THE PUBLIC PARKS OF GLASGOW. 



55 



Ardgoil Estate. 



One cannot conclude this somewhat lengthy description of the 

 public parks of the city without mentioning Ardgoil estate, extending 

 to 14,740 acres, which was presented to the Corporation in 1906 by 

 Mr. Cameron Corbett, now Lord Rowallan. This great gift, which 

 comprises the ridge of hills between Loch Long and Loch Goil, and 

 northward across Glencroe to the top of Ben Ime, is typical of much of 

 the West Highland scenery, and is probably one of the wildest parts of 

 the Cowal district of Argyllshire. The desire of the generous donor was 

 to give the citizens of his native city a place whereon they could 

 have every freedom, consistent with the preservation of the natural 

 features of the situation. Its distance from Glasgow, some forty 

 miles, no doubt detracts somewhat from its value as a place of public 

 resort. While it was fairly well served by steamers during the 

 summer months prior to the War, since the outbreak of hostilities 

 and the commandeering of the steamboats it has been practically 

 isolated, as the miserable mail-boat was quite inadequate to cope 

 with the traffic. The Corporation for several seasons before the 

 War chartered a steamer, and gave the wives and children of the 

 poorer classes an outing to their Highland estate. The estate is 

 divided into four sheep farms. In 1913 a scheme of afforestation was 

 inaugurated, and several hundred acres have already been planted 

 with various coniferous trees. The prospects of success are such 

 that at no distant date additional areas will be marked off for 

 planting. 



