The Maiden Stone

The Maiden Stone is a 3-metre-tall standing stone covered in Pictish symbols. Dating from around 700 AD, it is one of the finest examples of Pictish sculptural work in Aberdeenshire.
I must have travelled the A96 hundreds of times on my way to Aberdeen and back, and every time, I noted the sign for the Maiden Stone, but I never took the time to visit. My wife and I decided to visit this fantastic monolith as part of a long weekend tour around ancient sites in Aberdeenshire.
We had just visited the incredible Picardy Stone, and since the Maiden Stone was on the way, we opted to see it while passing. We followed the brown tourist sign from the A96 from the Huntly direction and found the dedicated car park for the stone.
A small path leads up to the stone, directly next to the car park.



Our visit to the Maiden Stone
The Maiden Stone was an order of magnitude more impressive than the Picardy Stone, excellent as it was. This stone is taller, thinner, more intricately carved, and made by a master stonemason. The skill it must have taken to create this stone from beautiful red granite cannot be understated.
Every part of the stone is covered in Pictish symbols, including the sides, which display cross-hatching and knotwork. The lower sections have less weathering and are perhaps more sheltered, being lower to the ground.
There is a very informative Historic Scotland information panel directly next to the stone.
Pictish Symbols on the East Face
The side of the east face of the stone first, again heavily eroded, more evident at the top of the stone than at the bottom. The symbols that can be seen across four panels are:
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A centaur-like figure - a man's head on the body of a horse.
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A notched rectangle and z-rod.
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Some kind of Pictish beast.
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A mirror and double-sided comb.
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An inscription in ogham - an ancient form of writing.
The mirror symbol, in particular, seems prevalent on many Pictish artefacts. We saw the same symbol on the Picardy Stone, Inveravon Stones, and Tullich Stones.



Pictish Symbols on the The West Face
The west side is even more impressive and intricately carved; the symbols include:
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A figure with arms outstretched flanked by two fish monsters; the figure could be Jonah or Jesus.
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A large Celtic cross / ringed cross.
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A stunning knotwork pattern in a circle.


What is the meaning of the Maiden Stone?
According to legend, this stone is connected to the daughter of the laird of Balquhain. She entered a bet with a mysterious stranger, agreeing that she could bake a large batch of bread before he could construct a road to the summit of the nearby Bennachie Hill.
However, the stranger was none other than the Devil. He completed the road quickly and came to claim the young woman as his prize. When she tried to escape, he caught her and turned her into what is now known as the Maiden Stone. The missing notch from the stone is said to be where the devil grabbed her.
Balquhain Castle is a short distance from the stone, but the Maiden Stone is at least 600 years older than the castle. Nevertheless, it's a nice tale.
The stone might be connected to St. Medan, an early Christian missionary whose life details remain largely unknown.
No one knows what the stone portrays. The Picts were a very enigmatic people, leaving all these amazing stone relics all over the country, but very little is known about them.



FAQs on The Maiden Stone
Here are a few frequently asked questions about the Maiden Stone:
How to get to the Maiden Stone?
The Maiden Stone is easily accessed via the A96 motorway when travelling from the Aberdeen or Inverness direction.
From Inverurie:
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On the section of A96 northwest of Inverurie, take a left down this minor road.
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For your interest, note Balquhain Castle on your right.
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Remain on this minor road for a good distance.
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You will see a car park built onto the side of the road with 6 or 7 spaces at a 90-degree angle with the road.
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The stone is visible from the car park.
From Huntly:
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Leave Huntly, travelling east on the A96 for 16 miles.
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Look for this right turn marked with a brown tourist sign for the Maiden Stone.
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Continue on this minor road for a short distance.
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You will see the standing stone first on your right, and the car park follows shortly after.
Please note that traffic travels quite fast on this road; it can be difficult to get back onto the road as there are blind corners both ways when pulling out again.
The stone is covered during the winter months to protect it from frost damage, so keep that in mind if you are visiting out of season.
The Maiden Stone on Google Maps
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How old is the Maiden Stone?
The Maiden Stone is around 1200 years old; there is much debate on its exact age.
Is the Maiden Stone accessible to disabled visitors?
Yes! From the car park, the path is fully wheelchair accessible.
Key information on the Maiden Stone
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The Maiden Stone is a large Pictish symbol stone near Inverurie.
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It can be accessed from the east and west via the A96 motorway.
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There is a car park directly on the road.
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The stone is covered in ornate symbols, including beasts, a Celtic cross, and a stunning example of a Pictish knotwork pattern.
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The stone is made from a slab of red granite.
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Also known as Drumdurno Stone after the nearby farm.
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Thought to be around 1200 years old.
Conclusion
I just love visiting these Pictish symbol stones, and the Maiden Stone was up there with the best of them. It is incredible that these people lived in Scotland over a thousand years ago and left all these remarkable monuments, but we know so little about them.
As mentioned above in the legend, Balquhain Castle is nearby, so that was our next stop on the road trip!
All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive.
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