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dike and chasm pass down into Glen Sannox, but it is impossible to 

 descend by this way. The view is very wild and grand. When 

 the morning mists are hovering around Goatfell, and rolling into 

 the depths of Glen Sannox, now hiding and now revealing the 

 mountain with the ridges and peaks adjoining, the scene from 

 the summit of Castle Abhael is extremely grand. Various ways are 

 open for us by which to return. We were once surprised here by a 

 thick fog with heavy rain, and guided partly by a compass, and 

 partly by keeping as close as possible to the junction of the coarse 

 and fine granite, we found our way safely along the edge of the 

 great circular ridge which runs from the N. W. base of Castle Abhael, 

 in the direction of Glen Dhu, at the upper part of North Sannox. 

 But the convenience of our companion, with his load of "black 

 crystals," must now be consulted in regard to our homeward route. 



EXCURSION XII. 

 GLEN SANNOX AND GLEN Eos A. 



101. This is a favourite excursion with visitors to Arran ; many 

 will devote a day to it in preference to others which are less easily 

 taken from Brodick as a centre. But there are comparatively few 

 objects of geological interest, and we shall not therefore enter into 

 any detailed description. 



There is an interesting old burying-ground at the entrance of Glen 

 Sannox. It is all that remains of a church or monastery dedicated 

 to St. Michael. A rude image of the saint is to be seen upon a 

 stone built into the wall. The house was probably connected with 

 the Abbey of Kilwinning, to which Sir John Monteith, Lord of 

 Arran, granted, in 1397, the lands of Sannox and patronage of the 

 churches. The barytes mill sadly mars the solitary grandeur of 

 the scene which opens as we reach the plateau at the mouth of the 

 glen. It was erected here some years ago to work veins of the 

 sulphate of barytes, or heavy spar, which traverse the old red sand- 

 stone. These are seen in the bed of the stream, running in a 

 direction nearly N.E. and S.W., and dipping nearly N.W. ; they 

 appear also on the hill-side southward. The junction in this burn 

 has been noted already. By the bank of this fine stream of crystal 

 water, rushing over its bed of granite sheets and granite sand, amid 



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