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Clachan an Diridh


When the Clachan an Diridh stone circle was built, it would have had magnificent views to the NE across the River Tummel to Ben Vrackie and the Grampians beyond, and to the SW down the River Tay. It was these views that prompted the antiquarian Daniel Wilson to write in the mid-nineteenth century:

Amid this wild Highland landscape the huge standing stones, grey with the moss of ages, produce a grand and imposing effect; and from the idea of lofty height the distant mountains suggest, they convey a stronger impression of gigantic proportions than is produced even by the first sight of the giant monoliths of Salisbury Plain.

Despite continual planting since the 1920s, the site is still magnificent. The stones stand at the centre of a large clearing, and while the views are no longer visible, the thickly-planted pines surrounding the circle, with the sun streaming through their branches, creates a magical atmosphere. The trees also contribute to the silence, even though the circle is only a couple of kilometres from the busy A9.

A four-poster circle, 3 of the stones are probably in their original positions, while the fourth is broken and has obviously been disturbed over the years. When Coles visited in 1908, he described three stones standing, and the fragments of the fourth scattered across the ground. The fourth stone, or a piece of it, has been re-erected at some time, as it now stands in it’s probable original position.

Local tradition has it that the stones were visited on the first day of May, when a procession was made around them in a deiseil (clockwise) direction. And in 1925, John Dixon wrote: “Another theory about the “Clacnah an Diridh” is that the stones marked the scene of some periodical religious meeting or ceremonial of which nothing is now known.”

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Alternative names for Clachan an Diridh

Clachan Direach; The Druids' Stones; Fonab Moor

Where is Clachan an Diridh?

Clachan an Diridh is in the parish of Logierait and the county of Perthshire.

Grid reference: NN 9251 5574

Lat / long: 56.68079783, -3.754893317

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Clachan an Diridh

OS map OL49
Pitlochry & Loch Tummel (Aberfeldy, Kinloch Rannoch & Schiehallion)
OS Explorer map OL49


Directions to Clachan an Diridh

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Weather at Clachan an Diridh

7°C
max 7°C / min 6°C
13km/h SSE
980mb
97%
100%
06:12 18:31

Light rain
Weather observed at Pitlochry at 03:00
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References (books)

A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany
Aubrey Burl
London and New Haven, 1976
Megalithic Sites in Britain
Alexander Thom
Oxford, 1967
Pitlochry Past and Present
John Dixon
Pitlochry, 1925
Pitlochry: Heritage of a Highland District
Colin Liddell
Perth, 1993
The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland
Daniel Wilson
Edinburgh, 1851
The Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany
Aubrey Burl
London and New Haven, 2000

References (websites)

Canmore

Ancient sites near Clachan an Diridh

Pitnacree barrow and standing stone

2.4km away

Dunfallandy cairn

2.5km away

Haugh of Grandtully standing stone

2.6km away

Faskally Cottages stone circle

3.0km away

Craigiedun stone circle

3.9km away

Dane's Stone standing stone

4.1km away

Clach na Croiche stone circle

4.2km away

Balnakeilly standing stone

4.2km away

Tigh na Ruaich stone circle

5.6km away
more ancient sites....
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Castles near Clachan an Diridh

Caisteal Dubh

3.8km away

Derculich (site of)

4.9km away

Grandtully Castle

5.6km away

Edradynate Castle

5.7km away

Rath of Logierait

5.9km away

Castle Lennox (site of)

6.8km away

Castle Menzies

10.7km away

Weem Castle (site of)

10.8km away

Rotmell Castle (possible) (site of)

11.7km away
more castles....

Pictish stones near Clachan an Diridh

Dunfallandy Stone Class II cross slab

2.2km away

Priest's Stone Class III cross-slab

3.7km away

Logierait Class II cross-slab

5.6km away

Struan Class I symbol stone

15.1km away

Murthly Class III stone

23.5km away

Fowlis Wester Church Class III cross-slab

31.6km away

Fowlis Wester Class II cross-slab

31.6km away

High Keillor Class I symbol stone

38.1km away

Dupplin Cross Class III cross

38.8km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Clachan an Diridh

Norrie's Law hoard

68.1km away

Torvean silver chain

91.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

100.0km away

Haddington silver chain

100.6km away

Traprain Law silver chain

103.6km away

Borland silver chain

110.3km away

Todholes (possible) silver chain

110.5km away

Nigg silver chain

112.4km away

Parkhill silver chain

114.5km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Clachan an Diridh

Fisher's Hotel
hotelPitlochry
2.8km away
Craigatin House & Courtyard
hotelPitlochry
2.8km away
Strathgarry Restaurant & Rooms
restaurant, hotel, self-catering cottagePitlochry
2.8km away
Pitlochry Backpackers
hostelPitlochry
2.8km away
Green Park Hotel
hotelPitlochry
2.8km away
The Old Mill Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantPitlochry
2.8km away
Acarsaid Hotel
hotelPitlochry
2.9km away
Scotland's Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barPitlochry
2.9km away
Carra Beag Guest House
hotelPitlochry
2.9km away
Knockendarroch House Hotel
hotelPitlochry
3.0km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Clachan an Diridh

Victoria's Restaurant
restaurant, caféPitlochry
2.8km away
Kingfisher Bar
barPitlochry
2.8km away
Strathgarry Restaurant & Rooms
restaurant, hotel, self-catering cottagePitlochry
2.8km away
The Auld Smiddy Inn
bar, restaurantPitlochry
2.8km away
McKays
bar, restaurantPitlochry
2.8km away
The Old Mill Inn
hotel, bar, restaurantPitlochry
2.8km away
Scotland's Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barPitlochry
2.9km away
Atholl Palace Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barPitlochry
3.2km away
Moulin Hotel
hotel, pubPitlochry
4.0km away
Habitat Café
caféAberfeldy
9.6km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Dunbar harbour and castle
Published on the 14th of May 2010 at 4:19 pm. Updated on the 11th of May 2015 at 3:03 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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