ce) 
over the Forth by Stirling Bridge, and through the rustic village 
of Causewayhead, nestling in the shadow of the precipitous Abbey 
Craig, crowned by the Wallace Monument standing out conspicu- 
ously in the clear sky. 
AIRTHREY CASTLE. 
A drive of about two miles brought the party to the beautiful 
estate of Airthrey, the property of Donald Graham, Esq., lying 
snugly at the southern base of the Ochil hills, and well sheltered 
by fine thriving plantations. The handsome castellated mansion, 
erected in 1791 from a design by Adam, stands on a fine site in 
a charmingly wooded park, and commands superb views of the 
richest landscape in Scotland. It was the chief seat of the 
Abercrombie family for about a century, and came into possession 
of the present owner a few years ago. The estate is famed for its 
Mineral Wells, springing out of the hill immediately above the 
fashionable watering-place, the Bridge of Allan, much resorted to 
from all parts of the country for the benefit of its mild and 
salubrious climate. 
The party entered the park by the South Lodge, and drove along 
the main avenue to the Castle, a lovely winding lake lying 
on the right, and the Ochils rising abruptly on the left, with 
their slopes well clothed with woods. Some very fine old trees 
were noted in passing; more especially the beeches, oaks, limes, 
and sycamores, many of which seemed fully a couple of centuries 
old. Near the Castle were noticed a number of fine thriving 
young silver firs, and numerous grand examples of broad-leaved 
trees, many of them growing in groups of three, and presenting 
a rich massive appearance. On approaching the Castle the party 
were met by Mr Dempster, the factor on the estate, Mr Murray, 
the forester, and Mr Rutherford, the gardener, who gave them a 
hearty welcome, and acted as their guides through the policies 
and woodlands. ‘To the north in front of the Castle, some fine 
sycamores and beeches attracted attention. Several of these grand 
trees were measured, and one of the largest sycamores, which rose 
to a height of about 75 feet, was found to girth 9 feet 3 inches at 
5 feet up. Another splendid sycamore standing near girthed 
8 feet 6 inches, and had a clean cylindrical bole of about 40 feet 
in length. A fine group of old limes was pointed out, standing 
a little east of the Castle, which were said to have been trans- 
