The Eagle Stone (Clach an Tiompain)

An Ancient Pictish Masterpiece

The Eagle Stone, known in Gaelic as Clach an Tiompain (meaning 'Sounding Stone' or 'Stone on the Ground'), stands as one of Scotland's finest examples of Pictish symbol carving. Believed to date from the 7th century AD, this Class I Pictish stone represents an era when skilled artisans carved symbols directly into natural, unshaped rock—a technique that predates Christian influence in the region. The stone itself measures approximately 2 feet 8 inches high by 2 feet wide, modest in size yet monumental in historical significance. The carved symbols on the stone's smooth south-east face reveal remarkable craftsmanship. The lower symbol depicts an eagle with folded wings, intricately detailed feathers, talons, and beak—the carving that gave the stone its English name. Above it sits a horseshoe or arch shape adorned with decorative discs and arcs. The precise meaning of these Pictish symbols remains a mystery, though they likely held spiritual, territorial, or commemorative significance to the people who created them over 1,400 years ago.

Legends of Battle and Prophecy

Local tradition weaves the Eagle Stone into the fabric of Highland clan history. According to legend, the stone was originally located in an old churchyard at Fodderty, further down the valley, and was moved to its current site to mark the graves of Munros killed during a 1411 battle with Clan Macdonald. This connection may have arisen because the eagle is the crest of Clan Munro, linking the ancient carving to later clan identity. The stone is equally famous for its association with the Brahan Seer, a 16th-century prophet known as Scotland's answer to Nostradamus. According to his prophecies, should the Eagle Stone fall three times, the surrounding valley would flood and ships would anchor on the spot. Local belief holds that the stone has already fallen twice, prompting authorities to cement it firmly into a concrete base—a practical precaution against the third fall and the catastrophic flooding it would supposedly bring.

Setting and Visitor Experience

The Eagle Stone stands in a fenced enclosure in a field at the eastern end of Strathpeffer, positioned on a small mound near the main road. Its location offers spectacular views down the valley towards Dingwall, making the site as visually rewarding as it is historically significant. The stone's proximity to the 50-metre contour adds another layer to the Brahan Seer legend—a third fall could theoretically send water cascading toward Dingwall on the coast. Visiting the stone is straightforward and free. Pedestrian signposting guides visitors from the centre of Strathpeffer, with the simplest route following the main road downhill to a signposted track that leads up beside a hedge. The walk takes only a few hundred yards and involves rough ground, adding a modest element of countryside immersion to the experience. Free parking is available at the nearby Old Station, home to the Highland Museum of Childhood, which provides café, shop, and toilet facilities for visitors.