Scottish Stones

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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. 

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 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.