V. EDINBURGH.-LINLITHGOW.-FALKIRK.-STIRLING.-35 MILES. From 1 Coltbridge. Edin. 27 26 cr. Almond Water, and enter Linlithgowshire. Kirkliston vill. 7 9 Winchburgh vill. 11 cr. Union Canal. Three-Mile-Town. 13 22 cr. Haugh-burn. 18 LINLITHGOW. 16 cr. Avon by Linlithgow Bridge and enter Stirlingshire. 18 ON LEFT FROM EDIN. On the right bank of the Almond, before crossing the bridge, is a rude monument, called the Catstane, commemorative of a battle fought in 995. Ruins of Niddry Castle, where Queen Mary first slept after her escape from Lochleven. Linlithgow Bridge was the scene of a battle fought between the Earls of Arran and Lennox in the minority of James V. Callander Ho., Forbes, Esq., formerly the seat of the Earl of Kilmarnock. Falkirk, an ancient town, celebrated for a defeat sustained in its neighbourhood by Wallace, in a battle with Edward I. Also the scene of an engagement between the rebel and the royal armies in 1746, when the latter was defeated. The town has now acquired a more peaceful celebrity, by its trysts or cattle markets. At a short distance from the village of Bannockburn, is the field of Bannockburn, where Robert Bruce, with 30,000 men, defeated Edward II. with 100,000. At Milton, 341 in the same neighbourhood, is the scene of James Third's assassination after his defeat at Sauchie. 29 351 The central and original part of Stirling bears an appearance rather antique than elegant, but there are several good streets, and a great number of neat villas in the outskirts. The church is a handsome old Gothic fabric, and includes two places of worship called the East and West Churches. The former was erected by Cardinal Beaton, the latter by James IV. in 1494. The celebrated Ebenezer Erskine, founder of the Secession Church, was for some time minister of the West Church. The most conspicuous object in Stirling is the Castle. It was a favourite residence of the Scottish monarchs, and a stronghold of great importance. Many events of historical interest are associated with this fortress. Here James II. murdered William Earl of Douglas for refusing to withdraw himself from a rebellious association with other Scottish_nobles; in revenge for which the friends of Douglas burnt the town. Here also James IV. was born, and James V. crowned. The prospect of the surrounding country from the castle is magnificent, combining every element of beauty and of grandeur. A visit to Demyat, one of the Ochils, will amply repay the labour of the tourist, as this hill commands one of the noblest views any where to be met with. 413 VI. EDINBURGH.-PEEBLES.-MOFFAT.-DUMFRIES.-74 MILES. Dumfries was made a royal burgh in the thirteenth century. It contains few monuments of antiquity, except an excellent bridge of three arches, which has stood for nearly 600 years. The most interesting circumstance connected with Dumfries is its having been the residence and burial-place of Burns. St. Michael's church-yard contains an extraordinary number of monuments of fine proportions and decorations. Dumfries unites with Annan, Kirkcudbright, Lochmaben, and Sanquhar, in returning a Member of Parliament. Population 11,606. VII. EDINBURGH.-MID CALDER.-STRATHAVEN.-GALSTON.- vill. Addiston. Earl of Dalmahoy. Morton. 74 cr. Gogar Burn. Burn Wynd Inn. Wester Cocksiedean. East Calder. MID CALDER. From Mid Calder proceeds also the southern line of road to Glasgow. See No. XIV. cr. Almond Wat. West Calder vill. Here commences an extensive moor, unenlivened by any object of interest. At length, after passing near the extensive iron work of Shotts, the road begins to descend by the minor vale of Calder into the valley of the Clyde. Allanton, Lady Seton Stuart. Bonkill. Newmains Inn. On left of Garion Bridge the vill. of Dalserf. Stonehouse vill. STRATHAVEN. 9 101 12 16 28 29 30 Esq. Riccarton, Sir James Gibson-Craig, Bart. Close to Mid Calder is Calder House, the seat of Lord Torphichen, where John Knox preached, and where the only authentic scenery around Mid Calder portrait of him exists. The is of a very romantic description. The road now passes over a long tract of moorish land, enlivened only by the towering form of Loudon Hill, where Ayrshire is 50 entered. 40 22 Priestland. 21 17 A mile and a half to the right is Drumclog, the scene of the battle of that name, in May 1679, in which Claverhouse was de- 12 feated by the Covenanters. 11 Loudon Castle, the magnificent seat of the Marquis of Hastings. The more direct road to Ayr from this point, leads by Fail and St. Quivox, saving two miles. Kilmarnock is eminent as a seat of various branches of woollen manufac ture. It now rivals Kidderminster in the manufacture of carpets. The cotton manufacture has also been introduced with marked success, and the 68 town now produces shawls, 65 69 gauzes, and muslins of the finest quality. The external appearance of Kilmar72 nock is very pleasing. IX.-EDINBURGH.-QUEENSFERRY.-INVERKEITHING.-KINROSS. Barnton, W. R. Ramsay, 40 Esq. Village of Cramond on the 39 shore to the right. Dalmeny Park, Earl of Rosebery. A little to the south are the 35 ruins of Dundas Castle, a building of great antiquity, which has been in the Dundas family 33 upwards of 700 years. Donnibrissel House, Earl of Moray. Donnibrissel House was the scene, in 1592, of the murder of the Earl of Moray by 313 the Marquis of Huntly. This melancholy event is commemo- 27 rated in the ballad of "The bonnie Erle of Moray." Fordel, Colonel Mercer. Lochgelly, Earl of Minto. Lochore, Sir Walter Scott. 25 PERTH. 44 MILES. EDINBURGH. Leave Edinburgh by cr. Water of Leith by Barnton. cr. Almond by Cra- Hawes Inn. QUEENSFERRY. INVERKEITHING. Cowden Beath Inn. cr. Orr. cr. Kelty Water. Benarty Hill. Kirk of Beath. Maryburgh, the birth-place of the two brothers Adam, the distinguished architects. Blair-Adam, Sir C. Adam. Perth is one of the handsomest and most ancient towns in Scotland. It is beautifully situated on the west bank of the Tay, having the spacious plains of the North and South Inches extending on each side. On account of its importance, and its vicinity to the royal Palace of Scone, it was long considered the capital of Scotland, before Edinburgh acquired that distinction. Here, too, the Parliaments and national assemblies were held, and many of the nobility took up their residence. A splendid bridge of ten arches, and 900 feet in length, leads across the Tay to the north. Perth contains several beautiful streets and terraces, and a number of splendid public buildings. It is peculiarly rich in objects of historic and picturesque interest. Of Gowrie House, the scene of a well known mysterious incident in Scottish history, most unfortunately not a vestige remains. In Blackfriars Monastery, which once stood at the north side of the town, James I. was assassinated by a band of conspirators. The principal and oldest public building is St John's Church, in which the demolitions of the Reformation commenced, in consequence of a sermon preached by John Knox. |