream. 

 The party now separated, and the members explored the glen 

 and adjoining woods until two p.m., when they reassembled and 

 partook of luncheon, which had been provided by Mr Herries. 

 Thus refreshed they returned to the mansion house, when the 

 botanists explored the woods adjoining, and visited the beautiful 

 flower gardens. The geologists, under tlie leadership of Di- 

 Gilchrist, examined Mr Herries' collection of rocks and minerals. 

 Before leaving Spottes, a short business uieeting was held^ 

 and, on the motion of Mr W. H. Maxwell of Munches, Mr 

 Herries was elected a member of the Society. On the motion of 

 the President (Dr Gilchrist), Mr Herries and his son were thanked 

 for the hearty welcome they gave to the Society, and for con- 

 ducting them to the Glen, througii the garden and grounds. 

 Having bidden adieu to Mr Herries, they resumed their seats in 

 the waggonettes about four o'clock, and were soon on their way 

 to the Moat of Urr. The Moat is situated on the west bank of 

 the Urr, about a mile from Dalbeattie, and is the largest, as 

 well as one of the most complete in Britain. Owing to the 

 unavoidable absence of Mr J. H. Maxwell, of Castle-Douglas, 

 who was to describe the Moat, the Secretary read a siiort extract 



