The Pictish Stones Tour brings a Dark Age civilization to life, as a scholarly tour guide takes you to areas in Scotland you may have never seen, to explore a culture you may have never known existed.
If you’re seeking a unique historical/artistic/spiritual travel experience, this may be the tour for you.
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The double disk and Z-rod symbols are the logo of Signseeker Travel.
See Pictish Symbols below for interpretation.
Signseeker Travel is a touring/travel consulting company that specializes in theme-based tours of Scotland and other parts of the UK.
This tour’s theme is Pictish art and sites.
The Pictish Stones Tour brings a Dark Age civilization to life, as a scholarly tour guide takes you to areas in Scotland you may have never seen, to explore a culture you may have never known existed.
If you’re seeking a unique historical/artistic/spiritual travel experience, this may be the tour for you.
The following sections provide an overview of the subjects and sites included on this tour, as well as these topics:
Pictish Symbols
Seaside Cliff Walkss
Booking a Pictish Stones Tour
Other Signseeker Travel Sites
Pictish Stone Carving
In the Dark Ages, in what is now the eastern part of Scotland, there lived tribes collectively known as Picts (“Pictii” or “Painted Ones” as nicknamed by the Romans). The origins of the Picts are unknown; they may have been Celts or descendents of indigenous Iron Age people. The Romans were so intimidated by the Picts, they built Hadrian’s Wall to keep them out of northern England!
Picts only existed as a distinct group from ca. 300-900 AD, after which time they were absorbed into the Scottish identity. History and archeology tell us they were great warriors and brilliant artisans, particularly in stone carving – that is arguably their greatest legacy. The 7th-9th centuries appear to be the Golden Age of Pictish stone carving.
The Picts left us records of themselves in symbols carved on boulders scattered throughout their former range: primarily Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Ruined forts, burials and other remains also exist in areas as remote as Orkney.
The rock shown here is near the village of Aberlemno, Angus. This stone may be one of the most ancient, possibly carved as early as the 6th century. It shows some of the most common symbols of Pictish stone carving (from top to bottom): the serpent, the double disc and Z-rod, and the mirror and comb.
There are at least 30 distinct symbols that have been identified. Their meanings remain a source of active debate.
See Pictish Symbols below for a discussion of some of the symbols’ possible meanings.
There are two kinds or classes of stones:
Class 1 – unshaped stones incised with Pictish symbols only (as the example shown here)
Class 2 – shaped stones that are carved with both Pictish and Christian symbols
Later cross slabs contain Christian motifs only, incorporate Irish and Northumbrian styles, and sometimes bear ogham (an early Irish script) or Latin inscriptions.
The Picts came in contact with Celtic Christian missionary monks as early as the 4th century, but Christianity probably did not fully overcome traditional Pictish religion until ca. 950 AD. Its influence on Pictish civilization may be observed in the evolution of their stone carving, as Class 1 stones develop into Class 2 stones that eliminate Pictish symbols altogether.
Many of the Pictish stones are located in the hauntingly lovely Scottish countryside, still standing in or close to the places where they were originally carved, such as the example shown above.
Other stones are located in museums, on private land, and on the grounds of churches and castles.
SIGNSEEKER TRAVEL takes you to a variety of such sites.
Pictish Symbols
Among the dozens of Pictish symbols that have been observed and recorded, here are a few examples, with general descriptions.
The carvings above are on the side of Meigle no. 5, a cross-slab in Meigle Museum, Perthshire.
The mirror symbol at top is often shown with a comb symbol (as in the first example stone) and may be associated with a female. This may seem obvious, but evidence has shown combs were used by both sexes, and males were equally fastidious about their appearance!
The “Pictish beast” below it is often referred to as a “swimming elephant”. It is probably a mythological composite animal of great significance for the Picts, as it appears on many stones, and carvings of other animals on Pictish stones are shown realistically.
So what do the symbols mean in combination?
Do they represent tribes, concepts, parts of an alphabet? And what do the stones themselves signify? Were they memorials, commemorations of battles, tribal boundary markers?
These are some of the topics discussed on the Pictish Stones Tour.
Seaside Cliff Walks
A walk along the magnificent coastline of northeastern Scotland provides a challenge, and refreshment to the spirit.
This stretch of seacoast near Stonehaven, provides an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the area as a compliment to viewing the Pictish stones.
Photo ops abound on this walk.
Be sure and bring your camera!
And there’s a spectacular surprise at the end!
At the end of the walk are the stunning castle ruins of Dunottar.
Many Pictish sites were taken over by later peoples and made use of; this huge, dramatic crag may have been one of them.
The itinerary of the Pictish Stones tour is flexible, and can be custom designed to suit your interests, pocketbook and time constraints.
See Booking a Pictish Stones Tour below for details.
Booking a Pictish Stones Tour
Because of the highly specialized nature of this tour, there are some restrictions:
Due to the great fragility of the outdoor-located stones, many are covered and unavailable for viewing for about half the year. Thus, tours are only conducted from May-September. Late September is recommended; high season is not.
Some sites require a great deal of walking on natural surfaces, and some considerable exertion over rough and possibly dangerous terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate physical impairment.
The subject matter is geared towards intellectually mature persons. Please, no children under 12 are permitted, and a minimum age of 18 is suggested. Tour is limited to a maximum of six persons.
Cost
You are paying for a Tour Guide’s 24-hour commitment and knowledge for the length of the tour. Your meals, entry fees (if any), accommodations and transportation costs are your responsibility. On request, you will receive accommodation booking assistance, and after booking, Ready to Go – Pictish Stones Tour, a document with suggestions on how to pack, ideas on how to cut expenses, where to eat at various locations, more detailed transportation data and other valuable information on how to make your tour more enjoyable and economical.
And if you decide you do not need a Tour Guide, but wish to self-guide, Signseeker Travel can help you design your own Pictish Stones Tour for a nominal fee.
Public transportation is used throughout the tour, so exact times cannot be quoted for departures and arrivals, but a full day will be devoted to each site to ensure a leisurely amount of time to leave, enjoy and return, with plenty of free time for meals, relaxation and other activities.
Cost for Tour Guide Services: $500/day per couple
How to Book
Email patriciacatanich@bellsouth.net
Cell (US) 843-330-9333
Pictish Stones Tour Itinerary (sample)
This itinerary is partly based on this site’s illustrations, but on request may be shortened or extended.
DAY 1
Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland: overview of Pictish style, view artifacts.
As many participants may have jet lag, this will be a half-day activity!
DAY 2
Journey to Dundee (morning train; settle in to accommodation; Dundee museum (optional)
DAY 3
Meigle Museum (morning bus from Dundee; visit museum; return bus to Dundee)
DAY 4
Journey to Arbroath (morning train; settle into accommodation; afternoon in Arbroath, free time or guided)
DAY 5
Aberlemno (bus from Arbroath; view Aberlemno stones; return bus to Arbroath)
DAY 6
Journey to Stonehaven (train; cliff walk; castle; walk back; return train to Arbroath)
DAY 7
Return train to Edinburgh
Most days will have free time set aside for shopping, resting, exploring, etc. Evenings are free, or you can join an optional pub-crawl.
CAUTION
DO NOT expect every moment of the tour to be orchestrated and arranged! You will NOT be rising at dawn to put your luggage on a charter coach, go to a site, get out, take a few pictures, get back on the coach and get hauled elsewhere!
This tour is for independent-minded people who enjoy flexibility and even surprises. In the event a site becomes unavailable for unforeseen reasons (acts of God, transportation strikes, etc.) alternative activities will be offered and/or suggested).
Other Signseeker Travel Sites
Signseeker Travel offers custom tours in the US, too. Here are two other Singseeker specialty tours available for booking, both in Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest and largest historic district in the United States.
US TOURS
Chucktown Tour Guides
A humorous look at tourism and the lives of Charleston, South Carolina Tour Guides, with a gallery of experienced Top Shelf Tour Guides; hire one to give you a personalized walking tour of the jewel of the US eastern seaboard. Every Guide has a different area of specialization, from Colonial History to the current Charleston social milieu.
Walking in the Footsteps of George Washington
The first US President spent a week in Charleston in May 1791. This walking tour, guided by a licensed city historian, takes you to buildings associated with Washington, including the house where he stayed, and a tavern where he dined (both open to the public). Four National Historic Landmarks are covered on this walk, and the discussion includes fascinating detail about events he attended and people he met, and his reactions to Charleston. A one-of-a kind tour.
Future Signseeker Travel Sites*:
Celtic Christian Sites
Tour the holy places of the early Celtic Christian missionary monks in northern England and southern Scotland.
Castle Hunting
Discover the medieval castles of the UK, and hear their often bloody but always fascinating stories.
Pub Crawls (by city and region, based on tour itinerary)
Over 4,000 UK mini-breweries offer an astonishing range of handcrafted libations that change quarterly. Taste some of these offerings, and enjoy!
*Topics; not actual site names at this time
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN SIGNSEEKER TRAVEL!
About Me
- Signseeker
- University of Missouri, BA, Arizona State University, MA, both in English Literature. Former English instructor at ASU, corporate instructional design specialist/consultant. licensed Tour Guide, Charleston, SC for the past 10 years. Currently developing specialty tour/travel consulting company, Signseeker Travel.
The double disk and Z-rod symbols are the logo of Signseeker Travel.
See Pictish Symbols below for interpretation.
Signseeker Travel is a touring/travel consulting company that specializes in theme-based tours of Scotland and other parts of the UK.
This tour’s theme is Pictish art and sites.
The Pictish Stones Tour brings a Dark Age civilization to life, as a scholarly tour guide takes you to areas in Scotland you may have never seen, to explore a culture you may have never known existed.
If you’re seeking a unique historical/artistic/spiritual travel experience, this may be the tour for you.
The following sections provide an overview of the subjects and sites included on this tour, as well as these topics:
Pictish Symbols
Seaside Cliff Walkss
Booking a Pictish Stones Tour
Other Signseeker Travel Sites
Pictish Stone Carving
In the Dark Ages, in what is now the eastern part of Scotland, there lived tribes collectively known as Picts (“Pictii” or “Painted Ones” as nicknamed by the Romans). The origins of the Picts are unknown; they may have been Celts or descendents of indigenous Iron Age people. The Romans were so intimidated by the Picts, they built Hadrian’s Wall to keep them out of northern England!
Picts only existed as a distinct group from ca. 300-900 AD, after which time they were absorbed into the Scottish identity. History and archeology tell us they were great warriors and brilliant artisans, particularly in stone carving – that is arguably their greatest legacy. The 7th-9th centuries appear to be the Golden Age of Pictish stone carving.
The Picts left us records of themselves in symbols carved on boulders scattered throughout their former range: primarily Perthshire, Angus, Aberdeenshire and Moray. Ruined forts, burials and other remains also exist in areas as remote as Orkney.
Class 1 Stone
The rock shown here is near the village of Aberlemno, Angus. This stone may be one of the most ancient, possibly carved as early as the 6th century. It shows some of the most common symbols of Pictish stone carving (from top to bottom): the serpent, the double disc and Z-rod, and the mirror and comb.
There are at least 30 distinct symbols that have been identified. Their meanings remain a source of active debate.
See Pictish Symbols below for a discussion of some of the symbols’ possible meanings.
There are two kinds or classes of stones:
Class 1 – unshaped stones incised with Pictish symbols only (as the example shown here)
Class 2 – shaped stones that are carved with both Pictish and Christian symbols
Later cross slabs contain Christian motifs only, incorporate Irish and Northumbrian styles, and sometimes bear ogham (an early Irish script) or Latin inscriptions.
The Picts came in contact with Celtic Christian missionary monks as early as the 4th century, but Christianity probably did not fully overcome traditional Pictish religion until ca. 950 AD. Its influence on Pictish civilization may be observed in the evolution of their stone carving, as Class 1 stones develop into Class 2 stones that eliminate Pictish symbols altogether.
Many of the Pictish stones are located in the hauntingly lovely Scottish countryside, still standing in or close to the places where they were originally carved, such as the example shown above.
Other stones are located in museums, on private land, and on the grounds of churches and castles.
SIGNSEEKER TRAVEL takes you to a variety of such sites.
Meigle No. 5
Pictish Symbols
Among the dozens of Pictish symbols that have been observed and recorded, here are a few examples, with general descriptions.
The carvings above are on the side of Meigle no. 5, a cross-slab in Meigle Museum, Perthshire.
The mirror symbol at top is often shown with a comb symbol (as in the first example stone) and may be associated with a female. This may seem obvious, but evidence has shown combs were used by both sexes, and males were equally fastidious about their appearance!
The “Pictish beast” below it is often referred to as a “swimming elephant”. It is probably a mythological composite animal of great significance for the Picts, as it appears on many stones, and carvings of other animals on Pictish stones are shown realistically.
So what do the symbols mean in combination?
Do they represent tribes, concepts, parts of an alphabet? And what do the stones themselves signify? Were they memorials, commemorations of battles, tribal boundary markers?
These are some of the topics discussed on the Pictish Stones Tour.
This a partial view of the back of a Class 2 cross-slab that sits by a roadside near Aberlemno, in its original location (ca. 8th century).
From top, it shows a crescent and V-rod, the double disk and Z-rod, and below what is probably a hunting party.
The double disk and Z-rod is the logo of SIGNKEEKER TRAVEL. These are some possible interpretations:
Discs represent this world and the next; the Z-rod shows man’s path from this world to the next
Discs/Z-rod represent the union of two warrior clans into one tribe; the “double disk tribe”
Z-rod is a broken spear or arrow, representing the death of a warrior from the “double disk” tribe
The interpretation could be none or all of the above: NO ONE knows.
Seaside Cliff Walks
A walk along the magnificent coastline of northeastern Scotland provides a challenge, and refreshment to the spirit.
This stretch of seacoast near Stonehaven, provides an opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the area as a compliment to viewing the Pictish stones.
Photo ops abound on this walk.
Be sure and bring your camera!
And there’s a spectacular surprise at the end!
At the end of the walk are the stunning castle ruins of Dunottar.
Many Pictish sites were taken over by later peoples and made use of; this huge, dramatic crag may have been one of them.
The itinerary of the Pictish Stones tour is flexible, and can be custom designed to suit your interests, pocketbook and time constraints.
See Booking a Pictish Stones Tour below for details.
Booking a Pictish Stones Tour
Because of the highly specialized nature of this tour, there are some restrictions:
Due to the great fragility of the outdoor-located stones, many are covered and unavailable for viewing for about half the year. Thus, tours are only conducted from May-September. Late September is recommended; high season is not.
Some sites require a great deal of walking on natural surfaces, and some considerable exertion over rough and possibly dangerous terrain. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate physical impairment.
The subject matter is geared towards intellectually mature persons. Please, no children under 12 are permitted, and a minimum age of 18 is suggested. Tour is limited to a maximum of six persons.
Cost
You are paying for a Tour Guide’s 24-hour commitment and knowledge for the length of the tour. Your meals, entry fees (if any), accommodations and transportation costs are your responsibility. On request, you will receive accommodation booking assistance, and after booking, Ready to Go – Pictish Stones Tour, a document with suggestions on how to pack, ideas on how to cut expenses, where to eat at various locations, more detailed transportation data and other valuable information on how to make your tour more enjoyable and economical.
And if you decide you do not need a Tour Guide, but wish to self-guide, Signseeker Travel can help you design your own Pictish Stones Tour for a nominal fee.
Public transportation is used throughout the tour, so exact times cannot be quoted for departures and arrivals, but a full day will be devoted to each site to ensure a leisurely amount of time to leave, enjoy and return, with plenty of free time for meals, relaxation and other activities.
Cost for Tour Guide Services: $500/day per couple
How to Book
Email patriciacatanich@bellsouth.net
Cell (US) 843-330-9333
Pictish Stones Tour Itinerary (sample)
This itinerary is partly based on this site’s illustrations, but on request may be shortened or extended.
DAY 1
Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland: overview of Pictish style, view artifacts.
As many participants may have jet lag, this will be a half-day activity!
DAY 2
Journey to Dundee (morning train; settle in to accommodation; Dundee museum (optional)
DAY 3
Meigle Museum (morning bus from Dundee; visit museum; return bus to Dundee)
DAY 4
Journey to Arbroath (morning train; settle into accommodation; afternoon in Arbroath, free time or guided)
DAY 5
Aberlemno (bus from Arbroath; view Aberlemno stones; return bus to Arbroath)
DAY 6
Journey to Stonehaven (train; cliff walk; castle; walk back; return train to Arbroath)
DAY 7
Return train to Edinburgh
Most days will have free time set aside for shopping, resting, exploring, etc. Evenings are free, or you can join an optional pub-crawl.
CAUTION
DO NOT expect every moment of the tour to be orchestrated and arranged! You will NOT be rising at dawn to put your luggage on a charter coach, go to a site, get out, take a few pictures, get back on the coach and get hauled elsewhere!
This tour is for independent-minded people who enjoy flexibility and even surprises. In the event a site becomes unavailable for unforeseen reasons (acts of God, transportation strikes, etc.) alternative activities will be offered and/or suggested).
Other Signseeker Travel Sites
Signseeker Travel offers custom tours in the US, too. Here are two other Singseeker specialty tours available for booking, both in Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest and largest historic district in the United States.
US TOURS
Chucktown Tour Guides
A humorous look at tourism and the lives of Charleston, South Carolina Tour Guides, with a gallery of experienced Top Shelf Tour Guides; hire one to give you a personalized walking tour of the jewel of the US eastern seaboard. Every Guide has a different area of specialization, from Colonial History to the current Charleston social milieu.
Walking in the Footsteps of George Washington
The first US President spent a week in Charleston in May 1791. This walking tour, guided by a licensed city historian, takes you to buildings associated with Washington, including the house where he stayed, and a tavern where he dined (both open to the public). Four National Historic Landmarks are covered on this walk, and the discussion includes fascinating detail about events he attended and people he met, and his reactions to Charleston. A one-of-a kind tour.
Future Signseeker Travel Sites*:
Celtic Christian Sites
Tour the holy places of the early Celtic Christian missionary monks in northern England and southern Scotland.
Castle Hunting
Discover the medieval castles of the UK, and hear their often bloody but always fascinating stories.
Pub Crawls (by city and region, based on tour itinerary)
Over 4,000 UK mini-breweries offer an astonishing range of handcrafted libations that change quarterly. Taste some of these offerings, and enjoy!
*Topics; not actual site names at this time
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN SIGNSEEKER TRAVEL!
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