"The moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae, "Our signal for fight, that from monarchs we drew, "Glen Orchy's proud mountains, Coalchuirn and her towers, We're landless, landless, landless, Grigalach! "But doom'd and devoted by vassal and lord, "If they rob us of name, and pursue us with beagles, "While there's leaves on the forest, and foam on the river, Come then, Grigalach! come then, Grigalach! "Through the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall career, In descending to the margin of Loch Lomond, the stranger cannot fail to be struck with the sublimity of the mountains which overhang the opposite shore, and round the mouth of the narrow glen of Inveruglas. At INVERSNAID there is a little rivulet and a cataract, the scene of Wordsworth's beautiful poem, "the Highland Girl." Tourists await the arrival of the steamer on Loch Lomond at the excellent hotel that will be found here. "The lake full of islands" is unquestionably the pride of Scottish lakes. Boasting innumerable beautiful islands of every varying form and outline which fancy can frame-its northern extremity narrowing until it is lost among dusky and retreating mountains, while, gradually widening as it extends to the southward, it spreads its base around the indentures and promontories of a fair and fertile land, this lake affords one of the most surprising, beautiful, and sublime spectacles in nature.† *Hotels at Inverarnan, Ardlui, Inversnaid, Tarbet, Rowardennan, Luss, and Balloch. Three steamers ply on the lake; for time of sailing see Time Tables. †The length of Loch Lomond is about twenty-three miles, its breadth, where greatest, at the southern extremity, is five miles, from which it gradually grows narrower, till it terminates in a prolonged stripe of water. The depth varies considerably; south of Luss it is rarely more than twenty fathoms, in the northern part it ranges from 60 to 100, and, in the places where deepest, After taking on board the tourists from Loch Katrine, the steamboat visits the upper reach, which is narrow and hemmed in by the neighbouring mountains. To the north are Inverarnan Hotel, and the wide elevated valley called Glenfalloch. From this tourists may proceed northwards by coach according to the routes described at the end of this tour. Three miles from the upper end is a small wooded island called Eilan Vhou, and two miles further south, another called Inveruglas, on each of which are the ruins of a stronghold of the family of Macfarlane. The slogan of this clan was "Loch Sloy," a small lake between Loch Long and Loch Lomond. At the distance of other three miles, on the western shore, is Tarbet Hotel,* the landing place for those who intend to proceed to Arroquhar and Loch Long; or to catch the coach to Inverary via Glencroe and "Rest-and-be-Thankful.” At Tarbet there is perhaps the most complete and expressive view of Benlomond, the expanse of waters between preventing any object from breaking the full effect of the scene. Nearly opposite Tarbet is a rock called Rob Roy's Prison, from which it is said Rob Roy let down captives by a rope, while he stood at ease above, availing himself meanwhile of their uncomfortable situation, to make the most advantageous terms for himself. Rob Roy's Cave, on the face of the rock, is an opening scarcely visible, and only noticeable from the steamer by two circles painted upon one of the rocks. The crags rise here in dark precipitous masses to a vast height, and the waters around seem unfathomably deep. The uses of a large stone to be seen on the left remind one of the remote loneliness of the country around, though the steamboat daily ploughs the never freezes. The total superficies of the lake is about 20,000 acres: About two-thirds of the loch, and most of the islands, are in the county of Dumbarton; the rest, with the right bank, are in the county of Stirling. Its commencement is 20 miles from Glasgow, and 6 from Dumbarton. * From this the distances to the following places by rowing boats are calculated as follows: lake with its crowd of tourists. The stone serves as a pulpit and vestry of a church, for it has a cell cut into its face, with a door, and here at intervals a preacher addresses the congregation gathering around in the open air. Farther south, a projecting headland is seen on the right, where is the ferry of Inveruglas to Rowardennan Hotel,* the usual starting point for those who desire to ascend. *The path from Inversnaid is shorter, but the ascent not so gradual. Tourists starting from Tarbet with the intention of climbing the hill, cross the lake, and generally strike up the Inversnaid path. This approach is recommended by the full view thus obtained of the contour of the mountain, shewing distinctly how far it is clear of mist. From Rowardennan there is a mountain path to Aberfoyle. This mountain rises 3192 feet above the level of the sea. The distance from the hotel to the top is four miles, and there is a path by which ponies can ascend to the very summit. As a general rule, no one should attempt the ascent except in clear weather; and if no guide be taken it will be advisable to take the bearings of the top before ascending, so as to find the way back by the compass, should mist unexpectedly come on. It is difficult to describe the scene from the top. Grand and lovely to a high degree, we see on one side the Grampian mountains indefinitely swelling westward mound after mound -on the west the Argyllshire hills, and on the south and east the great Scottish Lowland district, with its minor mountain ranges. The most fascinating object, however, is Loch Lomond, clear below, in all its reaches and indentations, its bright waters studded with islands. On a clear day the extent of the view comprehends the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayr, the Firth of Clyde, and the islands of Arran and Bute to the south, and the counties of Stirling and the |