302 THE DEER FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



fifty stags, which in good years average 15 stone 

 clean. 



THE FOREST OF RHIDORRACH, BY ULLAPOOL. 



This fine deer ground — the pioneer of the Ross- 

 shire forests — is the property of the Countess of 

 Cromartie, and extends over some 40,000 acres of 

 rocky hills, deep glens, bold corries, and occasional 

 flats, interspersed with many a loch. Of these 

 lands, 25,000 acres are under deer, the remaining 

 1 5,000 acres being grouse shooting over sheep ground 

 skirting the cleared portion on the west and north ; 

 as however the forest proper is not fenced off in any 

 way, deer are to be met with over the whole place. 

 The big glen of Rhidorrach, " the dark forest," on 

 the south side of which is a sanctuary upwards of 

 three miles in length, runs from east to west for 

 some ten miles through the centre of the ground, 

 the lowest level of which varies from a mile to a 

 mile and a half in breadth, and consists of one 

 uninterrupted stretch of magnificent green pasture. 



