Descriptive Notice of Blair- Adam. 357 



Some other gardens in the neighbourhood of Brighton, and 

 some at Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing, Tarring, &c, we must 

 defer noticing till next Number. 



Art. III. Descriptive Notice of Blair-Adam. By Alexander 

 Mackenzie, Gardener there. 



Where nought but heaths, and ferns, and thistles grew, 



Cedars and pines arise, and flowers of every hue. A.M. 



Blair-Adam, remarkable for its extensive plantations, is beau- 

 tifully situated on the east end of Cleish Hills*, in the county 

 of Kinross, twenty-one miles north from Edinburgh, and twenty 

 south from Perth. In the neighbourhood are many castellated 

 ruins f , once the strongholds of the feudal lords who inhabited 

 them, at whose proud look their vassal slaves obeyed and did 

 them reverence. In the county are two lochs, early mentioned in 

 Scottish history. The first is Loch Ore, about one mile to the 

 east of Blair-Adam, containing upwards of 200 acres, with an 

 ancient picturesque castle in the midst of trees on an island in 

 its centre. About fifty years ago it was all drained, and is now 

 converted into arable and pasturage ground. It is now the 

 property of Sir Walter Scott. Near this place, in a. d. 83, 

 Agricola, having divided his troops into three bodies, one of 

 them consisting of the 9th legion, was so suddenly attacked by 

 the natives that the Romans suffered much loss, and were only 

 rescued by a forced march of Agricola to their support. 



The other is Loch Leven, four miles to the north, about ten 

 miles in circumference, of considerable beauty, and abounding in 

 historical interest. It is of an irregular oval figure, and pos- 

 sesses several islets, as well as being surrounded with scenery 

 of a pleasing or imposing kind. It is justly deemed one of the 

 many places in Scotland worthy of a visit from tourists. The 

 chief islands in Loch Leven are two in number, viz. one situated 

 near the shore opposite Kinross, on which are the picturesque 

 ruins of a castle, once dignified by the compulsory residence of 

 the hapless Mary Queen of Scots. The other is called St. Serf's 

 Isle, on which are the ruins of a priory dedicated to St. Serf. In 

 Loch Leven are all the different species of hill, or burn, or river 

 trout to be met with in Scotland. The grounds command 

 beautiful and extensive views, bounded on the north by the 

 Grampians, upwards of 3,500 ft. in height, and on the south by 



* There are four lakes among the hills, the largest above a mile and a half 

 in circumference. On Drumglow, the highest of these hills, are the remains 

 of a Roman encampment. 



f There are nearly a dozen ancient castles, most of them in ruins, within 

 a few miles, including the romantic scenery of the Rumbling Bridge and 

 the Caldron Linn. 



A a 3 



