Windhill

Also known as:
Clach an t'Seasaidh
Nearest town:
Dingwall (11km N)
OS reference:
NH531483
OS sheet:
26
Latitude:
57° 30' 3.99 N
Longitude:
4° 27' 6.44 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Windhill (Standing Stones) by drewbhoy

Looking north east, behind is the Muir of Ord industrial estate.

Image credit: drew/A/J/B/B
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 20, 2019
Image of Windhill (Standing Stones) by drewbhoy

The west stone, the lying flat on your back approach.

Image credit: drew/A/J/B/B
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 20, 2019
Image of Windhill (Standing Stones) by drewbhoy

Ah, the west stone at the Muir of Ord, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Image credit: drew/A/J/B/B
drewbhoy
drewbhoy Apr 19, 2019

Articles

Windhill

postman
postman Jun 5, 2007

About 50 yards to the east of the A862 in a farmers field this stone is between 6 and 7 ft tall, broad on one side and thin on the other. Good views up and down the flat land between the Beauly Firth and the hills going up to Tor Breac and Cnoc Croit.

Windhill

postman
postman Jun 5, 2007

About 200 yards to the east of its partner with the A862 and some houses between them .Between 7 and 8 ft tall this stone is tall, roundish in section and really quite pretty, the nicest and most impressive of the two. Good views to the hills to the S.E, The Aird hills I think.

Folklore

Windhill
Standing Stones
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Dec 21, 2010

If one of these is the Clach an t-Seasaidh, as Postman suggests, then it’s got some gory folklore:

We have received various versions of the, as yet, unfulfilled prediction regarding Clach an t-Seasaidh, near the Muir of Ord. This is an angular stone, sharp at the top, which at one time stood upright, and was of considerable height. It is now partly broken and lying on the ground.
“The day will come when the ravens will, from the top of it, drink their three fulls, for three successive days, of the blood of the Mackenzies.”

Mr Maclennan’s version is:- “The day will come when the ravens will drink their full of the Mackenzies’ blood three times off the top of the Clach Mhor, and glad am I (continues the Seer) that I will not live to see that day, for a bloody and destructive battle will be fought on the Muir of Ord. A squint-eyed (cam), pox-pitted, tailor will originate the battle; for men will become so scarce in those days that each of seven women will strive hard for the squint-eyed tailor’s heart and hand, and out of this strife the conflict will originate.”

Mr Macintyre writes regarding these:- “The prophecies that ‘the raven would drink from the top of Clach-an-t’-seasaidh, its full of the blood of the Mackenzies for three successive days’, and ‘that the Mackenzies would be so reduced in numbers, that they would all be taken in an open fishing-boat (scuta dubh) back to Ireland from whence they originally came, remain still unfulfilled.”

From ‘The Prophecies of the Brahan Seer’ by Alexander Mackenzie (1877).

Miscellaneous

Windhill
Standing Stones
C
CARL Aug 13, 2014

‘Drive by’ 22.7.14

Directions:
Approximately 1 mile north of Beauly, either side of the A862.

After visiting the ruined Beauly Priory (H.S. site) it was getting late and we needed to get to the hotel for the evening. I didn’t get chance for a proper visit but the stone to the west of the A862 can be seen from the road, over a stone wall. It is not too far into the field.

I couldn’t see the stone to the east of the A862.

Sites within 20km of Windhill

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