<< Our Photo Pages >> Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) - Marker Stone in Scotland in West Lothian

Submitted by Anne T on Wednesday, 03 March 2004  Page Views: 8944

Multi-periodSite Name: Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) Alternative Name: Witchcraigs; Witch Crags; Witch Craigs
Country: Scotland
NOTE: This site is 0.8 km away from the location you searched for.

County: West Lothian Type: Marker Stone
Nearest Town: Bathgate  Nearest Village: Torphichen
Map Ref: NS99097270  Landranger Map Number: 65
Latitude: 55.936727N  Longitude: 3.616952W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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Anne T visited on 30th Sep 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 3 Craigmailing/Witchcraigs Boundary Stone: To find this stone, we parked near to the Little Criagmailling cross base found earlier this week and followed a little-used footpath through the woodland. This footpath joined another wider one, crossing a stile into a little tree-lined lane which followed a trickling stream to our left hand side. This, very unexpectedly, opened up into an area of grass/heath with a viewpoint. As soon as you sight the viewpoint with its dry stone wall and information boards, the refuge stone is to your right hand side. This is a really rather special place. And being named Witch Crag made it much more atmospheric! The refuge stone is no longer in the wall, but has been sited at 90 degrees to it.

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Anne T : Another view of the northern face of this stone, showing its proximity to the stone wall. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Boundary Marker marked with crosses on two sides in West Lothian

This enigmatic refuge stone is recorded as Canmore ID 47917 where it is also known as Witch Crag or Witchcraig Boundary Marker.

An entry from 1878 records: "This slab measures 2 3/4' x 2' x 13", and is sculptured with a patriarchal cross on both sides, shown in high relief on the W side, and deeply incised on the E. It marks the boundary of Torphichen (which was held by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem)" and was pictured embedded in the top few courses of a stone wall. It is now located adjacent to this wall, near the Witchcraig Viewpoints.

We found this stone by parking near the Lower Craigmailing Cross base and following the footpaths which led north, then north east, through the woods to the view point at Witch Craig/Witchcraigs/Witch Crags.

This stone is also featured on the Ancient Stones: A Guide to Standing Stones and Stone Circles in the South of Scotland - see their entry for the Boundary Stone, Witch Craig, Torphichen, which includes a description, directions for finding the stone with nearby parking, and fieldnotes.
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Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Enki : The stone was restored to its place in the wall in 2017 following an attack by vandals. This picture was taken January 2019. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Anne T : The northern face of this boundary marker, with its double armed cross in relief. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Anne T : Getting closer, the damage to the top of this boundary stone can be seen. I've seen a photograph on the Canmore site which shows this stone being incorporated into the top of the stone wall against which it now stands at 90 degrees. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Anne T : Getting closer, the incised 'cross of Lorraine' can be seen on its southern face. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen)
Craigmailing Boundary Marker (Torphichen) submitted by Anne T : Emerging from the tree-lined footpath through the woods to get my first glimpse of this boundary stone.

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 670m SW 223° Lower Craigmailing (Torphichen)* Ancient Cross (NS98627222)
 1.0km SSW 200° Cairnpapple Hill* Round Cairn (NS98727175)
 1.1km WNW 290° Gormyre* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NS98067311)
 1.2km N 358° Kipps Farm* Round Cairn (NS99087387)
 1.4km S 177° Knock Stone Circle* Modern Stone Circle etc (NS99137133)
 1.7km N 354° Cockleroy Hill (Beecraigs)* Hillfort (NS98947438)
 2.3km W 264° Torphichen Churchyard Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NS96847250)
 2.7km N 357° Williamcraigs Standing Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NS99037544)
 2.9km S 184° Galabraes* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NS9881869839)
 2.9km ENE 68° Beecraigs Round Cairn (NT01827372)
 3.9km WSW 240° North Couston Refuge Stone* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (NS95637078)
 4.4km N 354° The Boarstane (Linlithgow) Standing Stone (Menhir) (NS98757706)
 4.6km NNE 13° Cross Well (Linlithgow)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT0021677170)
 4.7km W 262° Westfield Farm Refuge Stone* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (NS94377211)
 7.2km WSW 245° Hillhouse (Torphichen) Standing Stone (Menhir) (NS92456984)
 8.1km SW 235° Boar Stone (Armadale)* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NS92336820)
 10.2km ENE 60° Justice Stone Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT08087759)
 11.1km NE 53° Abercorn Sculptured Stone (NT08147910)
 12.1km NW 304° Marion's Well (Falkirk) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NS89267977)
 13.0km SSE 157° Cromwell's Stone (West Calder) Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NT03986068)
 13.2km E 89° Huly Hill Cairn* Round Cairn (NT1234272610)
 13.2km E 89° Huly Hill Standing Stones* Standing Stones (NT1234272610)
 13.5km E 89° Lochend menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT12667263)
 13.6km ESE 114° Kirknewton stone Sculptured Stone (NT11426693)
 13.9km E 101° Witches' Stone (Ratho)* Rock Art (NT12736973)
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