96 REPORT—1840. 
Stewarty, as far as the Dee, and even appears on the other side, giving 
existence to the lofty Cairnsmoor. 
“ At Criffel, which is a huge rounded mountain, towering above most 
of the hills in the south of Scotland, so as to be seen at a great distance, 
we have first, a ridge running from S.E. to N.W., terminating in 
another pretty lofty hill, called Lowters. Then commencing at Sham- 
bellie, a little to the north of Criffel, we have another ridge running 
nearly parallel with the above, consisting of Auchingray and Glen- 
sone hills; and further north still is another ridge, almost parallel in 
like manner, commencing at Whinnyhill, and including Trostive and 
Graizend ; these terminate in a pretty large sort of loch, called Loch 
Arthur, where the granite formation terminates also; and we find the 
next hills, Dalscairth and Mabie, exhibiting a distinct stratification of 
graywacke or clayslate. At the foot of Craigurd, the most northerly 
of the above ridges affords little interesting. In a sort of morass, 
interspersed with several large blocks of granite, as if they had rolled 
down from the ridge above, is one large block, called the Rocking-stone. 
“Glensone Hill runs nearly S.E., and on the west side, around the 
brow of the hill, is an extensive ridge of granite rocks, in a curved 
form, quite bare and rugged; many of the masses very large, disjoined 
from the body of the hill, and presenting some of them a distinct 
columnar formation. This is the more remarkable, as the dip of the 
rock in this hill, and indeed in all the ridges, is westward, at 60° to 70°. 
To the west of Glensone lies Lowters, the highest of all except Criffel. 
The east side, fronting Glensone, is steep and rugged ; the rocks crop- 
ping out quite precipitously, apparently corresponding with the west 
side of Glensone, though the valley between may extend to the width 
of 600 or 800 yards, through which Loch Arthur discharges a small 
stream, which flows into the Nith. On the other hand, the west side 
of the hill, following the nature of the dip, slopes with a gentle de- 
clivity, and is cultivated a considerable way up. This same circum- 
stance is observable at Auchingray Hill, the S.E. side of which is 
steep and precipitous, the rocks cropping out quite bare ; whereas the 
west side slopes, according to the dip, and is cultivated almost to the 
top. All these hills and ridges, besides having innumerable blocks of 
granite scattered over their surface, in ample profusion, and in all di- 
rections, seem entirely composed of this rock to a great depth ; at least 
as far as any person has penetrated. 
“ The highest ridge of the whole remains to be described ; that is a 
hill called Knockandach, i. e. the ‘ Hill of Drink,’ running in a direc- 
tion nearly north and south, rising to the height of 1200 feet, and 
which is continued till it finally terminates in the gigantic Criffel. 
Criffel is certainly an immense mass of granite, changing into syenite 
in some parts. As on the east side, the rocks crop out in several 
places, still exhibiting the dip mentioned. Criffel has one principal 
summit, with three knees or shoulders, one east, one south, and another 
west; and Knockandach, formerly mentioned, completes the formation 
northward. On the principal summit has been erected, at different 
times, and by different contributors, a large cairn of granite rocks, 
from which the view is most extensive and splendid.” 
