One of the chief dangers, and one of the principal causes of discomfort, in climbing Ben Ledi is its liability to mists, and the number of bogs that surround its base. It is not every stout-legged counter-jumper who buys a return ticket to Callander, or every pretty lass who thinks to put colour in her cheeks by the toilsome walk, shall be allowed to treat the “Mountain of Mountains” with the contempt begotten of familiarity. They may struggle to the top, only to be knocked about by “air rending tempests,” or to find that the Ben has put on the fleecy mantle which the clouds seem ever ready to invest him with on the shortest notice. They may ascend voluble, expectant, and dry, but descend much more briskly, sad, sodden, and woefully disappointed. But even before they get well started, if the weather has been wet, and they are not careful, they may get occasionally up to the ankle, and if not, have to struggle at least with some sopping ground. If, however, a good day is chosen in a dry season, and the mists should keep away, we can promise you something out of the common run of things in mountain scenery even in the west of Scotland. It is said that in many of the towns of Switzerland the best houses were formerly built with their backs to the Alps as if the view of them were hateful. The natives, in fact, spoke of the region of ice and snow as “the evil country.” But those who have made the ascent of Ben Ledi in the favourable circumstances that I have referred to will wish not only to set their faces to Ben Ledi, but will be anxious for another opportunity of enjoying the view from its summit, a view which commands all the way from the Bass Rock to the Paps of Jura, and from the Moray Firth to the Lowther Mountains. Loch Vennachar is seen lying at our feet with its 5 miles of water, and its two islands, one at its eastern end, and the other, called _Illan-a-Vroin_, or the “island of lamentation,” further west, and covered with wood. To the south, where now stands the ruins of an old mill, the Teith flows past. A peep, but little more, can be had of Invertrossachs House, which was occupied by the Queen in 1869.