THE NAVER AND BORGIE 255 



water-ways flowing east and flowing north. The Ainhainn Fhinn, as 

 this head stream is called, is joined by the Ainhainn Bheag from 

 Loch-na-Meide, which lies further north, and these, uniting also with 

 smaller streams, form the Mudale. In this way the total length of 

 the Naver and its head waters is fully 32 miles. 



The Naver, as it flows from the loch in a shallow and rock- 

 studded continuation, presently passes the site of a dyke which with 

 wooden hecks was built across the river here in 1900 for the purpose 

 of checking the ascent of salmon from the river to the loch. The 

 hecks were removed each weekly close time, I understand, but the 

 structure was wrecked by a flood. In 1902 it was renewed, but in 

 1903 was again washed away. A short distance below this the 

 river Mallart, the one tributary of any moment, enters on the right 

 bank. 



The course of the Naver is at first stony and rough with occa- 

 sional rock ledges. As the neighbourhood of the loch is left 

 behind, however, the river settles down to a steadier running 

 character, the large boulders and rocks give place to coarse gravel, 

 and this to finer gravel ; some miles further down the gravel is 

 mixed with sand, and presently the river is seen to be flowing 

 through great banks of sand, and winding about in the rather flat 

 river bed of the prehistoric Naver, which cut the valley and piled 

 up the sand banks. As the sea is approached near Bettyhill, 

 Torrisdale Bay opens out in a wide sweep of the purest sand, the 

 rocky escarpment which separates the mouth of the Naver from 

 the mouth of the Borgie being as it were stripped of its natural 

 covering of vegetation, its rocks torn asunder and the whole then 

 smothered in sand. 



About 4 f miles down the river from the loch, the old shooting 

 lodge of Dalvina stands on the right-hand side. This at one time 

 was the only lodge on the Naver, and with it went not only a wide 

 extent of country but the fishing in the whole river. Now, the 

 river, like the Helmsdale, is divided into six beats. Dalvina is no 

 longer occupied by a sporting tenant. The modern wish, or need, 

 for more commodious, not to say luxurious, lodges has brought 

 about the change. Opposite Dalvina, Syre Lodge stands, with a 

 new lodge called Langdale Lodge, a short distance further along 

 and higher up the slope, only recently completed. No fishing goes 

 with Langdale, however. 



Between Syre and Ehifail Lodge, about four miles lower down on 

 the right bank, the gravel banks and pools are of beautiful character. 



