AND ANGLING SONGS. 165 



In my pedestrian tour of 1835, after having exhausted, as far as 

 I had opportunity, the angling capabilities of the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood, I left Contin about the 24th of July, and pursued, by 

 a hill route leading from Scatwell, my way to Achnanault. In 

 doing so I fell in with a small loch, the name of which I could 

 very imperfectly ascertain from Celtic lips. It sounded, how- 

 ever, like Badienoch. The ripple on its surface happened to be 

 most tempting, and in spite of the assurance of a native of the 

 district that it contained no trout, I could not resist setting to 

 work over it with rod and fly. Scarcely was my line wetted 

 when the trail-hook was taken hold of, and I had the satisfaction 

 of playing and landing, not the largest certainly, but by far, as 

 respects shape and external colouring, I may add edible con- 

 dition, the finest specimen of a yellow trout I ever fell in with. 

 From this loch, after extracting two other specimens of the fario, 

 which, although far above the average in size, bore no compari- 

 son to the one first taken, I proceeded to Loch Huelim, which, 

 as it was represented to contain large trout, as well as pike, I 

 felt desirous to make trial of before nightfall. 



Through Strathbran, in its central bearings, it is that the line 

 of road which connects the shores of the Cromarty Firth with 

 the west coast of Ross-shire, proceeds. It is a valley not alto- 

 gether destitute of scenic attractions ; but these the eye which 

 has been recently feasting on the banks of the Conon and Black- 

 water is very apt to overlook. The presence of several small 

 lakes, however, and of some fine tracts of heatherland, cannot 

 fail to win regard from the angler and general sportsman. My 

 successes with the rod in that quarter were very satisfactory, 

 considering the hurried way in which I was compelled to march 

 over the ground. In one of the lakes, situated betwixt Grudie 

 and Achnanault, I secured, besides others of smaller dimensions, 

 two trout weighing about a pound and a half each. Loch Achin, 

 when I reached it, was wrapt in dusky calm, but there were indi- 



