63 



divides Glen lorsa from Glen Scaftigill, and is a conspicuous and 

 picturesque object from all the south-western portions of the island. 

 To complete our sketch of the northern section, it is only necessary 

 to notice the high ridge between the sea on the north, and north 

 Glen Sannox and Glen Chalmidel on the south. In geological for- 

 mation it differs from the others, but is connected with the main 

 range which we have called the Cior-Mhor group, by means of a 

 ridge at the watershed between the two glens which bound it. This 

 ridge joins on to the eastern flanks of Tornidneon, an abrupt, massive, 

 but not lofty mountain, overlooking Loch Ranza on the south, and 

 forming the termination of a long but not generally high ridge which 

 sweeps round the east side of Glen Eais-na-Vearraid, and runs in 

 upon the north side of Caistael-Abhael near the watershed at Loch- 

 an-Deavie. This northern range terminates in bold heights forming 

 the east side of Loch Ranza; its western boundary is formed by the 

 nearly precipitous sides of Meal-Mhor, the most northerly mountain 

 of the Ben-Varen group. Thus at the northern apex of the island, 

 the principal ranges closely approach one another, their terminal 

 portions forming the lofty abrupt framework to the secluded inlet of 

 Loch Ranza, whose many picturesque features excite the admiration 

 of every visitor. 



Various estimates have been formed from time to time of the 

 heights of the Arran mountains ; all of them, including some of our 

 own made by trigonometrical measurement, pretty near the truth. 

 They have lately been determined, in the conduct of the Ordnance 

 Survey, with that exactness which marks all the operations of the 

 Royal Engineers. The following principal heights have been kindly 

 supplied by the Superintendent of the Survey, Colonel James, R.E. : 

 Goatfell, 2,875 feet ; Caistael-Abhael, 2,801 ; north top of Goat- 

 fell, 2,628 ; Ben-Varen, south summit, 2,342 ; north summit, 2,310 ; 

 Holy Isle, 1,020 ; highest point of the slate ridge on the north, 

 over the Cock of Arran, 1,097 feet. 



The southern half of the island consists of a rolling table land, 

 bleak and unpicturesque inland, but breaking rapidly down seaward 

 into a coast border of great romantic beauty. The general elevation 

 is from 500 to 800 feet ; and the irregular ridges which traverse it, 

 most usually in a direction nearly east and west, rise to about 1,100 

 or 1,400 feet. These separate the various glens and river-courses, 

 whose origins lie near the central line or axis of the island, but 

 often interlace with one another, so that a stream issuing westward 

 has its source nearer the east coast than the west, and vice versd. 

 The views of the northern mountains, from these uplands, are 



