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