Sacred Rocks, Hills, Lakes

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

  1. A’ Chailleach, Braemore, Ross & Cromarty
  2. Alcomden Stones, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire
  3. Almscliffe Crags, North Rigton, North Yorkshire
  4. Altar Stone, Stobo, Peeblesshire
  5. An Sithean, Lawers, Kenmore, Perthshire
  6. Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  7. Ashlar Chair, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
  8. Basin Stone, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
  9. Beinn Dearg bad Chailleach, Drumchork, Ross & Cromarty
  10. Beinn na Cailleach, Ardtalla, Islay, Argyll
  11. Beinn na Cailleach, Broadford, Skye, Inverness-shire
  12. Beinn na Cailleach, Kinlochmore, Inverness-shire
  13. Beinn na Cailleach, Knoydart, Inverness-shire
  14. Beinn na Cailleach, Kylerhea, Skye, Inverness-shire
  15. Bell Stane, Queensferry, Midlothian
  16. Ben Ledi, Callander, Stirlingshire
  17. Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire
  18. Blue Stane, St. Andrews, Fife
  19. The Bodach and Cailleach, Ardminish, Gigha, Argyll
  20. Boggart’s Chair, Elland, West Yorkshire
  21. Boggart Stone, Midgley, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
  22. Boggart Stones, Heptonstall Moor, West Yorkshire
  23. Boggart Stones, Saddleworth Moor, Lancashire
  24. Boggart Stones, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire
  25. Bogle Bush, Collace, Perthshire
  26. Bride Stones, Todmorden – see Great Bride Stones
  27. Brimham Rocks, Hartwith, North Yorkshire
  28. Broad Oak, Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex
  29. Brow Grains Rocking Stone, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire
  30. Bull Stone, Crook of Devon, Kinross-shire
  31. Busky Dike Druidical Altar, Fewston, North Yorkshire
  32. Carlie Craig, Blairlogie, Stirlingshire
  33. Carlinghow Hill, Batley, West Yorkshire
  34. Carlin Stone, Balfron, Stirlingshire
  35. Carling Stone, Blackpool, Lancashire
  36. Clach an Eolas, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides
  37. Clach Mhallaichte, Cromarty, Ross & Cromarty
  38. Clach mo-Luchaig, Fortingall, Perthshire
  39. Clach na Ba, St Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire
  40. Clach na Ghlaisrig, Luing, Argyll
  41. Clach na Glaistig, Iona, Argyll
  42. Clach na Gruagach, Balnahard, Colonsay
  43. Clach na Gruagach, Barra, Outer Hebrides
  44. Clach na Gruagach, Bennan, Mull
  45. Clach na Gruagach, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides
  46. Clach na Gruagach, Tiree, Argyll
  47. Clach na Gruagach, Trodda, Skye
  48. Clach na Foinne, Glen Lochay, Perthshire
  49. Clach na h-ealea, Clachan, Lismore, Argyll
  50. Clach na Sgoltadh, Bridge of Balgie, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
  51. Clochoderick Stone, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
  52. Cnoc a’ Chiuil, Weem, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
  53. Cock Crowing Stone, Hollow Meadows, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
  54. Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
  55. Cow and Calf Stones, East Bierley, West Yorkshire
  56. Cow Clout Stone, Parton, Kirkcudbrightshire
  57. Cradle Stone, Crieff, Perthshire
  58. Creag an t-Sithean, St. Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire
  59. Creag na Cailleach, Killin, Perthshire
  60. Cross Oak, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
  61. Deil’s Cradle, Dollar, Clackmannanshire
  62. De’il’s Stane, Waltonhill, Craigrothie, Fife
  63. Devil’s Blue Stane, Crail, Fife
  64. Devil’s Stone, Addlebrough, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
  65. Devil’s Stone, Winceby, Lincolnshire
  66. Dove Law Stones, Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire
  67. Dove Stones, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire
  68. Dragon’s Wood, Alderbury, Shropshire
  69. Druid’s Altar, Bingley, West Yorkshire
  70. Druid’s Stone, Bungay, Suffolk
  71. Eagle Stone, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
  72. Echo Stone, Mugdock, Stirlingshire
  73. Elbolton Hill, Thorpe, Burnsall, North Yorkshire
  74. Fairies’ Cradle, Cromarty, Ross & Cromarty
  75. Fairy Dell, Denton, North Yorkshire
  76. Fairy Crags, Shap, Westmorland
  77. Fairy Holes, Whitewell, Lancashire
  78. Fairy Loch, Arrochar, Argyll
  79. Fairy Stone, Clunbury, Shropshire
  80. Fairy Stone, Fourstones, Northumberland
  81. Fairy Stones, Wharram Percy, East Yorkshire
  82. Fairy’s Chest, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  83. Giant’s Leap & Rock, Abernyte, Perthshire
  84. Giant’s Stones, Arnbathie, Perthshire
  85. Glen Cailleach, Fortingall, Perthshire
  86. Goose Oaks, St. Fillans, Comrie, Perthshire
  87. Great Bride Stones, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
  88. Great Dove Stones, Saddleworth Moor, Lancashire
  89. The Great Stone, Downham, Lancashire
  90. Great Stone of Fourstones, Lowgill, North Yorkshire
  91. Gray Stone, Burley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  92. Hitching Stone, Keighley Moor, West Yorkshire
  93. Hood Hill Stone, Kilburn, North Yorkshire
  94. Jenny Twigg and her Daughter Dibb, Lofthouse, North Yorkshire
  95. Kelpie’s Stane, Corgarff, Aberdeenshire
  96. The Kirk, Steeton, West Yorkshire
  97. Kirk Stones, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
  98. Leac na Gruagaich, Kinlochleven, Inverness-shire
  99. Little Almscliffe, Stainburn, North Yorkshire
  100. Loch Carlin, Gruinard, Ross & Cromarty
  101. Loch Derculich, Dull, Perthshire
  102. Loch Glassy, Weem, Aberfeldy, Perthshire
  103. Loch Nell, Argyll
  104. Lochan Uaine, Arrochar, Argyll – see Fairy Loch, Arrochar
  105. Lon na Cailleach, Fortingall, Perthshire
  106. Maen Sigl, Llandudno, Caernarvonshire
  107. Maiden Castle, Glendevon, Perthshire
  108. Maiden’s Oak, Abernethy, Perthshire
  109. Man Stone, Whitworth, Lancashire
  110. Mauns Stone, New Deer, Aberdeenshire
  111. Meall an t-Sithe, Loch a’ Bhroain, Braemore, Ross & Cromarty
  112. Mullach-Geal Stone, St Kilda – Legendary Stone
  113. Nursery Knot, Appletreewick Moor, North Yorkshire
  114. Old Man at Mow, Mow Cop, Cheshire
  115. The Old Man of Storr, Skye, Inverness-shire
  116. The Old Woman, Cornholme, West Yorkshire
  117. Old Wife Ridge, Heyshaw Moor, Dacre, North Yorkshire
  118. Ossian’s Stone, Sma’ Glen, Fowlis Wester, Perthshire
  119. Pendle Hill, Lancashire
  120. Penny Stone, Blackpool, Lancashire
  121. Ponden Kirk, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire
  122. Pots and Pans Stone, Greenfield, Oldham, Lancashire
  123. Praying Hands of Mary – see Clach an Sgoltadh
  124. Queen of the Fairies Chair, Lowgill, Lancashire
  125. Ringstone, Torrisdale Bay, Farr, Sutherland
  126. River Barvas, Barvas, Lewis, Outer Hebrides
  127. Robin Hood’s Bed, Blackstone Edge, Littleborough, Lancashire
  128. Robin Hood’s House, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire
  129. Robin Hood’s House, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
  130. Robin Hood’s Pennystone, Midgley Moor, West Yorkshire
  131. Robin Hood’s Seat, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire
  132. Robin Hood’s Stone, Riddlesden, Keighley, West Yorkshire
  133. Rocking Stone, Bordley, North Yorkshire
  134. Rocking Stone, Golcar, West Yorkshire
  135. Rocking Stones, Kirriemuir, Angus
  136. Rocking Stone, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire
  137. Rocking Stone, Rishworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  138. Rocking Stone, Warley Moor, Halifax, West Yorkshire
  139. St. Austin’s Stone, High Hunsley, East Yorkshire
  140. St. Canna’s Stone, Llangan, Carmarthenshire
  141. St. Fillan’s Chair, Dundurn, Comrie, Perthshire
  142. St. Fillan’s Chair, Killin, Perthshire
  143. St Giles’ Stone, Mosstowie, Elgin, Moray
  144. St. Palladius’ Footprint, Camusvrachan, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
  145. St. Tredwell’s Loch, Papa Westray, Orkney Isles
  146. Samson’s Stone, Crieff, Perthshire
  147. Samson Stone, Kilmahog, Stirlingshire
  148. Samson Stone, Waltonhill, Fife
  149. Serpent Wood, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire
  150. Sharp Haw, Flasby, North Yorkshire
  151. Simon’s Seat, Skyreholme, North Yorkshire
  152. Sith Tromaidh, Fortingall, Perthshire
  153. Sleepy Lowe Rocking Stone, Warley Moor, West Yorkshire
  154. Smoo Cave, Durness, Sutherland
  155. Staing Calliche, Fortingall, Perthshire
  156. Stone of Mannan, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire
  157. Thor’s Stone, Thurstaston, Cheshire
  158. Tom na Gruagach, Torridon, Ross & Cromarty
  159. Two Eggs, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
  160. Two Lads, Withens Moor, Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire
  161. Uaimh Shianta, Fearnmore, Applecross, Ross & Cromarty
  162. Wart Stone, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  163. Wartie Stone, Yell, Shetland Isles
  164. Well of the Whooping Cough, Killin, Perthshire
  165. Weeping Stone, Fladaigh Chuain, Skye, Inverness-shire
  166. West Nab Rocking Stone, Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire
  167. Whetstone, Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire
  168. White Rocks, Luddenden Dean, West Yorkshire
  169. White Stane of Tam Baird, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire
  170. Whole Stone, Golcar, West Yorkshire
  171. Whooping Cough Stone, Kenmore, Perthshire
  172. Whooping Cough Stone, Rannoch, Perthshire
  173. Whooping Cough Stone, Struan, Perthshire
  174. Whooping Cough Well, Killin – see Well of the Whooping Cough
  175. Witch’s Knowe, Craigie, Ayrshire
  176. Witch’s Stane, Craigie, Ayrshire
  177. Witch’s Stone, Craigs of Kyle, Coylton, Ayrshire
  178. Witch’s Stone, Crossford, Dunfermline, Fife
  179. Wizard’s Stone, Dollar, Clackmannanshire
  180. Wolf Stones, Oakworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  181. Woman’s Stone, Kirkmichael, Banffshire
  182. Worm Rock, Fatfield, Durham