164 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND, CM. XI. 



All the inns on the Duke of Sutherland's pro- 

 perty (almost without exception) are well kept, 

 cleanly, and moderate in their charges, to a degree 

 that the most suspicious and fastidious cockney 

 traveller can find no fault with ; and there is none 

 of that paltry imposition which one meets with so 

 frequently in remote places in other parts of the 

 Highlands, where a stranger is looked upon as fair 

 game for plunder. 



My tastes have generally led me to the north 

 and north-west of Sutherland, but there is also 

 much to interest and much to see in the eastern 

 parts of the county. Going by Dornoch and Gol- 

 spie, both excellent inns, thence along the coast to 

 Brora and Helmsdale, two fishing colonies, and 

 turning northwards to Bighouse, the traveller 

 can either return by Tongue or by Strathnaver, a 

 beautiful green strath which takes him to Aultna- 

 harrow. 



My description of the difierent routes is short 

 and imperfect, as I do not pretend to write a 

 " road " or " guide " book ; but I simply give 

 this sketch as the result of my own note-book, 

 hoping that it may be of use to any one wishing to 

 see the most interesting county in Britain, and one 

 of the least visited. Ross-shire, Inverness-shire, 

 &c., lie more in the wav of grouse-shooters and 



