34 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



order to have a look at Loch Na-Nean, described as 

 " a very beautiful loch, situated at the head of Glentait- 

 neach (or the Pleasant Glen). It is seven miles above 

 the Spital of Glen Shee, is about a mile long by three- 

 quarters of a mile broad, and is well stocked with 

 splendid trout, said to be as fine as in any loch or river 

 in Scotland, and weighing on an average three- 

 quarters of a pound/' To the other recommendations 

 of Loch Na-Nean may be added the fact that it is the 

 highest loch in Scotland, and that by the devious 

 courses that have to be followed, the distance to 

 the summit is increased to nine miles at least. Surely 

 such a description as this was sufficient to create an 

 ardent desire to prove the truth of the statement. At 

 9.30 A.M. we started, accompanied by George, the 

 groom, a very smart active young fellow, charged with 

 the care of our rods, lines, and also the very necessary 

 luncheon-basket. My companion who was to take this 

 long walk up so steep an incline was fitly habited for 

 the work, wearing a light overcoat and strong but not 

 too heavy yet well-nailed boots, the frequent heavy 

 storms that occur in the Highland glens and mountain 

 passes necessitating some such array as a protection 

 against the sudden soaking showers that assail you, 

 not without making their mark, and leaving you wet 

 to the skin in a few minutes. I commend the over- 

 coat of fine cloth to ladies intending to climb mountains 

 or wander amongst these wild and rugged hillsides and 

 romantic glens, suggesting that the dresses should be 

 short, not reaching below the top of the boot in any 

 case. Without the nailed boots the fair pedestrian 

 would be, so to speak, nowhere certainly not at the 

 top of a Grampian Hill, amidst the gray stones in which 



