The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-10-09

ONE people imagine that In
verness is the end of the high
lands. Nothing could be more
untrue. Inverness Is the cen
~ ter. and, in many respects.
the best and most beautiful
portion of the highlands is to be found
farther north" The population in
she far north Is sparse and there are
40 manufacturing towns to assist in
the prosperity of railway company.
II is not possible. therefore. to have
a daily service of express trains to
the north; but the Highland company
has adopted the system so common in
khe great tourist countries on the con
tinent and offers express train ser.
vice on certain days Of the week
Time tables should be examined, as
changes may be made from time to
time. so that the very latest informa-
ton as to train service may be OBJ
tained and passengers will do much
FOR their own comfort and conyen-
ience il they will try to arrange their
Journeys on the days on which special
provision is made for them. The
Further North" express on Fridays
'hg, was must ShNttSSiul ana prop
ably an improvement even on the run
ning of this splendid train will be
made in the future. All the way from
Inverness to Helmsdale l01 miles)
the scenery is simply magnificent AS
the train winds round the three great
frths of Beauty. Cromarty and Dor
noch, with the great hills towering
above on the opposite side of the line
the scenery seems to grow ever more
and more enhancing.
Through the woods of Beaufort
castle. across the Beauty river and
over the neck of land that separates
the Beauty and the Cromarty firths.
the train goes all too quickly for the
eye and reaches Dingwall, the capital
OF Ross-shire. within half an hour OF
leaving Inverness. On its way it
passes, at Muir of Ord. the junction OF
the Black Isle line and the main line
The Black isle. which Is really pc
ninsula and not an island at all. CON
tains some OF the best agricultural
land in the highlands and is famous
for the crops it grows as well as for
the cattle 1t rears. There are some
interesting historical spots well worth
visiting in this part OF Ross-shire but
the chief attraction for the summer
visitor is the town of Fortrose and its
suburb. Rosemarkie. where fine
sandy beach affords excellent facili-
ties for bathing Excellent hotel and
other accommodation is available and
Fortrose is worthy of visit II II is
only for day. for the purpose of see
Ing the ruins of the cathedral. which
are well preserved.
The difficulty of deciding on the
most beautiful scene in the highlands
Is no small one, but certainly the pass
OF killiecrankie has good claims to
first place and 1t is doubtful II there
be stretch of railway line three
miles in length in any part OF the
British islands that can hold its own
with the three miles between Pit
iochry and the tunnel at Killiecrankie
To see the pass as it ought to be seen.
one should walk through It, but a
magnificent view of II may be OBJ
tained by sitting with ones back to
the engine as the train runs north and
looking out towards the river. Unfor-
tunately. Immediately after reaching
the spot where the most beautiful
view is obtained. the train runs into
a tunnel and the passenger finds him
self in darkness. Perhaps the almost
dramatic contrast may. however en-
able him to even more greatly appre-
ctate the beauty Of the scene thus
ruthlessiy cut of by nature and tn.
tnArtistic though practical mind Of tn.
railway engineer.
At Blair-Atholl visitors will find ex.
celleut hotel accommodation and those
who are interested in highland history
will be delighted with visit to Blair
castle. the seat of the Duke of Athoil.