Etive

Etive, a salmon-river and a sea-loch of Argyllshire. The river, issuing from a loch on Rannoch Muir, near lonely Kingshouse Inn, runs 15 miles south-westward to the head of the loch, which itself extends $10\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles south-westward, then $8\backslash frac\{3\}\{4\}$ westward, until at Dunstaffnage Castle, $3\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles NNE. of Oban, it merges in the Firth of Lorne. Narrowing from $1\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile to less than 2 furlongs at Connel Ferry, its reef-barred entrance, where the depth too decreases from 420 feet to 6 at low-water, this loch offers a good example of an ancient submerged glen. Like that of Loch Awe (q.v.), its scenery is magnificent, the upper reach closely engirt by mountains, of which the loftiest are Ben Cruachan (3689 feet) and Ben Starav (3541). Ardchattan Priory, founded on its north shore in 1281 for monks of the order of Vallis Caulium, is a beautiful ruin; so, too, is Dunstaffnage, the fabled seat of the Dalriadan kings, the stronghold really of Macdougals and Campbells, and the prison for a while of Flora Macdonald. See also BEREAGONIUM.