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Glenferness House

This class II cross slab was moved from its original location near the River Findhorn and now stands within the grounds of Glenferness House.

Known also as the Princess Stone due to its association with the legend of a princess who drowned in the river, the stone was moved in the second half of the 19th century from its position on the edge of a promontory formed by a bend in the River Findhorn when it was deemed to be at risk from flooding.

The stone was broken into three pieces, presumably whilst being moved, which have now been cemented together and the stone supported by a new stone pillar on either side in its new position on a small cairn of earth and stones under an ash tree. The top portion of the stone has broken off, probably in antiquity, but the remains stand 1.68m tall above ground by 0.66m across and 0.1m thick.

Carved towards the top of one side is an equal-armed cross, the upper part of which would have been on the missing section. The surviving arms are filled with interlace knotwork and are separated by sunken armpits. On either side of the shaft are double spiral patterns which link into more double spirals which cover the majority of the slab. At the bottom of this side are a pair of figures seemingly embracing, or perhaps wrestling or fighting, within a rectangular surround.

On the other side of the slab the top third is covered in zoomorphic interlace knotwork while the bottom two thirds are taken up by various symbols. At the top right of this lower section is a small Pictish beast over a small crescent and V-rod, with a kneeling archer facing left to the left of them. To the left of the archer is a worn carving of a hound. Aligned centrally below is a large double disc and Z-rod above a large Pictish beast filled in with interlace knotwork.

The narrow edges of the slab are carved with further interlace knotwork although this is now obscured by the supporting columns.

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Alternative names for Glenferness House

Prince's Stone; Princess Stone

Where is Glenferness House?

Glenferness House is in the parish of Ardclach and the county of Nairnshire.

Grid reference: NH 9364 4253

Lat / long: 57.460589, -3.774437

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OS Map for Glenferness House

OS map 422
Nairn & Cawdor (Darnaway Forest, Ardersier & Culloden Muir)
OS Explorer map 422


Directions to Glenferness House

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Weather at Glenferness House

21°C
max 22°C / min 21°C
26km/h SSW
1012mb
57%
40%
03:16 21:13

Scattered clouds
Weather observed at Nairn at 17:08

References (books)

The Pictish Guide
Elizabeth Sutherland
Edinburgh, 1997

References (websites)

Canmore

Pictish stones near Glenferness House

Belivat (possible) Class I symbol stone

5.2km away

Rodney's Stone Class II cross slab

15.9km away

Grantown Class I symbol stone

16.5km away

Finlarig Class I symbol stone

18.0km away

Invereen Class I symbol stone

18.0km away

Inverallan 1 Class I symbol stone

18.8km away

Forres 2 Class I symbol stone

19.2km away

Ballintomb Class I symbol stone

19.6km away

Sueno's Stone Class III cross slab

20.2km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Glenferness House

Torvean silver chain

28.1km away

Burghead fort

31.7km away

Gaulcross hoard

63.6km away

Parkhill silver chain

100.2km away

Nigg silver chain

107.8km away

Dunnicaer fort

110.0km away

Norrie's Law hoard

142.8km away

Haddington silver chain

178.0km away

Traprain Law silver chain

179.0km away
more Pictish sites....
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Pictish placenames near Glenferness House

Aberlour

32.9km away

Aberarder

35.7km away

Abersky

37.1km away

Aberchalder

44.3km away

Pitlurg

49.9km away

Pitgrudy

50.6km away

Aberarder

55.8km away

Abergeldie

58.7km away

Aberscross

59.9km away
more Pictish placenames....

Ancient sites near Glenferness House

Balnuaran Of Clava, Centre ring cairn and stone circle

17.9km away

Balnuaran Of Clava, North-East chambered cairn, stone circle and rock art

17.9km away

Balnuaran Of Clava, South-West chambered cairn, stone circle and rock art

18.0km away

Balnuaran of Clava kerb cairn and rock art

18.0km away

Aviemore ring cairn, stone circle

29.3km away

Clootie Well sacred site

31.5km away

Humberston (site of) stone circle

42.2km away

Urquhart Castle fort

42.7km away

Carriblair stone circle, cist

48.2km away
more ancient sites....
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Castles near Glenferness House

Ardclach Bell Tower

3.3km away

Lochindorb Castle

7.3km away

Dunphail Castle

9.0km away

Lethen (site of)

9.3km away

Logie House

10.8km away

Rait Castle

10.8km away

Moyness Castle (site of)

11.3km away

Cawdor Castle

11.5km away

Old Cawdor (site of)

11.7km away
more castles....
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Accommodation near Glenferness House

Covenanters Inn
hotelNairn
13.0km away
Boath House Hotel
hotelNairn
13.3km away
The Newton Hotel
hotelBalblair
14.8km away
Windsor Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barNairn
15.1km away
Albert Inn
hotelNairn
15.1km away
Braeval Hotel
hotelNairn
15.2km away
Claymore House Hotel
hotelNairn
15.4km away
Invernairne Guest House
hotelNairn
15.6km away
Golf View Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNairn
15.7km away
Ravenscourt House Hotel
hotelGrantown-on-Spey
17.3km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Glenferness House

Windsor Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barNairn
15.1km away
Brodie Countryfare
café, restaurantBrodie
15.1km away
Golf View Hotel & Spa
hotel, restaurant, barNairn
15.7km away
Garth Hotel & Restaurant
hotel, restaurantGrantown on Spey
17.4km away
Macdonald Lochanhully Woodland Club
self-catering apartments, barCarrbridge
19.2km away
Dalrachney Lodge Hotel
hotel, restaurantCarrbridge
19.7km away
Clootie Dumpling Restaurant
restaurant, caféDulnain Bridge
20.2km away
Culloden House Hotel
hotel, restaurant barInverness
21.8km away
New Drumossie Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantInverness
23.1km away
Premier Inn Inverness East
hotel, restaurant, barInverness
24.7km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 23rd of May 2019 at 2:44 pm. Updated on the 23rd of May 2019 at 3:05 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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