Raehills is in a situation still more wild than Jardine Hall, but it has the advantages of having a hilly surface, a great extent of wood, and a river considerably below the house, and not on a level with it, as at Jardine Hall. It is singular that there should be considerable streams near both mansions, without the water being seen from either of them. This defect might be removed in both cases, but not without some expense. At Raehills, there is a holm which might easily be flooded, so as to form a lake; or, the bed of the river, which is now along one side of this holm, might be changed to the other side, where it would be seen from the house. The natural features of Raehills are all grand and picturesque; but, with the exception of the new additions making to the house, and the general masses of the distant plantations as seen from it, we cannot say much for the operations of art. Whoever may lay out the approach road will do well to consider what we have said on this subject in a preceding page; and the whole of the walks among the natural woods and rocks require reformation, agreeably to the principles alluded to. [Editor's Note: Raehills Mansion House is a large red sandstone Italianate mansion with terrace and balustrade]
