282 FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. 



mountain wrecks resting their bulk on the level ; streams 

 oozing through beds of moss ; torrents rushing down the 

 steep ravines ; black lakes, highland tarns, and deep 

 morasses : these are, in comprehensive terms, the charac- 

 teristic objects that force themselves into notice throughout 

 the extensive range of the Dirrie-More. 



Every part of this forest is destitute of wood, except the 

 west side of Ben-Hope, the sides of Stack, and the shores of 

 Loch-More, which are partly covered with brushwood. It 

 was not thus, however, in former times. The boundaries of 

 the Dirrie-More extended from Ben-Leod to the head of 

 Glen-Dhu; thence to the head of Loch-Laxford, the head of 

 Loch-Inchard, and by the Gualin, and the deep valley 

 beyond it, to the head of the bay of Durness, and then on 

 by the balloch leading to Loch-Eriboll. 



The east side of Loch-Eriboll, with Ben-Hutig and the 

 Moin, as far as Strathmelness, formed part of the forest ; 

 and from the head of the bay of Tongue the boundary went 

 by Loch-Loyal, including Ben-Loyal, and then turned west- 

 ward to the end of Loch-Maedie ; from whence it proceeded 

 near the foot of the high ground to the westward, until it 

 reached Ben-Hee, and thence, by the march of Ben-Hee 

 forest, it passed by Loch-Merkland to Ben-Leod. 



The extreme length of this range from north to south is 

 about thirty miles, and its general breadth is about twenty ; 

 but near both extremities it does not exceed ten miles. 

 Several mountains stand dominant within the above 

 boundaries, and give their names to three forests, which are 

 included within the general range, although they had 

 distinct divisions, arid were under the charge of separate 

 foresters. The names of these forests are, 1. The forest of 

 Ben-Hope ; 2. the forest of Fionaven ; 3. the forest of Arkle 

 and Stack. The altitude of these mountains, from which the 

 above forests derive their names, will give some idea of the 

 character of the country. Ben-Hope is 3,061 feet high ; 

 Fionaven, 3,015 ; Ben-Spionnue, in the same forest, 2,566. 

 The mountains of Arkle and Stack I have no measure of, 

 but believe they are of no great height. 



There are three minor detached forests in Sutherland, 



