Ascent of Morven.
September 14, 1859.
I felt very low-spirited at my dearest Albert having to leave at one o’clock forAberdeen, to preside at the meeting of the British Association.
I with Alice, the two ladies, Lord Charles Fitzroy, and Brown, left shortly before forMorven. We took post-horses at the foot ofGairn, and drove by the right side of the glen, along a new good road, avoiding the ford, and by half-past two we were at the foot ofMorven, not far from the shooting-lodge there. Here we mounted our ponies, and our caravan started with the gillies—Jemmie Coutts, an old acquaintance, now keeper of the lodge, leading the way. About half-way, at a burn-side, we stopped, seated ourselves on plaids on the fine springy turf, and took luncheon; then walked about, sketched, mounted our ponies, and rode up to the top, which was rather steep and soft,—“foggy,” as Brown called it, which is the Highland expression for mossy,—my little pony, being so fat, panted dreadfully.Morvenis 2,700 feet high, and the view from it more magnificent than can be described, so large and yet so near everything seemed, and such seas of mountains with blue lights, and the colour so wonderfully beautiful. We looked down upon the Duke of Richmond’s property, and saw the mountain called theBuck of Cabrach, and still further on theSlateHills; to the east,Aberdeenand the blue sea, and we could even see the ships with the naked eye: the table-land betweenTarlandandBallater; and stretching out below, due south,Mount Keen. To the south-west,Loch-na-Gar; to the west,Ben A’anandBen-na-Bhourd,—“the land ofGairn,” as they call it, andMuich; andDeesidein the foreground. It was enchanting! We walked down to where we had lunched, and rode to the bottom. Here we found a fire, also tea with cakes, &c., which had been very kindly prepared for us by a lady and gentleman, the daughter and son of Sir J. G. Ratcliff, living in the shooting-lodge. We drank the tea, and left in the carriage at half-past six o’clock, reachingBalmoralat half-past seven. So sad not to find my darling Husband at home.