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Abhael and the Sui, gleaming now in the golden light of 

 sunset, and contrasting strongly with the dark slate hills of Ben- 

 Leven and Tornidneon, thrown into deeper shade by the high hills 

 on the west. The place altogether has a singularly picturesque and 

 unique aspect ; the stranger will say he has never seen such a 

 hamlet and bay before. Yet will he find most comfortable quarters 

 at the unpretending inn, and even luxuries not easily found elsewhere. 



The stranger who has got but one night at his disposal to spend 

 in Loch Ranza, should contrive to reach the place so early that 

 he will have time for a stroll along the sea shore, to the west, 

 in the direction of Glen Catacol. Towards sunset, on a clear and 

 still summer evening, the scenery appears to the highest advantage. 

 It has then a quiet but touching beauty, which steals into the very soul. 



There are several objects of much interest about Loch Ranza. 

 The castle is still in tolerable preservation, though now roofless. It 

 stands on a bank of shingle, running across the mouth of the bay, 

 and forming the harbour. We first find it mentioned as being a 

 bunting seat of the Scottish kings, in 1380 ; it was then reckoned 

 one of the royal castles. But the date at which it was erected is 

 not known. The Montgomeries of Skelmorlie, ancestors of the 

 Eglinton family, afterwards possessed it, with much of the north 

 end of the parish. They, however, lost the entire property, as an 

 unredeemed mortgage, to the Hamilton family (New Statist. Acct., 

 vol. v.) The ruins of the Convent of St. Bride, which till lately 

 existed here, are now swept completely away. The only interest 

 connected with it lies in association with the well known scenes in 

 Scott's Lord of tJie Isles, in which the scenery of " fair Loch 

 Ranza" is very prettily and graphically described. The harbour is 

 the resort of fleets of fishing boats. It is a most picturesque and 

 exciting scene to witness the launching of these boats on a summer 

 evening, under a favouring wind. In rapid succession they drop 

 down from the harbour into the outer bay, and dart away in 

 bounding glee, some out north into Loch Fyne, and others away to 

 the left, across the broad waters of Kilbrannan sound. Though so 

 land-girt and safe looking, Loch Ranza is by no means a safe anchorage. 

 The most fearful squalls, sometimes even in summer, fall upon it 

 from the narrow opening of Glen Eis-na-vearraid, between Tornidneon 

 and Meal-Mhor. The currents of a S.E., S., or S.W. wind traverse 

 the whole length of this long glen, hemmed in between high hiUs, 

 and issue from the narrow gorge with terrible violence. Vessels are 

 thus often driven from their moorings, and obliged to seek safety in 

 the open frith, or by running for Loch Fyne. 



