THE DIONARD 271 



and in the past it is recorded that in Loch Dionard and the 

 stream above seven fish have on two occasions been taken in a 

 day. 



Gualen Water goes down to a mile or so above the road 

 bridge on the highway between Durness and Loch Inchard, 

 and I understand that the total usually reached is about 60 

 salmon and grilse and 80 sea-trout. There is no road up the 

 river, and distances have to be undertaken mostly on foot. 



Below Gualen, Durness Lodge water comes in, and continues 

 to the mouth. This water is not so rough as that above, and 

 is both less extensive and more easily reached, since the high- 

 road is now at hand. The total here is about 40 salmon and 

 grilse, making, therefore, about 100 for the whole river. This 

 lower water is, however, better for sea-trout than that higher 

 up, and when the water is in good condition some excellent 

 baskets are made. The Kyle of Durness is of course well 

 known as a haunt of sea-trout, and the chief fishing of the 

 visitors at the hotel there is in the tidal water, where from boats 

 sea -trout are angled for and taken in numbers. 



This tidal Kyle is fished perhaps chiefly from the Hotel, but 

 both Durness Shootings and Gualen have also a right to fish 

 there. The favourite bait is the natural sand-eel, and when 

 stopping a night in passing I have on occasion seen "some large 

 sea-trout brought in. Here also is the famous Croisaphuill 

 Loch containing its so-called separate species of trout. It is, I 

 have noticed, a loch of extremely clear water, and I understand 

 the fish are now very shy. I am informed that an artificially 

 stocked loch of small size in the neighbourhood has yielded 

 excellent fish. 



The crowded state of Durness Hotel in summer, situated as 

 it is at what might be called the northern jumping-off place 

 of Scotland and about 55 miles by road from the railway 

 station, is about the best testimony I know to the popularity 

 of fishing. Before now, in June, I have been crowded out of 

 the hotel and have with great content occupied a little room 

 in a little cottage all to myself. I recollect so well the inevitable 

 simplicity of one's habits in so small a compass, the clear air 

 that entered through window and door at night, and the boom 

 of Cape Wrath fog-horn in the haze of the morning. 



