The Whim was a property (also known as Blair Cochrane or Blair Bog) in the north of Peeblesshire, purchased by the Duke of Argyll to provide a residence for himself near Edinburgh. The earlier papers relate largely to the erection of the house (designed by William Adam) and creation of the garden from what had been a peat-bog, the later ones to their maintenance. There are also some concerning coal-mining on the estate and the home-farm.