CHAPTER XXX
FOX-HUNTING IN SCOTLAND
By Lord George Scott
EARLY in the nineteenth century fox-hunting was carried on without a break from north-eastern Northumberland to Renfrewshire.
Owing principally to industrial development, there are now gaps, and hunting countries may be described under two headings.
1. The Border area contiguous to Northumberland, comprising the Berwickshire, Duke of Buccleuch’s Jed Forest, and Lauderdale countries.
2. The remaining countries of which the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire, Fife, and Dumfriesshire are each isolated; whereas the Eglinton and Lanark and Renfrewshire are two contiguous countries separated from the rest.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH’S HOUNDS
When the country was given up by Mr. Baillie of Mellerstain, in 1826, this pack was founded by the 5th Duke. He and his two successors to the title have carried on the hounds to the present day, during which time they have had three huntsmen, W. Williamson, W. Shore, and G. Summers. Lord Dalkeith is now joint Master and Field Master.
The country hunted is in form long and somewhat narrow, and lies in Roxburghshire, Berwickshire, and Selkirkshire, stretching roughly from Coldstream for forty miles in a south-westerly direction.
In the country of lower altitude, which is much varied, enclosures are large, and in parts there exists a large percentage of grass. The fences are mostly hedges patched with timber and some stone walls. Towards the south-east and south-west, country much liked by some, the ground becomes hillier and less conventional; beyond this is hill country, much of which is sound going. Since the war wire has greatly increased owing to the break-up of old estates, and the tradition that it is wrong to erect wire fencing seems to have disappeared. The Hunt has inserted much timber with wire fences, practically all of which are negotiable. Danger signals are not used.
The coverts consist of ordinary woodlands, thick whin (gorse) coverts, and a few blackthorn coverts. Formerly the fields consisted mainly of landlords and farmers, both of whom have largely disappeared from the hunting field, the former being hard hit financially, whilst the younger generation of farmers has transferred its affections from the horse to the automobile. There are, however, as many people hunting and up to 150 meet hounds when near to St. Boswell’s.
The attendance farther from the kennels is generally smaller. Many farmers hunt near Kelso. The best runs have generally been towards the hill country, which has changed little, and which always carries a scent.
About sixty couples of hounds are kennelled at St. Boswell’s. These are stout and have good tongue. Most of them are descendants of Starlight and Sympathy 1882, Rachel, Racket 1885, Careful 1892, Riot 1895, Gretna 1904 (who ran up nine seasons).
A suitable horse should be thoroughbred or nearly so; not too big, and needs to be a good timber jumper also.
When speaking of the most suitable type of hound for the various countries which we shall refer to, the writer assumes of course that in every case hounds are permitted to use their natural hunting faculties with a minimum of interference.
For the last thirty years and more, the hounds in the Duke of Buccleuch’s Kennel with a working record of five seasons and over, have, with the exception of a few notable big ones, been of medium size, compact and symmetrical, with wellsprung ribs. Nearly all possessed strong low knees and compact feet. The experience, borne out by Colonel Mitchell after a twenty years’ Mastership of the Lauderdale Hounds, has been that unless their feet are compact hounds seldom stand the strain caused by the stone walls.
The Berwickshire pack has been carefully bred for many years, and will be found much of the same type as the above.
In all these Border countries, conditions on the unenclosed hills are ideal for hounds. There the strain on knees and feet is negligible, and a big hound is not at the same disadvantage as in an enclosed and hedged country.
THE JED FOREST HOUNDS
In 1884 Captain Palmer Douglas and Mr. C. Sinclair, started the Jed Forest hounds to hunt the south-eastern portion of the Duke of Buccleuch’s country. They were succeeded by Mr. J. Scott Anderson. Mr. J. W. Robson Scott is now Master and hunts his own hounds.
The country is a sporting but rather rough one, and is similar to the adjoining part of the Duke’s country. The coverts are mostly ordinary woods. There are one or two artificial whin coverts. Permanent wire is not so well controlled as in the Duke’s country, but there is little barbed wire.
The hounds which are kennelled at Lanton Tower, Jedburgh, hunt twice a week. The best runs with a good point generally terminate in the Duke’s country or in the hills.
THE LAUDERDALE HOUNDS
In 1889 Mr. Scott Plummer, of Sunderland Hall, started to hunt the north-west portion of the Duke of Buccleuch’s country under his own name.
In 1910 Colonel A. Mitchell and Mr. A. Paton took over the country, calling the Hunt the Lauderdale. Mr. Paton retired in 1919, and the former is now sole Master. The former has taken great pains to breed a good kennel, half of which are descended from Flourish 1907. His kennels are at Monksford, one mile from St. Boswell’s Station, actually outside his country.
The area stretches from the River Tweed northwards to Soutra Hill, and to the north-east as far as a line from Greenlaw due north. The country between the Gala and Leader is sound, open, upland grass with some heather; possibly unconventional, but a sporting country. The fences are mostly stone walls and timber. These hounds occasionally hunt to the west of the Gala water.
Excepting in the southern end it is an open country, and carries a good scent. The hedges near Lauder are much wired, but sufficient timber has been inserted to make the country practicable. The walls are usually negotiable, and there is little plough. Melrose and Lauder are central.
The coverts are principally small woods. Threipwood moss, about 120 acres, is a particularly reliable fox covert. There are a few whin coverts.
THE BERWICKSHIRE HOUNDS
Lord Home had hounds in the seventeenth century in Berwickshire, which later formed part of Mr. Baillie’s country. The Duke of Buccleuch handed this country in 1833 to Lord Elcho (later Lord Wemyss), who gave up his famous Mastership in 1867. He was succeeded by a succession of Masters, two of whom, Major J. Hunter and Sir James Miller, hunted Berwickshire and North Northumberland.
Mr. M. S. Thomson has been Master since 1922, and hunts hounds himself. The hounds, a most excellent pack, are kennelled at Briery Hill, Duns, and hunt three days a week.
The country is roughly the whole of Berwickshire east of a line from Derringtonlaw to Greenlaw, thence the main road to Coldstream. The main portion, “The Merse,” is an open country. The land is good and enclosures large. The hedges and ditches have always been formidable. There is much more grass here than formerly. Wire has crept in latterly, and energetic measures are taken to cope with this. The northern portion of this country, which is rougher, wilder, and hillier, usually carries a good scent. The coverts are ordinary woods and whins (gorse).
The most suitable type of horse is the same as in the Duke’s country, with perhaps more size. There are some keen hunting farmers in this country.
THE LIDDESDALE
Mr. Dodd, a sporting farmer, hunts these hounds, which were started in 1887. This is a rough hill country.
THE LINLITHGOW AND STIRLINGSHIRE
Fox-hunting was carried on in part of this country in 1762, and probably for a considerable time before this. The Linlithgow and Stirlingshire hounds now hunt the north-west portion of Midlothian, West Lothian, and a small portion of Stirlingshire. They hunt twice a week regularly.
The country, once excellent, has been altered by the spreading of industry, and the area much curtailed. The country comprises good land towards the Firth of Forth, gradually becoming less so, until it reaches the Pentland Hills. The more southerly portion contains more grass than that farther north. As in most Scottish hunts, there is a considerable extent of hill country carrying a good scent, but the Pentlands are in places boggy, and hounds sometimes leave their followers considerably behind.
The natural fences throughout are hedges, timber, and walls; but wire has rendered many fences unjumpable. For thirty years successive Masters have laboured with considerable success to insert timber into wired hedges to render them negotiable.
The best coverts are usually fir plantations.
These hounds are well known both for their hunting qualities and appearance. Their kennel is at Corstorphine, Midlothian.
The Master is Mr. George Usher, 16 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh. His huntsman is J. Woodger.
The best centres are Edinburgh and Linlithgow.
A good many farmers hunt; and as many people follow hounds now as ever before. (Woodger, who has carried the horn for many years, says that a perfect-shaped hound is the best stamp for this, as for all countries, and that he has never known a hound with flat feet or back at the knees last long.)
THE FIFE HOUNDS
Sir Alexander Wedderburn had fox-hounds in Fife in 1786. In 1805, with Mr. Anstruther Thomson as Master, these hounds became a subscription pack. He presented the hounds to the country as the Fife Fox-hounds, hunting the entire country until 1874, when Sir Arthur Hackett established the West Fife Fox-hounds. The former pack has hunted the east and north part of this country ever since.
In 1821 the Fife and Forfarshire Hounds joined with headquarters at Cupar and Forfar. As three years later the Forfarshire Gentlemen were £800 in arrears this agreement ceased.
The country, as it is now, is mostly arable, with a good proportion of grass. The northern portion is hilly and carries the best scent. The enclosures are of medium size. Walls predominate in one part. There is unfortunately more wire than is desirable.
Lord Lindsay is Master, and his huntsman is Will Hanley. His hounds hunt regularly twice a week; and three days a week after Christmas.
Most of the coverts are large woods. There are a few whin (gorse) coverts.
The kennels are at Harlawyard, Ceres, Cupar.
The famous Colonel J. Anstruther Thomson was thrice Master of these hounds.
A horse to be suitable for this country should be a good galloper and timber jumper. A pulling horse is dangerous, and a big horse is not suitable.
The Master considers that a medium-sized hound suits the country best.
THE LANARKSHIRE AND RENFREWSHIRE
This Hunt, first called the Glasgow Hunt, was established in 1771, and hunts a country (now considerably curtailed owing to industry) which has been hunted for centuries. This has been extended on its southern border by the loan of country by the Eglinton Hunt.
The country, which consists of arable, grass, and moorland, carries a good scent, and much of it is open. The enclosures, which are small, are fenced nearly entirely with stone walls of negotiable size. Although these are sometimes trappy, hounds cross them at a great pace.
The fox coverts consist of woodlands, mosses, and a few whin (gorse) coverts. There is wire, and arrangements are made to deal with this.
Hounds hunt two days a week.
Mr. C. M. Collins, Barrochan, Houston, Renfrewshire, is Master. The huntsman is Will Dickinson.
The hounds, which have been carefully bred for many years, are kennelled at Houston.
The Honorary Secretary is Major A. A. Stuart Black, Croy, Shandon.
The most suitable centres are Paisley, Houston, Kilmalcolm.
The most suitable stamp of horse is one which is well-bred with short legs, and can gallop.
There are now no hunting Lairds, excepting the Master, and only four people of those who hunted thirty years ago hunt now. Few farmers now hunt.
The recent large increase in the percentage of ladies hunting is remarkable.
The Master says that whereas he has had good hounds of large size, taken all round medium-sized hounds suit this country best, so long as they have good ribs, substance, and good legs and feet.
THE EGLINTON
This area has been hunted for many generations, but after 1851 there were no fox-hounds until in 1861 the 14th Earl of Eglinton got together a pack of fox-hounds to hunt Ayrshire. At his death in 1892 he was succeeded by his brother, who died in 1919, and his son, the 16th Earl, was Master until 1921.
Since this, there have been several Masters. Major J. A. Coats now hunts the country with the assistance of his wife, who was elected Joint Master in 1929. Their huntsman is Fred Andrews, formerly first whipper-in to this pack.
The sea forms the western boundary of this country. The northern boundary runs roughly from Ardrossan to Beith. There is no definite boundary eastward, where eventually the country becomes hilly. The River Doon roughly forms the southern boundary.
The country may be divided into three parts.
1. The northern, which is fenced with stone walls, hedges, and low timber on banks. The going is deep and the country carries a good scent. A clever, bold horse is required.
2. The centre between the rivers Irvine and Ayr is considered best, and is arable with much grass. The fences are flying with much timber and ditches on one side. A well-bred horse is essential.
3. The southern portion lies between the rivers Ayr and Doon, and is hillier than farther north. Most of the coverts are whins (gorse) or small woods. The hounds, fifty couples, now hunt three days a week. The kennels are at Earlston, Kilmarnock.
The country has been much improved recently by the substitution of timber for wire, and by cutting and laying hedges.
The Master says that although he has at least one first-rate big hound, this kennel has always been bred on orthodox lines, favouring hounds of average size.
THE DUMFRIESSHIRE (ABOUT 50 COUPLES)
Mr. Hay, of Duns Castle (in Berwickshire), started to hunt in Dumfriesshire, 1816. He was followed by Mr. Murray, of Broughton, and Major Colomb.
The Dumfriesshire Hunt was first started 1848 by Joe Graham (Old Joe), formerly huntsman of Colonel Salkeld’s Staghounds in Cumberland. The country is isolated, and has no definite limits. It comprises Mid and Lower Annandale. There is much grass, and the country carries a good scent. The principal fences to be negotiated are timber and walls. The best country lies from the River Annan eastwards to a line from Lockerbie to Ecclefechan. Runs with a good point frequently end in the surrounding hills, which are very rough and where the going is poor; scent generally very good, and hounds beat horses.
The fox coverts comprise woods (some large) and whin (gorse) coverts. In the early spring foxes are frequently found on the open hill-sides farther from the centre of the country.
The kennels are at Glenholm, near Castle Milk. Sir John Buchanan Jardine is Master, and the hounds are his property. Frank Smith is his huntsman. Hounds hunt three days a week.
With a good scent hounds run very fast, hence a well-bred galloping horse is practically essential to see most hunts, also one that can get over high timber is a great help.
The Master says that good tongue is essential for hounds in Dumfriesshire, without which they may slip away from their followers. Hounds require stamina and can generally beat horses. Big hounds are less unsuitable than in most countries; that he has little trouble with hounds’ feet, but that hounds back at the knees soon become lame. The fields which are small consist largely of farmers.
