Here follows the account of our route, with all the names as written down by Duncan. I cannot “mind” the names, as they say here.
From Balmoral to—
Loch Callater, four miles,
Left Loch Callater at 11 o’clock, A.M.,
Little Cairn Turc,
Big Cairn Turc,
Loch Canter,
Cairn Glaishie,
Cairn Lochan,
Ca-Ness, six miles.
Returning route:—
Cairn Lochan,
Cairn Glashie,
Garb Chory,
Month Eigie Road,
Glass Meall,
Fian Chory,
Aron Ghey,
Shean Spittal Bridge, 4.30 P.M.,
Shean Spittal Bridge to Balmoral, 16 miles.
This gave one a very good idea of the geography of the country, which delighted dear Albert, as this expedition was quite in a different direction from any that we had ever made before. But my head is so very ungeographical, that I cannot describe it. We came down by the Month Eigie, a steep hill covered with grass—down part of which I rode, walking where it was steepest; but it was so wet and slippery that I had two falls. We got down to the road to the Spittal Bridge, about 15 miles from Castleton, at nearly half-past four, and then down along the new road, at least that part of it which is finished, and which is to extend to the Cairn Wall. We went back on our side of the river; and if we had been a little earlier, Albert might have got a stag—but it was too late. The moon rose and shone most beautifully, and we returned at twenty minutes to seven o’clock, much pleased and interested with this delightful expedition. Alas! I fear our last great one!
(It was our last one!—1867.)