Print

MHG1156 - Standing Stone, Achnagoul

Summary

Site of standing stone. Opinion is divided on whether this stone was once part of an alignment, circle or whether the stone is an isolated orthostat.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

This standing stone is situated on crest of a low rise about 100m ENE of the cairn ND13SE 51. Unlike the cairn, however, the standing stone is hidden from the main part of the valley of the Burn of Houstry and can only be seen from the basin in the hills centred on the farm of Greentulloch. The long axis of the stone lies roughly N and S, measuring 1.2m in breadth and 0.8m in thickness at ground level by 1.5m in height, but it increases in breadth to 1.5m in breadth some 0.6m above the ground, before contracting to a flat top 0.6m broad. What appears to be a small pen has been constructed at foot of the W part of the stone.
Although it has been suggested that this stone once formed part of a circle, irregularities in immediate topography make this unlikely, and there is no evidence of any disturbances indicating the removal of stones. However, a long pillar-like stone lies recumbent beside the fence some 23m to SSE (ND 1603 3255). The latter stone measures 2.9m in length by at least 0.4m in thickness, and tapers from 1m in breadth at NNW end to 0.7m at SSE end. If this second stone ever stood upright at roughly this spot, then the two stones would have formed a setting aligned NW and SE.
Visited by RCAHMS (SPH) August 1997

In vicinity of standing stone are a further seven fallen stones. A survey of the site shows all eight stones to lie on an ellipse of dimensions 63m by 88m.
L J Myatt 1989.

No change. Visited by OS (JM) 14 October 1982.

Standing Stone (NR) OS 1:10,000 map, (1979)

At ND 1602 3257 in flat moorland, there is a well-weathered standing stone, 1.6m high, 1.5m wide and 0.6m thick. There are packing stones at its base.
Visited by OS (NKB) 25 March 1968.

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 1601 3257 (10m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND13SE
Civil Parish	LATHERON
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (0)

External Links (2)