XVIII. 



IN COQUETDALE. 



The Coquet has been so often celebrated alike for its 

 picturesque and varied scenery and its "wale o' trout," 

 that it may seem somewhat late in the day to deal with 

 it as we now propose to do. But, after all, it is not 

 yet so well known to general readers, at all events 

 in the south, as it deserves to be, and the hope of 

 interesting them and sending some of them to see it 

 is our justification. Scenery in which the wild and 

 romantic is at parts mingled with the sweetly sylvan 

 and pastoral may be found in Coquetdale in almost as 

 striking a measure as on some of the favourite streams 

 of Scotland. Many who rush past it, and thus reduce 

 the time they have for enjoyment on the hills in the 

 open air, might pause, and find the Highlands nearer 

 home than in the north and west of Scotland. And 

 this we say though, as the reader knows from what 

 we have already written, we are bound to Scotland by 

 the nearest and dearest ties. But many might comfort- 

 ably reach the Coquet and enjoy a few days there who 

 would not for the short time they have at their disposal 

 think of going so far afield as Deeside or Inverness or 

 Argyleshire. 



Well, then, let us start on our journey. We might 

 spend a good while in tracing the Coquet from its rise 



in the Cheviot Hills, clearing its way " through moors 



289 -p 



