The Witches Stone Travel Guide

The Witches Stone in Forres is a large, weathered boulder located just east of the town centre at the foot of Cluny Hill. Wedged firmly between a wall and the pavement near the municipal police station, the stone bears a plaque that recounts a grim episode from Scotland’s past: witches were rolled down from Cluny Hill inside spiked barrels and burned at the spot where the barrels stopped. This brutal method of execution is emblematic of the harsh punishments meted out during the witch trials that swept through Scotland in the 16th century.

The stone commemorates events linked to the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563, which criminalized witchcraft and consulting with witches as capital offenses. During the ensuing decades, Scotland witnessed the execution of an estimated 4,000 people accused of witchcraft, many in the Moray region where Forres is located. This dark period of persecution continued until the Reformation era, with the law only being repealed in the mid-18th century. The Witches Stone thus stands as a stark reminder of the cruelty inflicted upon those accused of practicing the occult arts.

The boulder itself is cracked in several places and is held together by a large metal clasp, a feature that adds to its eerie presence. Local lore suggests that the stone was once removed to be used in nearby building construction, but after the occupants fell ill, it was returned to its original site—possibly due to fears of a curse. The stone’s precarious position, carefully avoided by the surrounding pavement and wall, reflects the community’s respect or superstition surrounding it.

The Witches Stone is part of a wider tapestry of witch-related folklore in the Forres area, including Macbeth’s Hillock and other stones linked to the legendary three witches of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. While the Witches Stone is more gruesome in its history, it shares a cultural resonance with these other sites, contributing to the region’s rich heritage of myth, legend, and historical memory.

Today, the Witches Stone is freely accessible at all times and serves as a poignant historical monument. It invites visitors to reflect on the harsh realities of past injustices and the societal fear that fueled witch hunts. Its proximity to the police station adds a layer of irony and solemnity, connecting past and present notions of law and justice.

Efforts to preserve the stone include its metal clasp and the careful construction of the surrounding wall and pavement to avoid disturbing it. The stone’s status as a local landmark ensures ongoing recognition of the tragic history it embodies, fostering awareness and remembrance within the community and among visitors.