5 
FIRST DAY. 
Wednesday, 10th August. 
STRAVITHIE, BALBIRNIE, LESLIE, AND FALKLAND 
PALACE, FIFE. 
An early start had to be made this morning by the party from 
Edinburgh, which left the Waverley Station at 6.35 A.M., by train 
for Stravithie Station. About sixty gentlemen assembled on 
the platform wearing the Scots Fir badge of the Society, and 
there were several additions made to that number en route. 
Leaving Edinburgh behind, the journey was through one of 
the richest agricultural districts in the Lothians, and at this 
season of the year the crops were at their best, giving promise 
of a bountiful harvest. About ten miles from Edinburgh, the 
“Q@ueen’s Ferry” was reached, and the gigantic structure of the 
Forth Bridge, spanning the estuary with cyclopean strides, was 
crossed at a height of nearly 200 feet. The views from the 
Bridge on such a fine day, both up and down the Forth, are 
probably unrivalled in railway travelling, and to arborists both 
shores of the Firth presented a very interesting sight, being in 
great part richly clothed with woodlands to the water’s edge. 
Immediately below the Bridge on the Lothian shore lie the 
woods of Dalmeny; and above the Bridge on the same side are 
the wooded slopes of Hopetoun, stretching back a considerable 
distance into the country. 
On the opposite Fife shore above the Bridge are the well- 
wooded domains of Broomhall, Torry, and Valleyfield running 
far up the country; while below the Bridge, on the north side 
of the Firth, are the fine picturesque woods of Donibristle and 
Aberdour. Passing North Queensferry and the ancient burgh 
of Inverkeithing, the line sweeps to the right through pleasant 
fields and hedgerows thickly studded with trees, with the 
domain of Donibristle on the right, and Fordell, Otterstone, 
and Cockairne, on the left, all famed among arborists for their 
fine trees, and the scene of one of the earliest excursions of the 
Society. The shore of the Firth is again reached at the prettily 
situated village of Aberdour, a favourite watering-place of the 
Edinburgh folk, and celebrated in the ancient ballad of Sir 
Patrick Spens, which tells that on returning from Norway, 
where he had conveyed the Princess Margaret of Scotland to be 
married to King Eric,— 
** Half owre, half owre to Aberdour 
It’s fifty fathoms deep ; 
And there lies the good Sir Patrick Spens, 
Wi’ the Scots lords at his feet.” 
