Stone Tour 2014 (2)
Dalwhinnie Stone
This stone is obviously well known having featured in “Of Stones and Strength”. It has not
been formerly weighed however measures around 250lbs. It sits outside the now defunct
“Loch Ericht Hotel” in Dalwhinnie which is in an extremely poor and run down condition and
as such the local community council are endeavouring to have ownership transferred so
that the stone can be made safe.
There is scant lifting history for the stone, it is not the sister of the long lost Stone of Heroes
as sometimes mentioned as that stone was indeed “created” in the mid 1970’s.
What is known of the Dalwhinnie Stone is that it was indeed lifted by AA Cameron circa
1920 when he walked with the stone and placed it on the bar counter inside the hotel. A
familiar story which seems to have travelled somewhat. The lift by AA Cameron can be
authenticated as the local newspaper thought it newsworthy enough to mention it.
The Menzies Castle Stone
A well known stone which unfortunately does not have any serious history attached to it
and what history has been stated is by its nature quite doubtful. The stone nevertheless has
a pedigree of modern lifting and at some 250lbs, it should be easier that the celebrated
Inver Stone but some may find it more difficult.
Not reported is that the new curator for the castle is not too keen on people simply arriving
to lift it. The stone however lies on route to a far better test of strength.
Bodach Chraig Fiannaidh aka Testing Stone of the Fianna
The history and folklore of this stone is without equal. It has a written history that mentions
it as a stone used in competition in the 1700’s, used as a Clan Testing Stone as well as lifted
to prove manhood.
Despite what has been written in modern times, the plinth was at one time 3ft in height and
a lift is not merely raising it 6 inches. When the modern road was constructed through the
Glen in the late 18th Century, banking up of the road reduced the height of the plinth.
The nomenclature for the stone is actually incorrect – the direct translation is the “Old Man
of the Rock of the Fianna” with the “rock” actually being the Pictish Mote Hill situated
nearby. All the history of this stone points to a time before the creation of the Scottish Clan
System
The Puterach
The stone on top of the plinth is a replica for the long lost Puterach but this site is not about
the stone, it is about the plinth.
“On the level ground below this knoll there is a prominent monolith, standing about 4 feet
above ground, quite flat, on the top. It is shaped like a wedge, with the edge to the east, and
is famous in Balquhidder as the place where trials of strength took place. A large round
water-worn boulder, named, after the district," Puderag," and weighing between two and
three hundredweight, was the testing stone, which had to be lifted and placed on the top of
the standing stone.”
The stone was classified by the doubtful James Logan as Clach Neart however in his book
“McIan’s Highlanders at Home”, he makes no mention whatsoever about the plinth. It was
Logan that was first to coin the written phrase “clach cuid fir” which has been overused and
well misunderstood but equally so has been the use of a reception plinth in Scottish
Strength.
The traditional lift of the stone was made by approaching the plinth from the East. This has
in recent times been carried out on no fewer than 6 occasions however each lifter has
required to lift the reasonably light 220lbs and shoulder it in order to drop it onto the plinth.
The original lift was using arms length and this is no easy lift. It should also be remembered
that as a clach neart, this stone would have been expected to have been thrown over the
plinth.
The site at Balqhuhidder also has the added presence of “Rob Roy’s Grave” close by.
The Wallace Putting Stone
Perhaps with this stone it is better to quote the historic reference –
“About two miles south-west of the village of Blackford, on the Sheriffmuir road, and near
to the farm-house of Easter-Biggs, is an arch of stones, seven in number, called the "
Seven Stanes," varying from perhaps a ton to two tons each. One of these is of a round
prismatical shape, and stands in an erect position. Beside these lies a large bullet of stone,
called " Wallace's Puttin' Stane," and he is accounted a strong man who can lift it in his
arms to the top of the standing one, which is about four feet high,—and a very strong man
who is able to toss it over without coming in contact with the upright one. At one time few
were to be found of such muscular strength as to accomplish this—not so much from the
actual weight of the stone itself, as from the difficulty of retaining hold of it, it being very
smooth and circular. This difficulty, however, was obviated about seventy years ago, by the
barbarous hand of a mason, to enable himself to perform the feat, since which time a
person of ordinary strength can easily lift it.”
Text from “Dunblane Traditions” by John Monteath 1887.
Having taken some 5 visits to find this stone, it is actually quite obvious when the actual
location is known and for those that wish to attempt a unique stone jigsaw puzzle, the cut
off section is nearby. The plinth unfortunately is recumbent and can no longer be used.
This stone weigh in excess of 300 lbs and is a bit of a brute.
The Sadlin Mare
The saddle at this site is the 220lb stone which has to be placed onto the plinth, the “mare”.
The origin of this unique feat of strength is unknown however it may well have initiated with
the 18th Century Caterans or Cattle thieves who resided nearby or at least the persons who
initiated this showed a unique sense of Gaelic humour.
The best written reference to this stone actually comes from a visiting Victorian writer from
the USA who on hearing about it, simply bypassed the nearby ancient roman fort to witness
personally a saddlin of the mare.
There were in fact three stones to be placed onto the 30 degree sloping plinth however only
the larger stone still remains. Placing the stone atop this plinth requires not only strength
but a certain degree of dexterity as the stone will want to slip back onto the unfortunate
lifters head or toes. The mare has only been saddled once in recent times by Alex Roberts of
England and even then, after a few seconds of remaining still, the stone slid back.
This site is a great fun lift to conclude a stone tour.......just be prepared to accept defeat.
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