• Scottish Stones

    Peter Martin reseached natural stone lifting across the globe. However, Scotland and the British Isles received particular attention. He left us a number of articles covering this research. These have been sympathetically updated over the years when additional facts have become available; Such as the exact weights of stones, that were unknown at the time of writing.

    peter martin fianna stone

    Ardblair Stones

    Touring set of 9 Stones (18-152kg/40-335lbs )

    The Ardblair Stones are nine reinforced concrete spheres ranging in weight from 18-152kg (40-335lbs). The stones must be loaded sequentially from lightest to heaviest onto whisky butts. The event is judged on time and the number of stones lifted.

     

    The are taken to multiple rural fares and competitions throught the year. Best source of reliable information is Ardblair website

    and Facebook Page

     

    ardvorlich stone

    Ardvorlich Stone

    Perthshire and Kinross (Directions)

    The Ardvorlich stone has little documented history but this hasn't prevented it becoming one of the most popular and challenging of Scottish stone on the mainland. It sits outside Ardvorlich house, which is occupied by the 5th Laird of Ardvorlich.

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    Auchernack Loupin Stane

    Strathdon, Aberdeenshire

    This Loupin Stone was researched by Peter Martin before he eventually uncovered the two lifting Stones at Auchernack.

    Auchernack Stones

    Auchernack Stones

    Highlands (Directions)

    This document is a combination of an article draft, augmented with some email exchanges between Peter and James Grahame. It covers the trip that James Grahame, Martin Jancsics and Peter Martin undertook in 2013 to find the stones.

    peter martin barevan stone

    Barevan Stone

    Barevan church, Canmore (Barevan)

    Located in the church graveyard, this very smooth stone was weighed at 105kg/231lb stone offers a real challenge .

    peter marting stones of old dailly

    Blue Stones of Old Dailly

    Near Girvan, Ayrshire

    Peter waged a long battle with the local council to find out why these famous stones were shackled. He also led a campaign to free the stones. This document contains a lot of history about the stones and the mentality that keeps them shackled. A more recent visit to the stones is documented here

    Peter Martin Colonsay Stone

    Colonsay Stone

    Island Of Colonsay

    An in depth look at the 112kg/246lb stone that, for many, made its first appearance in the Stones Of Strength book. .

    Peter Martin Dalwhinnie  Stone

    Dalwhinnie Stone

    Dalwhinnie (Directions)

    The Dalwhinnie Stone is located in Dalwhinnie and was found to weigh 102kg/224lb

    peter martin dinnie stones

    Dinnie Steens

    Potarch (Directions)

    These are the most famous lifting stones in Scotland. Drafts of Peter's work cover the Stones in detail. He also determines the exact date Dinnie walked with the stones. He also explored the cultural influences behind why Dinnie lifted the stones

     

     

    esson stone

    Esson Stone

    Bennachie, Aberdeenshire

    This document was pieced together from email exchanges. It was then followed by contact with a local baillie named Colin Miller.

    The area has been searched and stone is not present. The hope is that the stone was stored by the current owners. The area is private land.

    Peter Martin Dripping Cave Stone

    Dripping Cave Stone

    Cromarty (Directions)

    The Dripping Cave Stone is located at Cromarty in the north east of Scotland and estimated to be 130kg/286lb of very smooth stone due to its location in tidal waters.

    Glen Livet Stpne

    Clach neart Glenlivet

    Moray

    130kg/286lb stone. This article is pieced together from emails and personal memories. The first known lifts in modern times were by James Grahame and Martin Jancsics in 2013. This stone MUST BE RETURNED to the plinth to prevent fire damge from burning heather

    Inverness stone

    Clach Thogalaich Gleann Laoigh Beag

    Glen Lui, Aberdeenshire

    Peter did not have an article for this 82kg/180lb stone. This document is created from email exchanges with James Grahame

    peter martin glen roy stones

    Glen Roy Stones

    Glen Roy (Directions)

    Two of Peter's favourite stones are located in the Lochaber region of the highlands of Scotland.  Directions to these stones are in the Blog

    glen quoish stone

    Glen Quoish (Stone Lifting Site)

    Aberdeenshire

    Glen Quoish is a short drive from the Inver Stone. It is the location of known historic stone lifts. Peter researches the Large Glen Quoish Stone (approx 180kg/400lb region) and also the Small Glen Quoish Stone (approx 72kg/160lb region) in this article.

    Peter Martin Inver  Stone

    Inver Stone

    Crathie (Directions) .

    The Inver Stone was revisited from a research perspective at least twice by Peter. There is some overlap between this article and this article but both are excellent. It's 120kg/265lb

    Inverness stone

    Inverness Stone(?)

    Inverness

    Peter did not have an article for this stone and had only begun to research it thoroughly. This document is created from email exchanges with James Grahame. However, it does give the true history of the Stonemason's challenge recently reintroduced at Inverness Highland Games.

    peter martin glen lui stone

    Lifting Stone Of The Glen Of The Little Calf

    Glen Lui

    Located in Glen Lui, Aberdeenshire. This stone of approximately 110kg/240lbs is located with 100 yards of the Gamekeepers cottage.

    peter martin newtonmore stone

    Lifting Stone Of Newtonmore

    Newtonmore Village, Spey Valley (Directions)

    The CLACH THOGALAICH A BAILLE UR ANT- SLEIBH (Lifting Stone Of Newtonmore) is an especially smooth stone which scaled at 101kg/222lb.

    peter martin rudh-a-fuder

    Lifting Stone of Rudh-a-fuder

    Caithness

    This is a good example of Peter's exhaustive background research on a traditional stone. Clearly, this article is a work in progress but well worth a read. 

    macgregor stone

    Macgregor Stone

    The Luib Hotel, Crianlarich (Directions)

    The Macgregor stone has only recently come to the awareness of the wider stonelifting comminity. However, it is known to have resided at the hotel since 1934 at the very least. While more details of its history are being investigated, the 132kg/ 290lb sphere is accepting all comers. Specific rules apply.

    peter martin stone lifting north uist

    North Uist

    Several locations

    Peter was actively researching a number of stone on North Uist. He made several productive trips to the Island along with an excellent stonelifter named Alex Roberts. The island is a host a number of traditional stones and an ageing population who are the last of the Gaelic stone-lifters. The stone articles are

    Clach ic caoilte stone stone

    ultach dhomhaill mhor (aka 'Burden Of Big Donald') stone, Ultach na- h'airde glaise stone.

     

    Also, an overview of the Lifting Stones of North Uist

    peter martin puterach pudrac stone

    Puterach and Pudrac Stones

    Glen Balquidder (Directions)

    Not just a great example of a stone and plinth configuration. These documents illustrate Peter's fact based approach via historic references . He also revisited a stone and updated his understanding as his research progressed as can be seen in this article here.

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    Sadlin Mare of The Sma Glen

    Sma Glen, Near Crieff (Directions)

    Peter researched this stone a number of times and this is reflected in the increasing size of the articles he produced each time. Starting with some references he was then able to expand upon it to produce this article. The Sadlin Mare stone was scaled at 99kg/217lb.

    peter martin strathmore of durness stone

    Strathmore of Durness Stone

    Parish Of Durness, Sutherland (Directions)

    A challenging rectangular stone of approximately 350lb/160kg. It is situated on  the left side of the road  as you travel northbound.

    peter martin north uist

    ULTACH GHILLE MHOIRE

    Island Of Berneray

    The "White stone" (aka The Weight/Burden Of Morrison) is located on the Island of Berneray. It was actively being researche by Peter. It is also the birthplace of the giant Scotsman, Angus MacAskill, who spent the first 14 years of his life only half a mile away.

    wallace putting stone

    Wallace Putting Stone

    Sherrifmuir, near Blackford Village

    Located in moorland this stone scaled 125kg/275lb region. Although, originally was somewhat heavier before a stonemason set to work on it.

    Stone of Lealty

    Stone of Lealty

    Alness, near Inverness

    Peter did not have an article for this stone and had only begun to research it thoroughly. This document is created from email exchanges with James Grahame and memories of conversations long passed.

    Stone of Heroes

    Stone of Heroes

    Newtonmore

    Peter did not have an article for The Stone of Heroes (132kg / 291lb). This writeup was constructed through a combination of emails and a telephone call between James Grahame and a man who lifted the stone. It also corrects an error in the original Stones Of Strength book, which incorrectly suggested the Stone of Heroes was related to the Dalwhinnie stone.

    peter martin fianna stone

    Stones Of The Southern Highlands

    Various Locations in Southern HIghlands

    This an early Christmas gift from Peter Martin to all traditional stone lifters that followed his writings. He had gathered together a lot of his research and produced an entire chapter on the Southern Highlands.

     

    This article covers Fianna Stone, Plague Stone, Menzies Stone, Puterach/Pudrac Stones, Abbot Stone, Monachyle Stone, Sadlin Mare,
    Ardvorlich Stone, Clach a' bhoisgein amongst others. Interwoven throughout this chapter is the Gaelic strength culture that spawned the desire to lift the stones mentioned above.