BALXAGOWN FOREST. 385 



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 Ach- 

 nashcen and Loch-Muree, 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. Groin- 

 yard 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 Mac- 

 kenzie, Bart., and Brahan Castle, the residence of the 

 family of Seaforth, both within seven miles of Dingwall, 

 arc 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, 

 &c., 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 Bal- 

 nagown 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 expecta- 



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

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



C C 



