though round-topped, is a fine hill, especially as seen from Glen Callater.

The highest point of the whole range, excepting the Lochnagar summits, is the Glas Maol, one and three quarter miles to the south-west of Cairn na Glasha. Although actually situated in Forfarshire, the point where the three counties of Forfar, Perth, and Aberdeen meet is only one-quarter mile north-west of the summit, and nineteen feet below it; while at the same distance to the east, at a height of 3,300 feet, the mountain is crossed by the right-of-way path from Glenisla to Braemar. This is by far the highest public path in the United Kingdom. Striking up a little beyond the Tulchan Lodge, it crosses Monega Hill, 2,917 feet, the Little Glas Maol, finely situated on the crags to the south of Caenlochan Glen, and the Glas Maol, and joins the driving road some two miles beyond the Cairnwell Pass, or eight miles from Braemar. Near the summit of the path, and only a little way below the top of the Glas Maol, a strong and deliciously clear and cool spring forms one of the main sources of the Isla. The mountain is so round-topped that, extensive as the view is, it can scarcely all be seen without walking round the summit. Threequarters of a mile to the north-west a shoulder named Meall Odhar forms a distinct but entirely uninteresting top above the carriage road.

From the Glas Maol a ridge runs off to the south-west, forming the narrow and stony Creag Leacach, a fine-looking hill when viewed from the south, but of no interest to climbers. The last point of any importance is Carn Aighe -locally pronounced Cairn Etch-the ridge beyond this crosses Carn an Daimh, 2,449 feet, from which it drops to the valley at the Spital of Glenshee. Beyond the Glas Maol, across the Cairnwell road, the range is continued in Perthshire to the west, and these mountains will be noticed in the next number of the Journal.

With the exception of the south faces of the Mayar and Driesh, which are under grouse, the whole of these mountains are in deer forest, though, as indicated, there are several well-established right-of-way paths, viz. :—

1. Edzell to Aboyne or Ballater by Tarfside, Lochlee, and Glen Tanner.

2. Kirriemuir to Ballater by Clova, "the Capel," and Glen Muick.

3. Kirriemuir to Braemar by Clova, Glen Doll, and Glen Callater; and

4. Glenisla to Braemar by the Tulchan and Glas Maol.

LOCHS AND STREAMS.

There are fewer lochs among these mountains than in almost any mountainous region in the country, and the scenery suffers accordingly.

1. Loch Lee, 900 feet, lies to the south of Mount Keen, and flows into the North Esk.

2. Loch Brandy, 2,070 feet; and

3. Loch Wharral, 2,050 feet, wild mountain tarns above Clova, flow into the South Esk.

4. Loch Esk, 2,417 feet, is a small tarn from which flows the South Esk. It is situated east of the Tolmount.

5. Loch Muick, 1,310 feet, is a fine sheet of water in Glen Muick. Above it to the north of the Broad Cairn is,

6. The Dubh Loch, 2,100 feet (approximately), sombre and wild. 7. Loch Caenn Mor, 2,196 feet (approximately), lies in a grassy cup to the east of Carn an Tuirc; and

8. Loch Callater, 1,627 feet, is in Glen Callater.

Space precludes a description of all the streams in the district. A glance at the map shows that the general trend of the rivers is north-east and south-east, and that wherever, on the south side of the range, there is any considerable south-east flowing stream it is balanced on the north side by one flowing north-east. Thus the Aven and the Feugh, which drain the north side of Mount Battock and the Hill of Cat, and join the Dee at Banchory, are balanced on the south by the Tarf, which joins the North Esk at Tarfside. The Water of Tanner on the north corresponds with the Water of Mark on the south, which between them drain Mount Keen. The Muick on the north, and the South Esk on the south, cut deep into the range at its lowest part near the Capel. The Prosen flowing from the south slopes of the Mayar and Driesh, joins the South Esk at Cortachy, and

has nothing corresponding with it to the north. The Isla flows almost due south, while its corresponding river on the north side of the range, the Callater, has a north-west course to Braemar.

HOTELS AND ROUTES.

Hotels are to be found on the south side of the range at Edzell (lodgings at Tarfside), Clova, Kirkton of Glenisla, and Spital of Glenshee. The hotel at Inchmill in Glen Prosen is now closed. There is, however, a small hotel (beer license) at Dykehead, five miles from Kirriemuir, at the entrance to Glen Prosen, but this is not near enough to the hill to be of much use.

On the north side of the range the only hotels which will be of service to the climber are at Braemar, Ballater, and possibly Aboyne. Although the distances look considerable on the map, there is no summit in the district which is beyond the limits of a winter day's walk, and the writer has frequently ascended several in the day in midwinter crossing from one side of the range to the other.

Mount Keen is easiest ascended from Tarfside or Ballater.

The Driesh and Mayar, from Clova or Dykehead, although with the help of a bicycle both can be easily done in a short day from Kirriemuir.

The Broad Cairn from Clova via Glen Esk.

Cairn Bannoch either from Clova by Glen Esk, or from Braemar by Glen Callater.

The Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, from Clova by Glen Doll, or from Braemar by Glen Callater.

Carn na Tuirc and Cairn na Glasha, from Braemar; and

The Glas Maol, from the Spital of Glenshee.

It seems unnecessary to give further directions as to

route.

CLIMBS.

There are none. The hills are round-topped and grasscovered, with luxuriant heather on their lower slopes, and there is not one to the top of which a pony could not be

taken. So elevated and flat is the range that a straight line of ten miles could be drawn from Creag Leacach to the Meikle Pap of Lochnagar, and, except for about half a mile on each side of the Tolmount, the elevation is everywhere above 3,000 feet, while even at these points it only falls to 2,863 feet, and a dogcart could almost be driven the whole way. Sir Archibald Geikie ("Scenery of Scotland,” p. 195) says: "Allusion has already been made to the remarkable flat-topped moorlands which in the eastern Grampians reach heights of 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea. These lofty plateaux descend sometimes by craggy precipices, sometimes by steep declivities, into the deep glens that traverse them. . . not less striking examples are found among the schists. The mountains at the head of Glen Esk and Glen Isla, for instance, sweep upwards into a broad moor some 3,000 feet above the sea, the more prominent parts of which have received special names-Driesh, Mayar, Tom Buidhe, Tolmount, Cairn na Glasha. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that there is more level ground on the tops of these mountains than in areas of corresponding size in the valleys below."

Rock faces exist, and scrambling could be got, but except on Lochnagar I am not aware that any climbs have been recorded. For those who are ambitious to try, the following places may be recommended :

:

Glen Doll, especially Craig Rennet, a bold bluff on the south-west side; the crags to the north of the Broad Cairn and Creag an Dubh Loch; the crags on the Tolmount encircling the head of Glen Callater, and the Crags of Druim Mòr in Caenlochan.

GEOLOGY AND BOTANY.

According to Mr Hinxman's most instructive and useful article Journal, Vol. V., pp. 282 et seq.), the Glas Maol, Cairn na Glasha, and the Tolmount consist of granite, the Mayar and Driesh of schistose rocks, while the Broad Cairn, Cairn Bannoch, and Mount Battock are granite.

The writer regrets that he can give no particulars as to the botany of the district, which, however, is probably the

richest in Scotland in rare Alpine plants-Clova, the head of Glenisla, and Glen Prosen being all favourite haunts of the botanist.

As might be inferred from the character of the country, the rainfall is less than in almost any other hilly district in Scotland.

REFERENCES.

Articles or Notes dealing with the district, exclusive of Lochnagar, have appeared in the Journal as follows :—