The remaining upright at the Balnaguard stone row.
The stone alignments in Central Scotland are all of the single row type and mostly consist of three large stones. Compared with other regions the form and character of the alignments is relatively consistent. This is perhaps surprising given their wide geographical spread and it is notable that none of the rows include any small stones. The alignments do vary considerably in length but most are relatively short.
Map showing the location of Central Scotland
Interactive map showing the distribution of stone rows in Central Scotland. Click on top right hand symbol to open a larger version.
Central Scotland stone alignments at a glimpse
Central Scotland stone alignments plans
Simplified plans of the stone alignments in Central Scotland. Click on image to open a higher resolution version.
Central Scotland stone alignments in charts
Pie charts showing the proportions of different types of stone row in Central Scotland and Great Britain. Click on image to see a higher resolution version.
All the stone rows in Central Scotland are of the single type. This is the only region where all the rows are of the same type, although Argyll and Isles comes a close second.
Pie charts showing the proportions of different lengths of Central Scotland and British stone rows. Click on image to see a higher resolution version.
Over 60% of the rows in this region are less than 20m long.
Pie charts showing the proportions of different numbers of stones recorded at Central Scotland and British stone rows. Click on image to see a higher resolution version.
Most of the rows in this region consist of only three stones. This is dramatically different to Great Britain as a whole.
Pie charts showing the proportions of different stone sizes recorded at Central Scotland and British stone rows. Click on image to see a higher resolution version.
All of the rows are composed of large stones only. This is the only region where this is the case. Of all the regions in Great Britain the character of the rows is most uniform.
Radar graphs showing the orientation of Central Scotland and Great British stone alignments.
None of the rows are orientated to the ESE, south east or SSE. This is likley to be deliberate and may help inform their purpose.
Central Scotland stone alignments in numbers
| No. of alignments | 9 |
| Number of single alignments | 9 |
| Number of double alignments | 0 |
| Number of triple alignments | 0 |
| Number of multiple alignments | 0 |
| Maximum length | 1090m |
| Minimum length | 8.5m |
| Average length | 182m |
| Median length | 13.75m |
| Longest alignment | Dunruchan |
| Shortest alignment | Doune (Glenhead) |
| Total number of recorded stones | 32 |
| Average number of stones in each alignment | 3.5 |
| Alignments including small stones | 0 |
| Alignments including medium stones | 0 |
| Alignments including large stones | 9 |
| Average orientation | 64° |
| Average altitude | 184m |
| Highest alignment | Sheriff Muir (308m) |
| Lowest alignment | Balnaguard (68m) |
| Cairn at the top of alignment | 1 |
| Cairn at the bottom of alignment | 0 |
| Scheduled alignments | 7 |
Individual Rows
A summary of information for the individual stone alignments can be viewed by clicking on the site names below. Whilst it is believed that the existing information is accurate, mistakes inevitably occur and should you spot any your help in improving this resource would be much appreciated. Your help will of course be fully acknowledged. Please use the contact button to get in touch.
A single stone row measuring 14m long, including two large mainly buried recumbent slabs and a single upright orthostat standing 2.3m high situated in valley bottom near to the River Tay. The row is orientated east to west and the western stone is upright. Excavation revealed that the eastern stone has a cup-mark and no socket hole whilst the central stone had a very shallow socket There are several cairns in the vicinity.
A single stone row measuring 13.5m long, including three large recumbent slabs situated on a ridge with far reaching views. The row is orientated ENE to WSW and the eastern slab has at least a pair of cup-marks on its upper surface. A small “closed sea triangle” is visible from the row.
A single stone row measuring 8.5m long, including three large upright slabs situated in gentle rolling countryside with far reaching views. The central stone is liberally cup marked, the northern stone is broken and and the row is orientated NNE to SSW. There is at least one other standing stone in the vicinity.
A probable single stone row perhaps measuring up to 1174m long and including up to seven large orthostats situated on a north facing slope. Five of the stones are upright and two maybe buried below small mounds. The row is orientated north to south and there are cairns and at least one other standing stone in the vicinity. The uncertainty implied by this description emphasises its enigmatic character, but it is possible to be relatively confident that there is a stone row on this hillside.
A single stone row measuring 25.5m long, including two large upright slabs and a recumbent cup-marked covered boulder situated on a ridge with extensive views of the Vale of Strathmore. The eastern stone is liberally cup marked and the row is orientated east to west.
A single stone row measuring 9.5m long, including three large recumbent slabs. The row is orientated NNE to SSW and the southern slab has a pair of cup-marks on its upper surface.
A possible single stone row known only from a late 19th century parish history. The row is said to have led south eastwards from a stone known as the Law Stone of Mugdock. The number and size of stone is not known but it was probably short and formed by large stones.
A single stone row measuring 10m long, including two large recumbent slabs and a single upright orthostat standing 3.1m high situated near the summit of a small hill with extensive views of the Vale of Strathmore. The row is orientated north east to south west and the central stone has a single cup-mark and later carved letters on its upper face.
A single stone row measuring 290m long, including five widely spaced large-sized stones situated on a south west facing slope. One of the stones (known as Wallace Stone) is upright and remainder are recumbent. The southern stone is cup-marked and another has been split. The row is orientated ENE to WSW and is situated adjacent to a well-used historic routeway.
LAST UPDATED: 30th September 2019
The Stone Rows of Great Britain 