i
A u g . 21 . Continue my ride to Athol-boufe, in the Blair of Athol, featej
on an eminence above a plain, watered by the Garrie; a moiil
outrageous ftream, whole ravages have greatly deformed the vallnl
by the vaft beds of gravel it has left behind.
The houfe, or caftle is of uncertain antiquity; the oldeft parti
is called Cummin’s tower, being fuppofed to have been built by|
John, commonly called de Strathbogy, who enjoyed the title of|
A t h o i . h o u s e . Athol, in right of his wife. It became the principal feat of his|
fuccefiors. In 1644 the Marquis of Montrofe poffeffed himfeltl
o f it, and was joined by a large body of the Athol highlanders, tol
whofe bravery hfe was indebted for the vidtory at Tibbirmoor. Ini
the troubles of 1653, the place was taken by ilorm by Colonel
Daniel*, an officer of Cromwel, who, unahle to remove a maga-l
zine of proviiion lodged there, deftroyed it by powder. In 1689J
it occafioned one of the greateft events of the time, being the!
caufe that brought on the celebrated battle of Killicrankie. Anl
officer belonging to Vifcount Dundee flung himfelf into it,pand|
refufing to deliver it to Lord Murray, fon to the Marquis oil
Athol, was by him threatened with a fiege. His lordlhip, to effect I
the reduftion, afiembled a body of forces, and marched towards thel
place. Dundee knew the importance of preferving this pafs, and!
the communications with the highland clans, in whom he had I
the greateft confidence-f-. With his ufual expedition, he joined!
the garrifon; and in a few days after concluded his glorious life]
with the well-known defeat of the royal forces under Mackay.
The. laft fiege it experienced was in 1746, when it was gallantly I
defended by Sir Andrew Agnew againft the rebels, who retired from I
Whiulock, 582.. f Bale arras’ s Memoirs, 99.
before I
before it a few weeks preceding the battle of Culloden. As foon as
peace was eftabliihed, a confiderable part of that fortrefs was reduced
in height, and the infide moft magnificently furnifhed. 1 The views in front of the houfe are planted with fo much form,
as to be far from pleafing ; but the pidturefque walks amidft the
rocks on the other fide, cannot fail to. attradf the admiration of
every traveller of tafte. The late noble owner, with great judgement,
but with not lefs difficulty, cut, or rather blafted out, walks
along the vaft rocks and precipices, that bound the rivers Banovy
and Tilt. The waters are violent, and form in various places
cafcades of great beauty. Pines and trees of feveral fpecies wave
folemnly over the head, and darken the romantic feene. The
place appeared to great advantage: for the highland, as well as
Other beauties, have their good and their bad days. The glen, that
in 1769 I thought deficient in water, now, by reafon of the rains
looked to great advantage, and finilhed finely the rich feenery of
rock and wood.
¡j The Torke. eafcade, a mile from the houfe, merits a vifit. It
firft appears tumbling amidft the trees, at the head of a fraall glen.
The waters are foon joined by thofe of another that dart from the
fide. Thefe united waters fall into a deep chafm, appear again,
and, after forming four more cataracts, are loft in the T ilt; which
likewife difappears, having for a confiderable fpace excavated the
rock we flood on ; running invifible, with a roaring torrent, before
it emerges to day.
jj||,. It is hut of late .that the North Britons became fenfible of the
^beauties of their country ; but their fearch is at prefent amply
rewarded. Very lately a cataraft 'of uncommon height was dif-
I 2 covered,
C a s c a s e s .