PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



51 



a lower shoulder towards the north-western end, where, either by 

 rain or wind, or possibly by both, the soil has been eliminated, 

 leaving a bare piece of stony and rocky hill. Looking at it from 

 Strathpeffer, the upper parts appear one vast peat-bog, the com- 

 mencement of the water-courses marking out the peat-hags, the 

 lower parts immediately above the Strath being covered, for some 

 considerable distance, with the inevitable fir plantations. 



The Blackwater runs under the shoulder of Little Wyvis into 

 Loch Garve, which contains pike of large size, and in the winter 

 is much frequented by ducks, A little distance below where it 

 leaves the loch are the well-known falls of Eogie, thence it runs 

 through the well- wooded estate of Coul, and a little below Contin 

 it falls into the Conon. 



In the districts of Craigdarroch, Scatwell, and Fodderty there 

 is a very large amount of wooded area, interspersed with some 

 excellent arable ground, affording a mixture of every sort of game, 

 with the exception, perhaps, of the Ptarmigan. 



A very good view is obtained of the valley of the Conon from 

 the railway just opposite Conon House. The rugged outlines of 

 the far-out hills, covered with snow until quite late in the season, 

 form a framework to the lower heights clothed with wood, 

 glimmering on a fine warm day with the blue haze of distance, 

 and below, the well-cultivated fields of Fairburn, Highfield, and 

 Conon, with the river running at the bottom of the strath. The 

 woods through which that part of the line runs are well kept, and 

 in the proper season are bright with rhododendrons. 



V. THE BEAULY BASIX. 



The Beauly is formed by the junction of its two principal 

 affluents, the Farrar and the Glass, which unite at Struy, close to 

 Erchless Castle, the seat of the Chisholms : the Glass receives the 

 waters of Glen Cannich and Glen Affric. 



Like most of the large eastern rivers, the watershed of the 

 Beauly is of great extent, and its outlying feeders rise close up to 

 the western sea. 



