An unshaped standing stone bearing an eagle and horseshoe-like symbol gives Strathpeffer an exceptional surviving link with Pictish society.
Quick facts
- Date
- Probably 6th or 7th century; present location is not original
- Architect / designer
- Pictish sculptor and patron unknown
- Type
- Class I Pictish symbol stone
- Designation
- Scheduled monument (SM1676)
- OS grid reference
- NH 48487 58511
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
The upright stone carries incised symbols rather than relief sculpture. A natural slab became a public monument through the precise cutting of an eagle and a curved symbol conventionally described as a horseshoe.
Its story
The stone was created in the early medieval period and later moved, possibly more than once. Antiquarian accounts and modern scheduling preserved its identity even though its original setting and purpose remain unknown.
Why it is included
Scheduling protects a nationally important example of Pictish symbolic expression and prevents the spa narrative from obscuring the village’s much deeper history.
What to notice
- The incised eagle with carefully observed body and wings.
- The separate curved symbol above or beside it.
- The irregular natural outline chosen by the carver.
Reading the surroundings
Do not touch, chalk, rub or lean against the carved surface. Keep the immediate ground clear and follow any local access notices.
Timeline
- 6th–7th century A Pictish carver cut two symbols into the natural stone slab.
- 1881 J Romilly Allen recorded the monument during systematic study of Scottish carved stones.
- 1925 Scheduling gave the stone statutory protection.
- 1995 The protected area and documentation were formally amended.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Neither the original position nor a precise date is known; the early medieval attribution rests on comparison with other Class I stones.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Clach an Tiompain, SM1676 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove: Clach an Tiompain — National archaeological record, alternative names, mapped identity and research references.
- Ancient Scotland: Clach an Tiompain — Independent field description and responsible-visit context.
Location
OS grid reference NH 48487 58511 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; the independent source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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