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Skinnet Stone

The Skinnet Stone is a Class II cross slab which features a crescent and V-rod and two intricate crosses.

The stone was discovered built into the interior west wall of St Thomas’ Chapel at Skinnet by Thomas Scott Muir in 1861 and was removed in one piece in the same year. By 1890 it had been taken to Thurso Museum (later renamed Caithness Horizons and subsequently the North Coast Visitor Centre) but by this time had been broken into six pieces. The pieces have been combined and it now stands within the North Coast Visitor Centre.

Skinnet Stone

The slab was carved from Old Red Sandstone and rises to a height of some 2.3m. It is around 0.66m wide with a thickness of around 0.18m. The slab is thought to date to the late 9th or 10th century.

The front is carved in relief with an equal-armed cross with slightly widening terminals, the side arms of the cross reaching the edges of the slab, surmounting a narrow shaft on a square base. The cross, shaft and base are outlined with roll moulding with loops at the lower corners of the bottom terminal and knotwork details at each corner of the base. The centre of the cross features spiral work while the rest of the interior of the cross, shaft and base are filled with interlaced knotwork, sections of which are worn. Between each arms of the cross is a circle, each of which is filled with a different carved geometric design.

Either side of the shaft are seahorse-type creatures which are biting the roll moulding, and have interlaced knotwork sprouting from their heads and spiral tails.

Skinnet Stone

At the bottom of the slab, below the cross base, are a pair of incised horses which may be pulling a chariot.

Skinnet Stone

The rear of the slab is also carved in relief with an equal-armed cross, of a different style to the front, with square terminals above a narrow shaft and small square base. The whole cross, shaft and base are surrounded by roll moulding with a loop at each corner, and filled in with interlaced knotwork. Immediately below the base is a triple oval symbol and below that an elaborately-decorated crescent and V-rod.

Skinnet Stone

The edges of the slab are decorated with interlaced knotwork.

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Alternative names for Skinnet Stone

Skinnet 1

Where is Skinnet Stone?

Skinnet Stone is in the parish of Halkirk and the county of Caithness.

Grid reference: ND 1309 6205

Lat / long: 58.537837, -3.4945211

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

OS Map for Skinnet Stone

OS map 451
Thurso & John O’Groats (Dunnet Head)
OS Explorer map 451


Directions to Skinnet Stone

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Weather at Skinnet Stone

11°C
max 11°C / min 11°C
6km/h SSW
1016mb
87%
87%
03:33 21:05

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Thurso at 03:06
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References (books)

Ecclesiological notes on some of the islands of Scotland
Thomas Scott Muir
Edinburgh, 1885
Field Guide to the Pictish Symbol Stones
Alastair Mack
Balgavies, 1997
The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland
J. Romilly Allen
Edinburgh, 1903
The Pictish Guide
Elizabeth Sutherland
Edinburgh, 1997
The Symbol Stones of Scotland
Anthony Jackson
Kirkwall, 1984

References (websites)

Canmore

Pictish stones near Skinnet Stone

Craig of Hattel Class I symbol stone

9.0km away

Reay Class III cross slab

13.3km away

Sandside Class I symbol stone

18.2km away

Birkle Hill Class I symbol stone

21.1km away

Ackergill 1 Class I symbol stone

22.8km away

Ackergill 2 Class I symbol stone

22.8km away

Watenan Stone Class I symbol stone

27.8km away

Ulbster Stone Class II cross slab

28.7km away

Ulbster 2 Class I symbol stone

28.7km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Skinnet Stone

Burghead fort

92.8km away

Gaulcross hoard

105.8km away

Torvean silver chain

127.4km away

Parkhill silver chain

165.7km away

Nigg silver chain

178.1km away

Dunnicaer fort

191.7km away

St. Ninian's Isle hoard

202.6km away

Norrie's Law hoard

255.8km away

Traprain Law silver chain

290.1km away
more Pictish sites....

Pictish placenames near Skinnet Stone

Aberscross

71.5km away

Pitgrudy

78.3km away

Aberlour

119.7km away

Aberchirder

119.8km away

Pitlurg

120.2km away

Aberdour

122.5km away

Pitsligo

123.9km away

Pittulie

124.3km away

Abersky

144.8km away
more Pictish placenames....

Ancient sites near Skinnet Stone

Skinnet (possible) broch

0.9km away

Carsgoe (possible) (site of) broch

1.3km away

Hoy broch

1.8km away

Tulloch of Shalmstry broch

2.4km away

Halkirk (site of) broch

2.6km away

Upper Sour broch

2.7km away

Sibster (site of) broch

2.7km away

Housle Cairn broch

2.7km away

North Calder broch

2.8km away
more ancient sites....

Castles near Skinnet Stone

Braal Castle

2.1km away

Castle of Haimer (site of)

5.2km away

Castle of Ormlie

6.3km away

Thurso Castle

6.9km away

Scrabster Castle

7.5km away

Brims Castle

12.5km away

Dirlot Castle

13.4km away

Brough Castle

15.4km away

Dounreay Castle

15.5km away
more castles....
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Accommodation near Skinnet Stone

Royal Hotel Thurso
hotel, restaurant, barThurso
6.4km away
Holborn Hotel
hotel, barThurso
6.5km away
Sandra's Backpackers Hostel
hostelThurso
6.5km away
The Weigh Inn Hotel
hotelThurso
7.2km away
The Castletown Hotel
hotelCastletown
8.5km away
St Clair Arms Hotel
hotelThurso
8.6km away
Greenland House
hotelThurso
8.6km away
Ferry Inn
hotelScrabster
8.9km away
The Brown Trout Hotel
hotelWick
13.4km away
Dunnet Head Cottage
self-catering cottage, bed and breakfastBrough
14.8km away

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Cafés, restaurants & bars near Skinnet Stone

Royal Hotel Thurso
hotel, restaurant, barThurso
6.4km away
Holborn Hotel
hotel, barThurso
6.5km away
Red Pepper Restaurant
restaurantThurso
6.5km away
Ackergill Tower
hotel, restaurant, barWick
23.3km away
The Storehouse
caféJohn O'Groats
27.3km away
Royal Golf Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
79.4km away
The Eagle
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
79.5km away
Dornoch Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barDornoch
79.5km away
Railway Hotel
hotel, barTain
87.0km away
Royal Hotel Tain
hotel, bar, restaurantTain
87.0km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 16th of April 2017 at 12:58 pm. Updated on the 3rd of November 2024 at 12:10 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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