Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/215

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PART OF SCOTLAND.
197

At Mieklour I was on the north side of the Tay, which from Dunkeld to the turn at Kinclaven ruin, near Mieklour, flows from the west; and from Dunkeld it turns to the north, till the Tumel falls into it; thence as far as Taymouth its course is from the west. As from Mieklour to Dunkeld I was on the north side of the Tay, I did not go any part of the new road from Perth to Dunkeld, but passed by Delvin, imbowered in wood, on its flat peninsula. I saw also, on the opposite side of the Tay, Murthly's ancient walls, and its rich meadows to the edge of the river, and the rising hill on which Birnam Wood once grew. As I advanced to Stenton a piece of beautiful crag, covered with wood, pleased me much, and the situation of Dungarthill is picturesque. But the view from the high ground before the descent into Dunkeld is fine beyond description: the cathedral, the town, and the Duke of Atholl's house, with prodigious surrounding woods; the Tay issuing from avenues of immense trees, from which sweep, to the right, beautiful sloping grass fields and walks, backed by the noble rough sides of craggy braes, covered with wood, except now and then where huge masses of rock bid defiance to the planter's labour,