A small blue-gneiss stone stands on a hill above Strathpeffer. Clach an Tiompain, also called the Eagle Stone, is a Class I Pictish stone, an unshaped symbol stone without a carved cross.
The stone bears a horseshoe-like arc above an eagle on its south-east side. It was moved to its present site in 1411 and gathered later traditions: one links it with a clan battle, while another ties it to the Brahan Seer’s prophecy that the valley would flood if the stone fell three times.
What follows is drawn from published sources, with each claim labelled by how firmly it is established.
History
Clach an Tiompain was carved as a Class I Pictish symbol stone.
The stone was originally lower down the hill toward Dingwall.
It was moved to its current site in 1411.
One tradition connects the stone with a 1411 battle between Clan Munro and a branch of Clan MacDonald.
Norman Macrae said the Munros placed the stone while marching against Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles.
A Brahan Seer prophecy says that if the stone falls three times, the surrounding valley will flood and the stone will be used as an anchor.
The stone has fallen twice and is now set in concrete.
People
-
Norman Macrae
Source for a tradition about the Munros placing the stone.
-
Brahan Seer
Prophetic figure associated with the flooding legend.
-
Donald of Islay
Lord of the Isles in the tradition recorded by Norman Macrae.
Connections
-
Strathpeffer
Village below the stone's hill setting.
-
Dingwall
Direction of the stone's earlier location.
-
Clan Munro
Clan connected with one battle tradition.
What to look for
-
Eagle carving
Pictish eagle below the arc symbol.
-
Arc symbol
Horseshoe-like image above the eagle.
-
Concrete setting
Modern stabilisation after the stone had fallen twice.
Plan your visit
- Location
- 57.5914°N · 4.5356°W
- Access
- Open access
- Terrain
- Moderate walking
Opening & admission
- Small stone on a hill on the outskirts of Strathpeffer.
Nearby places
Fortified place · Medieval
Inverness Castle
Highland
It marks a site fortified for close to a thousand years and bound up with pivotal moments of Highland and Scottish history, from Robert the Bruce t…
Questions people ask
- What is Clach an Tiompain?
- It is a small Class I Pictish stone near Strathpeffer, also called the Eagle Stone.
- What is carved on it?
- A horseshoe-like arc symbol above an eagle.
- Why is it linked to prophecy?
- Local tradition associates it with the Brahan Seer, who said the valley would flood if it fell three times.
- Has it fallen?
- The source pack says it has fallen twice and is now set in concrete.
Sources
Explore more: Carved stones · Pictish & early medieval · Highland
The Ancient Codex, in your pocket
Get the Pocket Codex app
Carry the directory with you — Clach an Tiompain and thousands of ancient places across Britain and Ireland, offline, wherever you roam.