<< Our Photo Pages >> Cat Stane (Inch) - Standing Stone (Menhir) in Scotland in Midlothian
Submitted by vicky on Wednesday, 03 March 2004 Page Views: 9887
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Cat Stane (Inch) Alternative Name: Kingsinch School; Dalkeith Road; Liberton Road; Nether Liberton Farm; Gilmerton RoadCountry: Scotland
NOTE: This site is 0.858 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Midlothian Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Edinburgh Nearest Village: Inch
Map Ref: NT27457068 Landranger Map Number: 66
Latitude: 55.923703N Longitude: 3.162545W
Condition:
| 5 | Perfect |
| 4 | Almost Perfect |
| 3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
| 2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
| 1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
| 0 | No data. |
| -1 | Completely destroyed |
| 5 | Superb |
| 4 | Good |
| 3 | Ordinary |
| 2 | Not Good |
| 1 | Awful |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
| 4 | Short walk on a footpath |
| 3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
| 2 | A long walk |
| 1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
| 4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
| 3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
| 2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
| 1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
| 0 | no data |
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Enki visited on 11th Aug 2019 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 3 Access: 5 Despite previous reports stating that permission is required to visit this stone, we went on a Sunday and the place seemed very quiet, so we just walked in without challenge. The stone is right outside the door to the nursing home and close to windows, so I imagine that on a weekday you might be questioned about visiting.
It's obviously had a chequered career as it shows several holes where it has been re-purposed as a gatepost, and it's not in its original position. Yet having said that, it's quite a nice bit of stone and still retains some sense of atmosphere about it. I dowsed 3 x energy lines running through it, one in the direction of Arthur's Seat.
Anne T visited on 20th Feb 2017 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 2 Access: 5 Cat Stane (Inch), Standing Stone, Edinburgh: Also known as the Liberton Road / Gilmerton Road Standing Stone, this stone has obviously been relocated next to what appears to be the rear entrance of Inch View nursing home, off Gilmerton Road, next to Inch Park. Driving into the complex from Gilmerton Road, there is a circular car park in front of you. Immediately to 12 o’clock of this circle is a small access road to (the rear?) of Inch View Care Home for the Elderly. Just before a small wooden hut, the stone is located in a small rectangle of grass, surrounded by a knee high metal railing.
This area appeared to be a garden, so I started to take some quick photos, only to be challenged (quite rightly!) by one of the nurses who shot out to talk to us. She explained for security reasons, they needed to be vigilant for visitors. Having explained what we were doing, she told us some of the history of the surrounding area, particularly relevant to fans of Sir Walter Scott and Mary Queen of Scots.
Not in an impressive location, this stone could easily be mistaken for a large garden ornament, but worth seeing whilst in the area. I spotted some quarry marks in the face facing the building.
golux visited on 5th Feb 2014 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 2 Access: 5
Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3 Ambience: 2.33 Access: 5
For more information see Canmore ID 52552, which tells us: "The RCAHMS ... state that it originally stood near the junction of the Dalkeith and Liberton roads at Nether Liberton farm, but was removed at the beginning of the 19th century, when the road was widened, and lay in the field opposite until in 1891 it was built into the wall on the road to Greenend at Nether Liberton (ie. Gilmerton Road), re-occupying its original position (Good 1892) It was afterwards taken by the proprietor of Inch House, who set it up in its present position, on the summit of a conspicuous knoll, with its main axis E-W. It is a block of red sandstone which has been roughly dressed for use as a gate post, and measures 4 3/4' in height, 1 1/2' broad at base, and tapering from 9" - 7"in thickness from the base upwards."
An archaeological evaluation carried out in August 2009 adds: "The Cat Stane standing stone which stood in the grounds was removed for conservation prior to the demolition of the school, and will be reinstated following completion of the new care home. A desk-based assessment established that the stone was not in its original position and there is some doubt as to its antiquity. According to cartographic evidence the stone was erected in its current position in Inch Park between 1931 and 1949."
This stone also features on the Ancient Stones website - see their entry for Cat Stane, Inch, Edinburgh, which includes a description, directions for finding this stone with nearby parking, and fieldnotes.
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Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
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