292 FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



who brought down a stag, in full trot, at 312 yards, being 

 his first essay in the sport. 



We next cross the long valley which extends from 

 Dingwall, at the head of the Firth of Cromarty, by Achna- 

 sheen and Loch-Maree, to the west coast, and enter upon 

 the heart of Ross-shire, no part of which is without deer, 

 nor likely to be so, while the old Balnagown, or Freevater 

 forest, which forms its centre, exists. Groinyard 'has its 

 deer, so has Achnasheen, and the hills near Loch-Luichart ; 

 and the comparatively small forest of Fannich, lately a part 

 of the Cromarty estate, is perhaps as sure a place for the 

 sport, if kept clear of sheep, as any in Scotland. Coul,* 

 the residence of Sir George Mackenzie, Bart., and Brahan 

 Castle, the residence of the family of Seaforth, both within 

 seven miles of Dingwall, are seldom without deer in their 

 woods, and these noble denizens of the forest may frequently 

 form part of a day's sport, at either of these places, with 

 pheasants, partridges, etc., and all the variety of low country 

 shooting. It is almost needless to add, that driving is the 

 mode in practice here, the thick cover precluding stalking, 

 except in rare instances. 



Crossing all these large ranges of hills we enter the 

 Balnagown forest, or Freevater, i.e., the forest of Walter, 

 one of the chiefs of that ancient house. 



The mountains in this district are very lofty, and abound 

 on their summits with those broken mossy tracts, where the 

 experienced deer-stalker looks with increasing expectation 

 for his game. It is much to be regretted that hardly any 

 part of this fine forest is kept properly clear of sheep ; 

 though this is doubtless one cause of the increasing numbers 

 of the deer in neighbouring places. 



They are accordingly found in Loch-Broom, on the estates 

 of Castle-Leod, Sir Hugh Munro of Foulis, Munro of Novar, 

 and Davidson of Tulloch, in sufficient numbers to make the 

 pursuit of them a constant sport. 



The estate of Foulis, comprising the greater part of the 

 lofty range of Ben-Weavis, should perhaps be more specially 



*A separate notice of the beautiful possessions of Coul will follow this 

 general account of the deer-haunts in Ross-shire. 



