814 



THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Fig. 1Ô4. — The Rhi.vns of Galloway. 

 Scale 1 : 100,000. 



"Wigtown consists of a miiinliind portion, filled with moorland hills, and of the 

 peninsula, known as the Rhinns of Galloway, which is attached to it by a low 

 neck of land. The population is sparse and decreasing. Wigtown, the capital, 

 on Wigtown Bay, is a mere village, with a distillery and a small coasting trade. 

 Far more important, though by no means prosperous, is Stranraer, at the head of 

 Loch Ryan. On the peninsula itself, and within 21 miles of the Irish coast, is 

 Port Patrick, with an extensive harbour, constructed at vast expense, but little 



frequented. The only other villages 

 deserving mention are Glcnluce, on Luce 

 Bay ; Garlieston, on Wigtown Bay, 

 with the principal seat of the Earl of 

 Galloway ; and Whithorn, farther to the 

 south, with the ruins of a cathedral 

 founded by St. Ninian, the apostle of 

 the Picts. 



Ayrshire borders upon the Firth of 

 Clyde, into which flow the Garnock, 

 Irvine, Ayr, Doon, and other rivers 

 rising on the enclosing hill ranges. The 

 county consists of three well-defined 

 districts. Carrick, in the south, is a wild 

 and desolate moorland region stretching 

 up to Mount Merrick (2,764 feet) ; Kyle, 

 in the centre, drained by Ayr Water, 

 lies within a productive coal basin ; 

 and Cunningham, in the north, is a 

 region of hills, extending to the crest 

 of the upland which separates the 

 county from Renfrewshire. Whilst 

 Carrick supports but a small population, 

 the northern part of the county, with its 

 collieries and iron works, its textile 

 factories and engineering shops, is one 

 of the most densely peopled parts of 

 Scotland. 



Girvan, on a fine bay near the mouth of Girvan Water, is the principal port 

 of Carrick. On the bold coast between it and the mouth of the Doon stand the 

 ruins of Tumberry and Dunure Castles, and the magnificent mansion of Colzean. 

 The Doon rises in a lake of the same name, on issuing from which it flows through 

 the iron and coal mining district of Dahnellington. Mayhole, a small country 

 town, lies in a side vallev, and the river enters the sea below the villao-e of Kirh 

 Alloway, the birthplace of Robert Burns. Ayr, the capital of the county, lies only 

 a few miles farther north, at the mouth of Ayr Water, whose harbour is acces- 

 sible to small vessels. It is a handsome town, with numerous villas, and its river 



Oto U 

 ■Fathoms 



28 to fK) 

 Fathoms. 



— 5 Miles. 



Over 55 

 Fathoms. 



