The Easter Pitcorthie Stone
Ordnance Survey Map Reference NO497039
The south face of the stone, showing cup marks
The stone looking east
The stone looking south
The stone looking west
Close-up of the striations on the stone, west side
The stone on the skyline
Just off the B942 near Kilconquhar is Easter Pitcorthie farm, just to the west of which is a large standing stone. Obtaining permission at the farm house, I walked across a newly harrowed field to the stone itself. This farmer is careful to leave a good large area unploughed round the stone, unlike too many others. Two skylarks were singing their hearts out above me as I walked to the stone and back.
The stone itself is of red sandstone, nearly 8 feet tall, with a pronounced eastward slant, and is very prominent in the landscape, though it cannot be seen from the road. There are many cup marks on the southern face, but some of these are severely eroded. During excavations back in the 1850s, ashes and the remains of human bones were discovered interred beneath the stone.
Visited 30th March 2003