PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



35 



out into the strath, where there is a long green level and the 

 dreary-looking shooting-lodge of Langwell. Between here and 

 Invercassley the tide affects the river, and, shortly below, opens 

 into the Kyle. Above Invercassley are a few gnarled and twisted 

 Scots firs, probably the oldest trees in the county of Sutherland. 

 Much of the river side and the slopes adjacent are well wooded, 

 mostly with birch ; but there are a good many oaks, some of con- 

 siderable size, and, along the river side, some alders. With the 

 exception of one patch above Oykel Bridge, there are no fir 

 plantations in this valley until the Rosehall woods are reached. 



11. SOUTH SIDE OF THE DORNOCH FIRTH, THE COAST- 

 LINE TO INVERNESS, AND THE ADJACENT 

 COUNTRY. 



Commencing at Oykel Bridge, we find the river Einig running 

 into the Oykel about a mile below the bridge. The latter part of the 

 river's course is very rocky, and the banks for some considerable 

 distance are clothed with natural wood, including some Scots firs. 

 Continuing south-east along the Kyle of Sutherland the land is 

 highest a little below the junction of the two rivers and above 

 LangweU, gradually sloping down to In ver- Oykel House, or 

 Ochtow, as it was formerly called. Here the hills present a 

 gradual slope backwards, and a little below this the valley of the 

 Kyle is broadest, and is bordered on either side by meadows 

 which are subject to more or less frequent inundations ; these 

 meadows give good annual crops of hay. Towards Culrain and 

 Invershin the slope of the hills is more abrupt, and a large area is 

 under plantation; just above Culrain is a small raised plateau 

 containing some fairly good land, on which there is a farm. At 

 Invershin the Kyle is very narrow, the ground rising abruptly 

 on each side, and here it is crossed by the Sutherland railway. 

 Passing Culrain there are a few crofts and some small patches of 

 natural wood ; and at the mouth of the Carron below Ardgay a 

 large area of good land on the Invercarron estate again narrows 



