The Modern Antiquarian. Stone Circles, Ancient Sites, Neolithic Monuments, Ancient Monuments, Prehistoric Sites, Megalithic MysteriesThe Modern Antiquarian

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Macbeth's Stone (Standing Stone / Menhir)

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.

Hawk Stane (Standing Stone / Menhir)

This stone is connected with the Hays of Errol, and the Falcon Stone near Knapp and Rossie Priory. A Scottish peasant named Hay, and his two sons, assisted in the Scots victory over the Danes at the battle of Luncarty, c. 990 A.D. Following the battle, the peasant was awarded land for his assistance. From Bellenden's 'Boece', in The Archaeology of Scotland:

"Sone efter ane counsel was set at Scone, in the quhilk Hay and his sonnis war maid nobil and dotad for their singular virtew provin in this feild, with sindry landis to sustene thair estait. It is said that he askit fra the king certane landis liand betwix Tay and Arole; and gat als mekil thairof as ane falcon flew of ane mannis hand or sho lichtit. The falcon flew to ane toun four miles fra Dunde, callit Rosse, and lichtit on ane stane, quhilk is yit callt the Falcon Stane; and sa he gat all the landis betwix Tay and Arole, six miles of lenth and four of breid; whilk landis ar yit inhabit be his posteritie."

The falcon was allegedly flown from this stone, and alighted at the Falcon Stone. All the land between was gifted to the Hays, and remained in their possession until the 1700's.

Balhomais (Stone Circle)

Local tradition holds that the trees on this cairn were used as the gallows for the Menzies family (Menzies Castle is just along the road.) The trees there are apparently three hundred years old according to my informant, who lives nearby in Dull.

Devil's Blue Stane (Natural Rock Feature)

According to local author Bruce Durie, in his recent book 'Kirkcaldy and East Fife', the stone is: "A rock hurled by the Devil when the church was being built. It has a rounded indentation known as the Devil's Thumbprint. Sharpening a weapon on the thumbprint is said to guarantee victory." So now you know!

Devil's Stone (Invergowrie) (Standing Stone / Menhir)

Local legend has it that the Devil threw the boulder from Fife in an attempt to destroy Invergowrie Church.

Falcon Stone (Cup Marked Stone)

As well as some obvious cup marks on the north face, this stone is connected with the Hays of Errol, and the Hawk Stone at St Madoes. A Scottish peasant named Hay, and his two sons, assisted in the Scots victory over the Danes at the battle of Luncarty, c. 990 A.D. Following the battle, the peasant was awarded land for his assistance. From Bellenden's 'Boece', in The Archaeology of Scotland:

"Sone efter ane counsel was set at Scone, in the quhilk Hay and his sonnis war maid nobil and dotad for their singular virtew provin in this feild, with sindry landis to sustene thair estait. It is said that he askit fra the king certane landis liand betwix Tay and Arole; and gat als mekil thairof as ane falcon flew of ane mannis hand or sho lichtit. The falcon flew to ane toun four miles fra Dunde, callit Rosse, and lichtit on ane stane, quhilk is yit callt the Falcon Stane; and sa he gat all the landis betwix Tay and Arole, six miles of lenth and four of breid; whilk landis ar yit inhabit be his posteritie."

The falcon was allegedly flown from the Hawk Stone at St Madoes, and alighted here. Rossie Priory lies just to the west of the Falcon Stone, and the Hays (as the Earls of Errol) held the lands there until at least the 1700's. The story is quoted in several sources, and must have some foundation in truth. Part of the Hay's heraldry featured a falcon. Thomas the Rhymer saw the future for the Hay family:

'While the mistletoe bats on Errol's aik,
And that aik stands fast,
The Hays shall flourish, and their good gray hawk
Shall nocht flinch before the blast.
But when the root of the aik decays,
And the mistletoe dwines on its withered breast,
The grass shall grow on Errol's hearthstane,
And the corbie roup in the falcon's nest."

The last quotation is from Pratt's 'Buchan', printed 1858. The oak decayed, the mistletoe dwindled, and the crow did nest where once the falcon lived.

Killievair (Standing Stone / Menhir)

From Brechin head north-west out of the town under the A94 and take the Careston / Noranside road. Just under 2 kilometres out of town, on the north side of the road, you will see the stone in the near corner of a field. There are some cottages just before where you may park carefully. The stone itself is relatively unremarkable, no cup or ring marks, but is of strangely striated stone. An old local rhyme (from a book dated 1854) says :

Between the Killievair and the Buckler Stane
There lies many a bluidy bane

This is alleged to refer to an ancient battle between Agricola, the Roman leader, and Calgacus, leader of the Picts. The Buckler Stane lay at Langhaugh, over 1 kilometer due north of the Killievair Stone, but is no longer visible. Five kilometers due north of the Killievair Stone lie the White and Brown Caterthuns, 285m high hills with the remains of ancient forts on their tops. It is alleged that this is where Calgacus had his forts.

Thanks to local farmer Mr J.Barron, at Findowrie, for this excellent contribution of local knowledge.
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I work offshore in the North Sea as a rig medic. 55+ years old. Nationalist to the core. Have been interested in ancient sites as long as I can remember, due to my Dad's interest in history. Traced my ancestry back to the 1650's. Run a website about the little Fife town I was born and brought up in, Burntisland. Run a website on Stone Circles in Angus and Perthshire. Learning Gaelic, but not very fluent so far. Spend a lot of time walking in the hills. Member of the Scottish Megaraks. Sanity often questioned....

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