stone things to see in Scotland

["Ian Marr" <ianmarr@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Tomas Lipps enquires about favourite stoney things in Scotland's highlands
and islands.

Apart from the major attractions which Tomas mentions:

A local Scottish mason, Andrew Wilson, who is here at Orange, recently told
me of stones he has worked. One is WOODKIRK, a hard, fine sandstone, like
our Western Ausgralian acrogem (aka Donnybrook). Another Scottish stone is
BLAXTER, which Andrew says was used for the (Sir Walter) Scott memorial in
Edinburgh.

Then there is CLASHACH, near Elgin. CLASHACH was mentioned in despatches
here at aboutstone, and Barry Grove is carving it in very fine 'tributes' to
the Pictish slab crosses at Nigg (see for example
http://members.tripod.com/~Halfmoon/grove.html ) near the Black Isle, north
of Inverness.

Then there is the Caithness sandstone quarry near Wick, a fine Jurassic
sandstone -- if you visit, note how the quarrymen call each break in the
stone b its familiar nickname.

A personal favourite of mine, though I've only seen it briefly, is the
wonderful collection of Pictish carving in the very unassuming little old
schoolhouse in Meigle (www.rampartscotland.com/visit/blvisitmeigle.htm ) and
just down the road, near Glamis Castle, the Glamis Manse stone, a ripper of
a Pictish standing stone. A few steps away is St Fergus' well, with a little
tin cup and a spring of water. St Fergus is said to infallibly grant wishes
sincerely made there.

all best wishes
Ian Marr
http://www.ianmarr.com.au