This list confines itself to sites which are publicly accessible; * indicates a charge. For access details for sites in Historic Scotland’s care (in bold), consult www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places (NB some stones are covered over the winter to protect them) and www.pictishstones.org.uk. Harden, J. 2010 The Picts (Edinburgh) and Fraser, I. (ed.) 2008, The Pictish Symbol Stones of Scotland will be useful supporting sources of information. For information about other sites contact the local Tourist Information Centre or check the web. Item numbers refer to the map on page 160 (96); Ordnance Survey grid references follow in brackets.
96. Location map of monuments and museums to visit.
| *10 |
Brough of Birsay (HY 239 285)
Pictish settlement, but most of visible remains are Norse and later. |
| 11 |
Burghead well, King Street (NJ 110 691) and fort
Surviving fortifications give an impression of just how important this site was to the Picts. Visitor centre on headland includes important sculptures. |
| *12 |
Bute Museum, Stuart Street, Rothesay
Includes sculptures from Inchmarnock and St Blane’s. |
| 13 |
Canna (NG 229 043; NG 269 055)
Early monastery at Sgòr nam Ban-Naomha (best seen from cliffs above) and free-standing cross at St Columba’s Chapel. |
| 14 |
Carlungie souterrain (NO 511 359) |
| 15 |
Craig Phádraig (NH 640 452)
Forestry Commission walk to Iron Age fort reused by Picts. |
| 16 |
Dunadd, fort (NR 836 935)
Leading Dál Riata power centre. Start your tour of the area with a visit to the wonderful *Kilmartin Museum. See also sculptures at Kilmartin church (NR 834 988). |
| *17 |
Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Includes 7th-century Ballachly stone. |
| 18 |
Dundee: McManus Galleries, Albert Square
Variety of Pictish sculptures, including Benvie. Reconstructed long-cist burial from Lundin Links and a Pictish log-boat. |
| 19 |
Dunfallandy symbol-bearing cross-slab (NN 946 565) |
| *20 |
Dunnottar (NO 881 838)
Medieval castle overlies what was surely a Pictish power centre. |
| *21 |
Dunrobin Castle Museum, Sutherland (NC 852 008)
Outstanding collection of 18 Pictish sculptures. |
| 22 |
Dupplin: Constantine’s Cross, St Serf’s, Dunning (NO 019 144) |
| 23 |
Dyce (NJ 875 154)
Ruin of St Fergus’ church houses nice range of Pictish sculptures, including an ogham inscription. |
| 24 |
Eassie symbol-bearing cross-slab (NO 352 474) |
| 25 |
East Lomond Hill, fort (NO 244 062) |
| 26 |
Edderton (NH 719 842)
8th-/9th-century cross-slab in churchyard. |
| 27 |
Edinburgh: Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street
Very large collection of sculputures, includes upper portion of Hilton of Cadboll cross-slab and Portmahomack inscription. Collections also include St Ninian’s Isle treasure, Norrie’s Law hoard, Monymusk reliquary, Hunterston brooch and finds from the Brough of Birsay and Dunadd. |
| *28 |
Edzell (NO 584 691)
Medieval castle; display includes small but significant fragment of a free-standing cross. |
| 29 |
Eileach an Naoimh, Garvellachs (NM 640 097)
Early monastery with well-preserved beehive cells. |
| *30 |
Elgin Cathedral (NJ 221 630)
Medieval cathedral includes symbol-bearing cross-slab. *Elgin Museum has a super collection of sculpted stones, not least from Burghead and Kinneddar. |
| 31 |
Farr (NC 714 622)
9th-century cross-slab in churchyard. |
| 32 |
Forfar: Meffan Institute, West High Street
Includes sculptures from Kirriemuir, Dunnichen and Wester Denoon. |
| 33 |
Fowlis Wester (NN 927 240)
Copy of symbol-bearing cross-slab in centre of village; original now moved into church, alongside a second slab found built into church fabric. |
| 34 |
Glasgow: Hunterian Museum, University Avenue
Finds from Dundurn, Dunollie and Dumbarton. While in Glasgow be sure to also visit The Govan Stones, 31 monuments from the 9th to 11th centuries displayed in Govan Old Church. |
| *35 |
Groam House Museum, High Street, Rosemarkie
The site of a Pictish bishopric, this large collection of carvings includes rare evidence for the interior of a Pictish stone church. The George Bain Collection illustrates the legacy of early medieval art. |
| 36 |
Hilton of Cadboll, chapel (NH 873 768)
Modern version of Pictish cross-slab stands near to findspot; visit the Seaboard Memorial Hall to see the lower portion of the original. |
| 37 |
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd
Various Pictish sculptures, including the Stittenham wolf stone, and a
carved cannel coal pendant. |
| *38 |
Iona (NM 286 245)
Site of Columba’s monastery, vallum and replica of St John’s Cross.
Iona Abbey Site Museum contains a series of supreme 8th-century high crosses and other carved monuments, redisplayed to great effect in 2013. |
| *39 |
Jarlshof (HU 398 095)
Multi-period site includes possible Pictish buildings. See also the Iron Age and later settlement at nearby * Old Scatness, with its modern reconstructions of buildings (HU 389 106). |
| 40 |
Keills (NR 691 805)
Medieval chapel contains high cross, early medieval and later carvings. |
| 41 |
Kildalton, Islay (NR 458 508)
Finest surviving high cross in Scotland. |
| 42 |
Kingarth, Bute (NS 094 534)
12th-century church, site of St Bláán’s monastery. Includes early gravestones and the ‘cauldron’, possibly an early Christian building. |
| 43 |
King’s Cave, Arran (NR 884 309)
Forestry Commission walk to cave (restricted access); contains many early Christian and later carvings, including ogham inscriptions. |
| 44 |
Kintore church, symbol-incised stone (NJ 793 162) |
| 45 |
Kirkwall: Orkney Museum, Tankerness House, Broad Street
Includes finds from Brough of Birsay, Pool, Howe, Buckquoy, Skaill in Deerness and various Pictish stones, including Knowe of Burrian. |
| 46 |
Maiden Stone, symbol-bearing cross-slab (NJ 703 247) |
| *47 |
Meigle Museum (NO 287 445)
One of the most notable assemblages of early historic sculpture in western Europe. The cross-slab at Kettins church is nearby (NO 237 390). |
| 48 |
Migvie symbol-bearing cross-slab (NJ 436 068) |
| 49 |
Nigg, Old Church (NH 804 717)
A symbol-bearing cross-slab, arguably the most important example of Pictish art, redisplayed in 2013. |
| 50 |
Perth Museum and Art Gallery, George Street
Sculptures from Inchyra, Gellyburn, St Madoes and New Scone. |
| 51 |
Picardy, symbol-incised stone (NJ 609 302) |
| *52 |
Pictavia, Brechin (NO 577 599)
The Land of the Picts exhibition includes sculptures from Menmuir and Farnell as well as many helpful replicas and reconstructions. |
| *53 |
Portmahomack: Tarbat Discovery Centre (NH 914 840)
Learn about a Pictish monastery as revealed from extensive excavation. An excellent place to start The Pictish Highland Trail. |
| 54 |
Port Charlotte: Museum of Islay Life
Large collection of sculptures. |
| 55 |
Queen’s View, ring-fort (NN 863 601) |
| 56 |
Rhynie, symbol-incised stones (NJ 497 263)
Site of Pictish cult centre (located at Craw Stane); other sculptures on display by the Old Churchyard and in the village square. Head over the hills to the newly displayed stone at Inveravon church (NJ 182 375). |
| *57 |
St Andrew’s Cathedral (NO 514 166)
Museum includes the internationally significant St Andrews Sarcophagus and an important, large collection of other sculptures. See also the St Andrews Museum, which includes the Kilduncan cross-slab. |
| 58 |
St Orland’s symbol-bearing cross-slab (NO 400 500)
Rare depiction of a boat. |
| *59 |
St Vigeans, Arbroath (NO 638 429)
A personal favourite. Museum, redisplayed in 2009, contains fascinating collection of carvings from church at centre of a Pictish royal estate. |
| 60 |
Shandwick, symbol-bearing cross-slab (NH 855 747) |
| 61 |
Shetland Museum & Archives, Hay’s Dock, Lerwick
An absolute gem of a new museum (and shop); early medieval display includes sculpted stones from Papil and Mail, and copy of St Ninian’s Isle treasure. |
| 62 |
Strathpeffer (NH 484 585)
Symbol-incised stone. |
| 63 |
Sueno’s Stone, Forres (NJ 046 595)
Tallest medieval sculpture in Scotland; includes unusual battle imagery. See also Falconer Museum in Forres. |
| 64 |
Tealing souterrain (NO 412 381) |
| *65 |
Thurso: Caithness Horizons Museum, High Street
Pictish sculptures include stones from Watenan, Skinnet and Ulbster. |
| 66 |
Trusty’s Hill, Anwoth (NX 588 560)
Carvings on living rock by entrance to reused Iron Age fort, perhaps evidence for a Pictish raiding party. |
| *67 |
Urquhart Castle (NH 530 286)
Medieval castle overlies a Pictish power centre. |