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Standing Stone / Menhir
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MacBeth's name is strongly linked with this area. Birnam Wood lies up by Dunkeld, there are traces of a hill fort on Dunsinane Hill a few kilometres SSE, and a nearby hill to this is still named King's Seat. Despite the bad press he received from the Saxon playwright, Shakespeare (who never visited Scotland, and was sucking up to the Stewart monarchy), MacBeth is regarded as one of the better monarchs of Scotland during the troubled times he lived in. He reigned for 17 years, and was the penultimate Celtic King of Scots. He managed to visit Rome on pilgrimage in 1050, when it was reported that he 'scattered money like seed to the poor'. He is described thus in the prophecy of Saint Berchan:
'The ruddy faced king... will possess Scotland.
The strong one was fair, yellow-haired and tall.
Brimful of food was Scotland, east and west,
During the reign of the ruddy, brave king
It is appropriate that this immense stone bears his name.
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Posted by nickbrand
19th December 2002ce
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