A richly carved Pictish stone stands in the churchyard beside the ruined kirk of Eassie, 2 miles west of Glamis Castle. The scultured stone dates to the 8th century, and is best described as a cross-slab. One face of the stone is badly worn, but the other displays elaborate carvings set around an incised cross. These carvings are in a very good state of preservation and show the wonderfully intricate patterns and lively expression we associate with the best of Pictish art.
Eassie,
Angus and Dundee,
Tayside,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In the churchyard in Eassie village, off the A94, 2 miles west of Glamis
Perhaps the perfect recumbent stone circle, Easter Aquhorthies is set on a terrace above farm fields, just outside Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. Recumbent stone circles are concentrated in the Grampian region. They are characterised by a large stone, laid on its side, at the southwestern side of the circle. This recumbent stone, perhaps dating to as early as 3000 BCE, is flanked by two large upright stones.
Inverurie,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 1 m (1.6 km) W Inverurie, signposted off the A96 on a minor road.
Edin's Hall is an impressive prehistoric site comprising a defended settlement with a large circular broch, within a series of earthwork ramparts and ditches. There has been no proper excavation of Edin's Hall, so we don't know for certain just how old the remains are. It is possible that the broch was built within a much earlier enclosure, possibly after the settlement had ceased to be occupied.
Grantshouse,
Borders,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On the north east slope of Cockburn Law hill, reached by a fairly easy 2 mile walk from a parking area off the A6112 between Grantshouse and Preston (signposted)
A pair of standing stones, associated with the legendary Celtic giant Fingal. The stones stand in a field just to the west of Loch Fada, at Lower Kilchattan. They are all that remain of a stone circle. The stones are alternately called Carrach An.
Kilchattan,
Kilchattan,
Isle of Colonsay,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
When the pulpit of the ancient chapel of St Palladius in Fordoun was dismantled in 1787 an ancient carved cross was discovered hidden beneath it. It seems possible that it was placed there to protect it during the upheavals of the Scottish Reformation. The Fordoun Stone is a Class II Pictish cross slab carved with a Latin cross and decorated with traditional Pictish symbols including a double-disc and z-rod, a hunting scene, and a sea monster.
Auchenblae,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: At Auchenblae, 5 miles north of Laurencekirk off the A94
Built into the exterior wall of Fyvie church, below the east window, are 4 ancient carved stones. Two bear traditional Pictish symbols, including a crescent and v-rod, a beast that may represent an elephant, a mirror, and eagle, and a double disc. A third, found at nearby Rothiebrisbane, is carved with a horseshoe and three circles within a disc. These three Pictish stones probably date to at least the 8th century, or perhaps earlier.
Fyvie,
Grampian,
Scotland
A solitary standing stone atop a hillock or small mound overlooking The Strand at the southern tip of Colonsay. From the mound there are superb views across to Oronsay, and eastward to Jura and Islay.
Colonsay,
Garvard,
Isle of Colonsay,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
In a small clearing on the wooded hillside above Whiting Bay stands a two- chambered long cairn, surrounded by tall trees. The cairn is of the Clyde group, and is in a poor state, with turf covering part of the remains. The cairn is a jumble of rock and partially destroyed barrow, so it can be a bit awkward trying to make sense of the site.
Glenashdale,
Whiting Bay,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
The small stone circle of Glassel Dam lies in a Forestry Commission plantation just north west of Banchory. The circle is composed of 5 stones, arranged in an oval shape about 5.5 x 2.8 metres. The stones are of red ranite, and range from 0.84 metres to 0.99 metres high.
Banchory,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In the Kinnoch Forestry Plantation 4 miles west of Banchory. Exit the A93 at Bridge of Canny, turn north in .75 mile, and after 1.5 miles park by a private entrance. Cross the road, walk west on a track for 150 metres, and the circle will be 100 metres south of the track, among the trees.
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A solitary standing stone bearing what mat be cup and ring marks. The stone stands over 1.4 metres in height (approximately 4.5 feet high) and tapers slightly towards the ground.
Yarrow,
Borders,
Scotland
Though the name suggests a cairn, the Gourdon monument is actually a long barrow, or barrow cairn, measuring about 46 metres long and 14 metres at its wide end. The barrow is oriented NE to SW, and is about 1.7 metres at its highest point.
Gordoun,
Grampian,
Scotland
At the very northern tip of Benbecula, immediately before you come to the causeway heading north to North Uist, stands a small stone circle in a farm field to the east of the road. To access the stone circle take the left fork of the farm driveway for a hundred yards or so until you get an opportunity to hop the fence - take care and respect the farm fencing!
A865,
Gramsdale,
Benbecula,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
An Iron Age fort later used by the Picts. Remains of the fort at Green Castle are fairly scanty, consisting mainly of a low turf bank that has been worn away in places. The north coast of Grampian offered ancient settlers several easily defensible locations to build settlements or enclosed forts, such as that at Cullykhan or the famous fort at Burghead.
Portknockie,
Grampian,
Scotland
Round Cairn has 20 ft (6.1m) long entrance passage (crawl on hands and knees) and chamber. Larger second cairn is 200 ft (61m) long and 65 ft (20m) wide. Both date from Neolithic period (4400-2000BC).
Roster,
Highlands,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
There are at least 80 ancient settlement sites along the machair of western South Uist. Of these, Hallann is one of the most recent to be excavated. Tucked into a high bank in the encroaching machair are three complete roundhouses and a small smokehouse for curing meat. The buildings date to the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, about 1100-200 BCE). About 100 metres away is a second smokehouse dated to around 200 BCE.
Dalabrog,
South Uist,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Over 22 rows of small Bronze Age stones in a fan shape on a sloping hillside. There is no clear indication of why the stones were arranged as they are, but one theory is that the stones were set up as a form of early astronomical observatory.
Wick,
Highlands,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
The Innesmill Stone Circle (also known as the Devil's Stanes or Urquhart Stone Circle) is a large circle covering an area of about 33.5 metres. There are only 7 stones, at least two of which have fallen.
Urquhart,
Grampian,
Scotland
The parish church of the little hamlet of Inveravon holds an archaeological gem. Embedded in the south wall of the church is a Pictish symbol stone of blue slate.
Inveravon,
Grampian,
Scotland
There are four early Pictish symbol stones preserved in the cemetery at Inverurie. The tallest of the stones has incised carvings depicting a V-rod and crescent, Z-rod, another Z-rod with a double disc, and a rectangle serpent.
B993,
Inverurie,
Grampian,
Scotland
Complex of 3 acre ancient settlements, one on top of the other. Time span is over 3000 years. Includes fragments of Stone Age occupation, Bronze Age village of oval stone huts, remains of settlement around Iron Age broch, wheelhouses and an entire Viking settlement. A medieval farmstead and 16th century hall were also built here. Visitor centre with displays on Iron Age life and history of the site.
Sumburgh Head,
Mainland,
Shetland,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland,
ZE3 9JN
Kilpatrick is an intriguing site, a complex of ancient structures variously described as a dun, or fort, and a cashel associated with a monastery founded by St Brandon (a cashel is a circular enclosure bounded by a dry stone wall, though the term is often used to describe an early Celtic religious site). The association with St Brandon is probably dubious, but this has not stopped Kilpatrick from being a destination for modern pilgrimages.
Arran,
Blackwaterfoot,
Strathclyde,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 1 mile south of Blackwaterfoot, off the A841 coastal road
Kinord Cross is a beautifully carved carved cross slab which dates to the end of the Pictish era, most likely sometime in the 9th century. One side of the kite-shaped stone slab is carved with a relief of an ornate cross, filled with interlace designs.
B9119,
Kinord,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On a track off the B9119 (off the A97) on the shores of Loch Kinord, in the Dinnet Nature Reserve. Park at the nature reserve visitor parking area at Burn O' Vat and walk.
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A Pictish symbol stone discovered in the churchyard of Kintore. The stone is carved on both faces; on one side is a triple disc and cross bar, with a fish above, which may represent a cooking pot seen from above. The other face shows a Z-rod or V-rod, a beast, and a crescent shape. The Z-rod may represent a broken arrow. The style of carving is different on the two faces, which may mean it was carved by two different people, possibly at different times.
Kintore Kirk,
B977 Kintore,
Grampian,
Scotland
A carved Pictish slab depicting a boar, along with a traditional mirror case symbol. The stone was found at Knocknagael, south of Inverness. It was later moved to the Highlands Council Offices in Inverness in an attempt to counteract the effects of weathering on the already much-worn carvings.
Highland Council Offices,
Glenurquhart Road Inverness,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland,
IV3 5NX
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: In The Highland Council Offices, Inverness, on the A82. Access during regular office hours.
Knowe of Yarso is a Neolithic chambered cairn on the south coast of Rousay island, facing across the straits to the Broch of Gurness on Orkney Mainland. The oval cairn is made up of concentric walls around a central chamber divided into three separate compartments.
Rousay,
Frotoft,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: 3 miles west of the Rousay ferry terminal, on the north side of the B9064. Take the regular Tingwall ferry service to Rousay from Orkney Mainland.
Two standing stones to which early Christian crosses were later added, set in a remote moorland location on the Southern Upland Way. The two stones are thought to be the only survivors of a circle of 14 stones, seven of which were still standing in 1873. The stoners are only 2 feet apart. The taller is 6'2" high, 1' thick, and just over 2' wide. The smaller stone is 5'2" high, 8" thick, and is also 2'2" wide. The cross carvings may date from the 6th-8th century, and stand on the site of a now lost village.
New Luce,
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: From New Luce take the minor road past the church to Balmurrie Farm. Then by foot along the Southern Upland Way for 5 miles. As an alternative, walk along the Way from Polbae in a southerly directlion.
A solitary standing stone of grey granite atop a small hill, the Lang Stane O'Craigearn may be the last surviving stone from a stone circle. The Lang Stane stands over 3.5 metres high (about 11.5 feet), which makes it one of the tallest standing stones in Grampian. It is quite hefty around the middle, too, at about 2.75 metes around.
Kemnay,
Grampian,
Scotland
The Links of Noltland is an an area of sand dunes at the north end of Westray, within which are a rich array of prehistoric sites. The sand has helped to preserve the archaeological remains, which are only now being carefully excavated and catalogued.
Westray,
Pierowall,
Orkney,
Highlands and Islands,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: On the north coast of the island of Westray. Take the regular ferry service from Kirkwall
A partially completed promontory fort on a high hill overlooking Dufftown to the east. There are four distinct rings of defences. The outer rings are merely small trenches, perhaps laid down as a marker for more extensive earthwork construction that never took place.
Dufftown,
Grampian,
Scotland
There are three closely-spaced cairns situated in a wonderful position on the sloping side of Kirk Hill, above Logie Newton and the River Ythan. The cairns are built of quartzite blocks. The cairns are small, between 6 and 7 metres across - compare this to the large size of earlier cairns like Loanhead.
Logie Newton,
Grampian,
Scotland
A barrow cairn stretching 67 metres. The Longman Hill monument is a bit peculiar; a round cairn at the wide end, separated by a ditch or dip from a tapering tail. The depression between the two sections may be an original feature but it might equally be from an unrecorded archaeological excavation, which makes the remains a bit more difficult to interpret.
Macduff,
Grampian,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Rating:? Location: Just over 2 miles south east of Macduff, off the A98 onto a minor road. The site is 250 metres along the field boundary at the first steading (marked Easter Outseat on OS maps).
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Only fragmentary remains of this circle remain. There are 4 stones, including a recumbent stone and one flanking stone, plus 3 fallen stones.
Mintlaw,
Grampian,
Scotland
A trio of striking standing stones dating the Bronze Age are all that remains of four stones reaching about 5 metres in height (about 17 feet high). As is common with stone circles, there are many theories as to who erected them, and for what purpose.
Lundin Links,
Fife,
Scotland
Attraction Type:
Prehistoric Heritage Highlight: One of the most impressive prehistoric remains in Scotland Heritage Rating:? Location: On the second fairway of the Lundin Ladies golf course, off the A915 coastal road
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