Hence, northward, the first mass of mountain which attracts attention is the lofty ridge of Cruachan, at taining an average elevation of nearly 4000 feet, and conspicuous equally for the sharp peak of the parent hill. The whole of this group must, however, be con sidered as intersected by Loch Etive, and as compris ing the remarkable elevations which bound Loch Cre ran and the southern side of Glenco. Among these, Buachaille Etive is peculiarly conspicuous, as well for its altitude, emulating that of Cruachan, as for its ele gant sharp peak; the whole of this group being form ed of granite, like the mountains of the Dee and of Loch Ericht. All those to the southward already enumerated are formed of micaceous schist, while the ridge of Ben y gloe consists chiefly of gneiss and quartz rock.
Ben Nevis now becomes the leading summit of an other elevated tract, which extends from it to Loch Ericht and to the course of the Spey. From its posi tion, rising immediately out of the sea level, and from its. partial independence and supereminence, it is un questionably the most conspicuous mountain in Scot land, and has long borne the honours of absolute pre eminence, which, however, it must now yield to Ben Muc Dhu. The group to which it belongs is entirely separated from that of Cruachan, and from the ridge of Schihallien, which may be considered as continu ous with this, by that very singular tract the moor of Rannoch, a plain or rather a collection of rocks, lakes, and bogs, elevated about 1000 feet above the sea. The total tract, from this to Loch Eil on one side, and to Loch Laggan on the other, constitutes by far the wildest part of all Scotland; being totally uninhabited, and scarcely accessible in any part. Much of it has never been trod by human foot,• and a large portion is entirely worthless.
If we proceed northwards to Inverness along the course of the great valley, and thence diverge east ward, there is no mountain so conspicuous above its neighbours as to attract notice, even as far as the Spey. Nor in any other situations would the compa ratively moderate eminences of Bel Rinnes, of the Buck, of the Cabrach, and of Beunachie to the east ward of this river, be distinguished, though attaining an average height of about 2000 feet; but surrounded by still lower elevations, they become conspicuous for want of competition.
If there is nothing to distinguish the mountains of Cantyre,Knapdale, and Lorn, from each other, neither is there any hill of much conspicuity in Morten, though forming one rude tract of lofty land. Those of Ben chun and Ben y attan are the most remarkable; partly from their insulation, and partly from the very singular geological fact of their bearing on their sum mits insulated portions of coal strata. In Ardgower
and Airdnamurchan, Scull. Donald may compete in. altitude with Ben Lomond.
If we now take a tract bounded by Loch Arkeg and Loch Morrer to the north, and by the Great Glen east ward, the whole may be considered a group of moun tains any intervening valleys; the whole of which are rude, yet little distinguishable, while they attain an average altitude ranging from 2000 to 3000 feet. Hence, indeed, as far north as Loch Broom, every thing is mountain, and all the mountains are lofty; while no where is there any valley more titan the ordinary glen which conducts a stream, if we ex cept the seats of the few lakes interspersed through out this wild district. This whole portion is among the most impracticable parts of Scotland. It cannot be traversed except in east and west directions, and by following the courses of the streams; while, in con sequence of the universal sheep farming, it is nearly uninhabited; the very few shepherds' houses and petty farms which exist being nearly invisible, and the mass of its population being confined to the shores of the sea and of the firths.
The mountains of Loch Nevish and Loch Hourn are the first which begin on this coast to attract no tice, and they are scarcely exceeded in grandeur of appearance and altitude by any of our hills, while, in rudeness and rockiness, they yield to none. Among these wild and crowded summits, the most marked are Drumdeuchary, Ben Line, Ben Scrian, and Drum falla; but, with the exception of the two valleys of Glen Elg, the whole tract, as far eastward as Loch Lochv and Loch Ness, is often almost the rival of the loftier western mountains. The extremity of Loch Duich is similarly distinguished by the lofty and rocky Ben Attow, rising, like the preceding moun tains, to an altitude of nearly 4000 feet.
It is not necessary to particularize any other moun tain till we arrive at Loch Maree in this direction; and a large proportion here, both of the sea coast and the interior country, is of a tamer character than the pre ceding, with much less elevation. This is peculiarly true of the district of A ppleeross, and generally of the sea coast as far as the Ru Rea, a tract of red sand stone. To the north of Loch Maree, however, the mountains become again conspicuous; and of these Ben Lair overtops all the surrounding country, at taining an elevation little short of 4000 feet, and accompanied by Sleugach and others not very far in ferior. Hence a continued mass of rocky and lofty mountains, broken into fearful precipices, and separat ed by deep narrow glens and ravines, extends to little Loch Broom, terminating there in the highly distin guished Kea Cloch.