Students of anthropology, comparative religion, folklore & other academic fields, have long been aware that many mountains, hills, rock outcrops, rivers and other features on the Earth, were imbued by tribal groups with particular sanctity – i.e., are sacred. Some are deemed as the abodes of spirits (good and bad), gods & other transpersonal qualities. Most mountaineers and travellers will talk of these living qualities upon Nature’s body; and although these places aren’t generally thought of as important in the lives of our pre-christian ancestors, such places were primal: imbued with similar animistic qualities found at standing stones, megalithic rings and other human constructions—although we can be damn sure that the spirit-qualities (the genius loci) of Nature’s creations possessed much greater power than anything created by humans. Whilst people may try emulating the feats of the gods around them, Nature is always the governor when it comes to such things! …So it is that we find sites across Scotland and its southern lowlands with great myths underscoring them. Examples that immediately spring to mind are Pendle Hill (Lancs), Schiehallion (Perthshire), Beinn na Cailleach (Perthshire), Simon’s Seat (N.Yorks), and many rock outcrops that we see on modern OS-maps dedicated to such mythical characters as the Devil, Robin Hood, fairies, Thor, Grim and other deities. In this index are the myths, histories & folklore of such places.
SACRED ROCKS & HILLS: Bibliography & References
| Site Name | Species | Grid-Reference / What3Words |
| A’ Chailleach, Braemore, Ross & Cromarty | Sacred Mountain | |
| Alcomden Stones, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SD 97313 35737 |
| Almscliffe Crags, North Rigton, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 2681 4900 |
| Altar Stone, Stobo, Peeblesshire | Legendary Rock | NT 15710 35754 |
| An Sithean, Lawers, Kenmore, Perthshire | Legendary Hill | NN 6806 3976 |
| Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Midlothian | Legendary Hill | |
| Ashlar Chair, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 12075 44833 |
| Basin Stone, Todmorden, West Yorkshire | ||
| Beinn Dearg bad Chailleach, Drumchork, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Beinn na Cailleach, Ardtalla, Islay, Argyll | Sacred Mountain | NR 450 596 |
| Beinn na Cailleach, Broadford, Skye, Inverness-shire | Sacred Mountain | NG 601 232 |
| Beinn na Cailleach, Kinlochmore, Inverness-shire | Sacred Mountain | |
| Beinn na Cailleach, Knoydart, Inverness-shire | Sacred Mountain | |
| Beinn na Cailleach, Kylerhea, Skye, Inverness-shire | Sacred Mountain | NG 770 229 |
| Bell Stane, Queensferry, Midlothian | Legendary Stone (destroyed) | NT 1292 7840 |
| Ben Ledi, Callander, Stirlingshire | Sacred Mountain | NN 562 097 |
| Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire | Sacred Hill | SE 8731 9377 |
| Blue Stane, St. Andrews, Fife | ‘Standing Stone’ | NO 50552 16707 |
| The Bodach and Cailleach, Ardminish, Gigha, Argyll | Sacred Stones | NR 6382 4730 |
| Boggart’s Chair, Elland, West Yorkshire | Legendary Stone | |
| Boggart Stone, Midgley, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire | Legendary Stone | |
| Boggart Stones, Heptonstall Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Boggart Stones, Saddleworth Moor, Lancashire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Boggart Stones, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Bride Stones, Todmorden – a.k.a Great Bride Stones | ||
| Brimham Rocks, Hartwith, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 210 649 |
| Brow Grains, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire | Rocking Stone | |
| Bull Stone, Crook of Devon, Kinross-shire | Legendary Stone | NT 03326 99712 |
| Busky Dike Druidical Altar, Fewston, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks (destroyed) | SE 187 545 |
| Carlie Craig, Blairlogie, Stirlingshire | Legendary Rocks | NS 816 970 |
| Carlinghow Hill, Batley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Hill | |
| Carlin Stone, Balfron, Stirlingshire | Legendary Stone | NS 59553 91277 |
| Carling Stone, Blackpool, Lancashire | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach an Eolas, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides | Legendary Stone | NF 101 996? |
| Clach Mhallaichte, Cromarty, Ross & Cromarty | Legendary Rock | NH 7949 6746 |
| Clach mo-Luchaig, Fortingall, Perthshire | ||
| Clach na Ba, St Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire | Legendary Rock | NN 70318 24159 |
| Clach na Ghlaisrig, Luing, Argyll | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Glaistig, Iona, Argyll | Legendary Rock | NM 262 222 |
| Clach na Gruagach, Balnahard, Colonsay | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Gruagach, Barra, Outer Hebrides | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Gruagach, Bennan, Mull | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Gruagach, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Gruagach, Tiree, Argyll | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Gruagach, Trodda, Skye | Legendary Rock | |
| Clach na Foinne, Glen Lochay, Perthshire | Legendary Rock | NN 50 38 |
| Clach na h-ealea, Clachan, Lismore, Argyll | Legendary Rock | NM 8609 4342 |
| Clach na Sgoltadh, Bridge of Balgie, Glen Lyon, Perthshire | Legendary Rock | NN 61080 46501 |
| Clochoderick Stone, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire | Rocking Stone | NS 37363 61280 |
| Cnoc a’ Chiuil, Weem, Aberfeldy, Perthshire | ||
| Cock Crowing Stone, Hollow Meadows, Sheffield, South Yorkshire | ||
| Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 1306 4679 |
| Cow and Calf Stones, East Bierley, West Yorkshire | Crosses / Legendary Rocks (destroyed) | SE 1975 2909 |
| Cow Clout Stone, Parton, Kirkcudbrightshire | Legendary Stone | NX 6694 7336 |
| Cradle Stone, Crieff, Perthshire | Legendary Rock | NN 8654 2272 |
| Creag an t-Sithean, St. Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire | ||
| Creag na Cailleach, Killin, Perthshire | Sacred Mountain | NN 5640 3715 |
| Deil’s Cradle, Dollar, Clackmannanshire | Legendary Rock | NS 9686 9906 |
| De’il’s Stane, Waltonhill, Craigrothie, Fife | Legendary Stone | NO 36304 09352 |
| Devil’s Blue Stane, Crail, Fife | Legendary Rock | NO 614 079 |
| Devil’s Stone, Addlebrough, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SD 94355 87997 |
| Devil’s Stone, Winceby, Lincolnshire | Legendary Rock | TF 3127 6901 |
| Dove Law Stones, Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Dove Stones, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SD 9333 3479 |
| Dragon’s Wood, Alderbury, Shropshire | ||
| Druid’s Altar, Bingley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 0924 3994 |
| Druid’s Stone, Bungay, Suffolk | ||
| Eagle Stone, Todmorden, West Yorkshire | ||
| Echo Stone, Mugdock, Stirlingshire | Legendary Rock (destroyed) | NS 5493 7710 |
| Elbolton Hill, Thorpe, Burnsall, North Yorkshire | ||
| Fairies’ Cradle, Cromarty, Ross & Cromarty | Legendary Rock (destroyed) | NH 792 651 |
| Fairy Dell, Denton, North Yorkshire | ||
| Fairy Crags, Shap, Westmorland | ||
| Fairy Holes, Whitewell, Lancashire | Cave | SD 6553 4677 |
| Fairy Loch, Arrochar, Argyll | Sacred Loch | NS 3384 9937 |
| Fairy Stone, Clunbury, Shropshire | Legendary Rock | SO 3723 7958 |
| Fairy Stone, Fourstones, Northumberland | Legendary Rock | NY 893 680 |
| Fairy Stones, Wharram Percy, East Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Fairy’s Chest, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SD 98696 56105 |
| Giant’s Leap & Rock, Abernyte, Perthshire | Legendary Rock | NO 21559 31659 |
| Giant’s Stones, Arnbathie, Perthshire | Legendary Stones | NO 16695 26086 |
| Glen Cailleach, Fortingall, Perthshire | Sacred Glen | |
| Great Bride Stones, Todmorden, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SD 93329 26737 |
| Great Dove Stones, Saddleworth Moor, Lancashire | ||
| The Great Stone, Downham, Lancashire | Legendary Stone | SD 78212 44402 |
| Great Stone of Fourstones, Lowgill, North Yorkshire | Legendary Stone | SD 66972 66292 |
| Gray Stone, Burley, Leeds, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 28659 34229 |
| Hitching Stone, Keighley Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SD 98665 41698 |
| Hood Hill Stone, Kilburn, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 503 812 |
| Jenny Twigg and her Daughter Dibb, Lofthouse, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | |
| Kelpie’s Stane, Corgarff, Aberdeenshire | Legendary Rock | NJ 264 087 |
| The Kirk, Steeton, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 0418 4391 |
| Kirk Stones, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 0886 4479 |
| Leac na Gruagaich, Kinlochleven, Inverness-shire | ||
| Little Almscliffe, Stainburn, North Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 23237 52275 |
| Loch Carlin, Gruinard, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Loch Derculich, Dull, Perthshire | Sacred Loch | NN 864 549 |
| Loch Glassy, Weem, Aberfeldy, Perthshire | Sacred Loch | NN 850 528 |
| Loch Nell, Argyll | Sacred Loch | |
| Lochan Uaine, Arrochar, Argyll – a.k.a Fairy Loch, Arrochar | ||
| Lon na Cailleach, Fortingall, Perthshire | ||
| Maen Sigl, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire | Legendary Stone | SH 7792 8297 |
| Maiden Castle, Glendevon, Perthshire | Legendary Hill | NN 9710 0141 |
| Man Stone, Whitworth, Lancashire | Legendary Rock | SD 893 171 |
| Mauns Stone, New Deer, Aberdeenshire | Legendary Rock (destroyed) | NJ 89397 49502 |
| Meall an t-Sithe, Loch a’ Bhroain, Braemore, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Mullach-Geal Stone, St Kilda, Outer Hebrides | Legendary Rock | NF 092 996 |
| Nursery Knot, Appletreewick Moor, North Yorkshire | Sacred Hill | SE 081 636 |
| Old Man at Mow, Mow Cop, Cheshire | ||
| The Old Man of Storr, Skye, Inverness-shire | ||
| The Old Woman, Cornholme, West Yorkshire | ||
| Old Wife Ridge, Heyshaw Moor, Dacre, North Yorkshire | Sacred Hill | SE 159 626 |
| Ossian’s Stone, Sma’ Glen, Fowlis Wester, Perthshire | Sacred Stone | NN 89532 30595 |
| Pendle Hill, Lancashire | Sacred Hill | |
| Penny Stone, Blackpool, Lancashire | ||
| Ponden Kirk, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SD 97969 36483 |
| Pots and Pans Stone, Greenfield, Oldham, Lancashire | Legendary Rocks | SE 01008 05072 |
| Praying Hands of Mary – a.k.a Clach an Sgoltadh | ||
| Queen of the Fairies Chair, Lowgill, Lancashire | ||
| Ringstone, Torrisdale Bay, Farr, Sutherland | Legendary Rock | NC 69128 61741 |
| River Barvas, Barvas, Lewis, Outer Hebrides | Sacred River | NB 351 494 |
| Robin Hood’s Bed, Blackstone Edge, Littleborough, Lancashire | Legendary Rocks | SD 97204 16356 |
| Robin Hood’s House, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | |
| Robin Hood’s House, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire | ||
| Robin Hood’s Pennystone, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 01831 28436 |
| Robin Hood’s Seat, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | |
| Robin Hood’s Stone, Riddlesden, Keighley, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 06228 44470 |
| Rocking Stone, Bordley, North Yorkshire | ||
| Rocking Stone, Golcar, West Yorkshire | SE 076 163 | |
| Rocking Stones, Kirriemuir, Angus | Legendary Rocks (destroyed) | NO 3813 5496 |
| Rocking Stone, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire | SE 0728 0944 | |
| Rocking Stone, Rishworth Moor, West Yorkshire | SD 990 150 | |
| Rocking Stone, Warley Moor, Halifax, West Yorkshire | SE 03399 30199 | |
| St. Austin’s Stone, High Hunsley, East Yorkshire | Legendary Rock | SE 93360 34443 |
| St. Canna’s Stone, Llangan, Carmarthenshire | Legendary Stone | SN 1770 1874 |
| St. Fillan’s Chair, Dundurn, Comrie, Perthshire | Sacred Stone | NN 7081 2325 |
| St. Fillan’s Chair, Killin, Perthshire | Sacred Stone | NN 56432 32010 |
| St Giles’ Stone, Mosstowie, Elgin, Moray | ||
| St. Moluag’s Chair, Lismore, Argyll | Legendary Stone | NM 86972 44042 |
| St. Palladius’ Footprint, Camusvrachan, Glen Lyon, Perthshire | Legendary Stone | NN 62626 47685 |
| St. Tredwell’s Loch, Papa Westray, Orkney Isles | Sacred Loch | HY 495 509 |
| Samson’s Stone, Crieff, Perthshire | Legendary Stone | NN 82519 22021 |
| Samson Stone, Kilmahog, Stirlingshire | Legendary Stone | NN 60399 07820 |
| Samson Stone, Waltonhill, Fife | Legendary Stone | NO 36312 09667 |
| Serpent’s Wood, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire | ||
| Sharp Haw, Flasby, North Yorkshire | ||
| Simon’s Seat, Skyreholme, North Yorkshire | Sacred Hill | SE 0788 5981 |
| Sith Tromaidh, Fortingall, Perthshire | ||
| Sleepy Lowe, Warley Moor, West Yorkshire | Rocking Stone | |
| Smoo Cave, Durness, Sutherland | Cave | NC 419 672 |
| Staing Calliche, Fortingall, Perthshire | ||
| Stone of Mannan, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire | Legendary Stone | NS 91114 91891 |
| Tarry Stone, Cookham, Berkshire | Legendary Stone | SU 89745 85392 |
| Thor’s Stone, Thurstaston, Cheshire | Legendary Rock | SJ 24474 84933 |
| Tom na Gruagach, Torridon, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Two Eggs, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire | Legendary Rocks | SE 1058 4490 |
| Two Lads, Withens Moor, Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire | ‘Cairns’ | SD 98394 22116 |
| Uaimh Shianta, Fearnmore, Applecross, Ross & Cromarty | ||
| Wart Stone, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire | ||
| Wartie Stone, Yell, Shetland Isles | Legendary Rock (destroyed) | HP 5223 0467 |
| Well of the Whooping Cough, Killin, Perthshire | Legendary Stone & Healing Well | NN 579 323 |
| Weeping Stone, Fladaigh Chuain, Skye, Inverness-shire | Legendary Rock | NG 3638 8091 |
| West Nab Rocking Stone, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire | Rocking Stone | |
| Whetstone, Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire | ||
| White Rocks, Luddenden Dean, West Yorkshire | ||
| White Stane of Tam Baird, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire | Legendary Rock | NS 94135 99110 |
| Whole Stone, Golcar – a.k.a. Rocking Stone, Golcar | ||
| Whooping Cough Stone, Kenmore, Perthshire | ||
| Whooping Cough Stone, Rannoch, Perthshire | ||
| Whooping Cough Stone, Struan, Perthshire | Healing Stone | NN 816 653 |
| Witch’s Knowe, Craigie, Ayrshire | ||
| Witch’s Stane, Craigie, Ayrshire | Legendary Rock (destroyed) | NS 4268 3231 |
| Witch’s Stone, Craigs of Kyle, Coylton, Ayrshire | ||
| Witch’s Stone, Crossford, Dunfermline, Fife | Legendary Stone (destroyed) | NT 058 865 |
| Wizard’s Stone, Dollar, Clackmannanshire | Legendary Stone | NS 9656 9904 |
| Wolf Stones, Oakworth Moor, West Yorkshire | ||
| Woman’s Stone, Kirkmichael, Banffshire | Legendary Rock | NJ 1621 0536 |
| Worm Rock, Fatfield, Durham | ||