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On the south-eastern shore of the lake of Monteith there
is a singular peninsula called Cnoc-n’an-Bocan, “Bogle-knowe,” or
“Hobgoblin-hill,” and which was the headquarters of “all the fairies” in
this district of country. During the time these “lubberly supernaturals”
held the “Cnoc-n’an-Bocan,” the then Earls of Monteith possessed what
was called the “red book,” to open which was to be followed by something
preternatural. One of the Earls unfortunately unclasped the fatal
volume, when, lo! the fairies appeared before him demanding work. Not
knowing what work to set them to, his lordship hit upon the plan of
making a road into the island. They began on the southern shore, and had
made the now beautiful and pleasing peninsula of “Arnmauk,” tufted with
its dark green Scotch firs. The Earl, however, finding that if they
continued this work his hitherto impregnable retreat would be cut off,
asked them to make for him a rope of sand. They began this latter task
without finishing the former, and finding their new work too much for
them, they resolved to depart, to the no small joy of the Earl. His
lordship, however, in consideration of their herculean toils, unfinished
as they were, gave them a grant of the north shoulder of Ben-Venue,
still called Cair-n’an-Uriskin.
M‘Gregor Stirling says, “To their desire for work may be
attributed the vegetable splendour of their present abode, which
without, it would have had the most forlorn aspect imaginable, but
adorned as it now is, presents unequalled specimens of the sublime and
beautiful conjoined. There is, indeed, in Coir-n’an-Uriskin and
Bealach-n’an-Bo, a certain magic grace bespeaking the aerial tenantry.”
Coir-n’an-Uriskin is the cove of the “Urisk’s ” or “Fairies,”
Bealoch-n’an-Bo, the “Lass of the Cows.” |
