'The greatest ornament we have in all the adjacent Country is about a quarter of a mile from the town, but not to be seen from it, by reason of the Castle Hill. It is an island about 600 yards long, surrounded by two branches of the River Ness, well planted with trees of different kinds, and may not unaptly be compared with the island in St James Park.'
                                                             
                                                             
- R. Jamieson 1822