CHAP. viii. COAST-LINE OF BANFFSHIRE. 135 



have been founded by St. Columbanus, who landed 

 on this part of the coast to convert the pagan popu- 

 lation to Christianity. The bay of Aberdour, with 

 its bold headland, forms the sea entrance to this 

 picturesque valley. 



The coast-line of Banffshire, without regarding 

 the indentations of the bays, extends for about thirty 

 miles along the southern shores of the Moray Firth. 

 This was the principal scene of Edward's explorations. 

 His rounds usually extended coastwise, for about seven 

 miles in one direction, and about six in another. He 

 also went inland for six miles. But he very often 

 exceeded these limits, as we shall afterwards find. 



Having referred to the coast-line, we may also 

 briefly refer to the inland portion of the county. 

 Banffshire is of an irregular shape, and extends from 

 the southern shores of the Moray Firth in a south- 

 westerly direction toward Cairngorm and Ben Mac- 

 dhui, the highest mountain knot of the Grampians. 

 The middle portion of the county is moderately 

 hilly. Glen Fiddick, Glen Isla, and Strath Deveron, 

 follow the line of hills which descend in a north- 

 westerly direction from the Grampians towards the sea. 



Think of " hailing " Melrose Abbey ! The money spent in white- 

 washing the ruins would certainly have been better expended in 

 removing the bits of old coffins, cutting down the hemlocks and 

 nettles, and putting the burying-ground into better order. The 

 Queen has shown a good example in ordering the churchyard of 

 Crathie to be improved. But that of Braemar is still in a wretched 

 state, being covered with hemlocks and nettles. 



