A broken sandstone slab stands fenced in a field at Balluderon. The Balluderon Stone is a Pictish cross-slab: an early-medieval monument where Christian cross carving appears alongside older Pictish symbols, surviving here only in its lower half.
The stone matters because several visual worlds meet on one fragment. A Celtic cross, mounted riders, a serpent and Z-rod symbol, and a Pictish beast sit beside a local dragon legend that connects the slab with Martin and the Nine Maidens of Strathmartine.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
The Balluderon Stone was carved as a Class II Pictish cross-slab.
Only the lower half of the Old Red Sandstone slab survives.
The stone stands in situ at Balluderon and is protected by iron fencing.
Its carvings include remnants of a Celtic cross, mounted riders, a serpent and Z-rod, and a Pictish beast.
Local tradition links the stone with the Nine Maidens and a dragon slain by Martin.
People
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Martin
Hero in the local tradition attached to the stone.
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Nine Maidens
Legendary victims in the dragon story connected with Strathmartine.
Connections
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Strathmartine
The local valley name is explained in folk tradition through Martin's dragon story.
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Strathmartine Castle Stone
Another Pictish stone from the same wider district.
What to look for
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Cross fragment
The lower part preserves remains of a Celtic cross.
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Mounted riders
Two riders are among the surviving carved figures.
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Serpent and Z-rod
The serpent and Z-rod is a Pictish symbol made from an animal form crossed by a Z-shaped rod.
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Pictish beast
The Pictish beast is a distinctive animal symbol found on several carved stones.
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Field setting
Iron fencing marks the protected slab in the field.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 56.5261°N · 3.0179°W
- Access
- Visible from a public way
- Terrain
- Easy going
Opening & admission
- The fenced stone stands in a field; view respectfully from accessible public or permitted viewpoints.
Nearby places
Questions people ask
- What is the Balluderon Stone?
- It is the lower surviving part of a Pictish cross-slab standing at Balluderon in Angus.
- What survives of the stone?
- Only the lower half remains, with carved figures and Pictish symbols.
- What symbols are on it?
- The slab includes riders, a serpent and Z-rod, a Pictish beast, and remnants of a cross.
- What legend is linked to it?
- Local tradition connects it with the Nine Maidens, a dragon, and a hero called Martin.
Sources
Explore more: Carved stones · Pictish & early medieval · Angus
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