Standing Stone: OS Grid Reference – NG 849 533
From Shieldaig, take the A896 road east to Torridon and Kinlochewe (a bloody superb part of Scotland – perhaps the best!) for a couple of miles, round the stunning bay of Ob Mheallaidh, till you reach the tiny hamlet of Balgie. From here, walk upstream following the small River Balgie until you hit Loch Damh. At the edge of the rugged and boggy flatland shortly before the loch itself, amble about in the rushes on your right (west). You’ll find it!
Archaeology & History
This is a small but chunky standing stone was rediscovered by Dr J. Havelock Fidler in the 1980s. Less than four-feet tall, it stands alone at the edge of the boggy landscape, with superb views all around (the hill in the background photo is An Ruadh-mheallan). There are other human remains scattered amidst the rocky landscape close by, including the remains of old buildings not far away, but this prehistoric monolith seems to be an isolated example. However, the landscape here is so vast that it’s highly likely that other standing stones remain hidden in these ancient mythic hills…
References:
- Fidler, J. Havelock, Earth Energies, Aquarian: Wellingborough 1988.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian