Carlin Stone or Carline Stane is the name given to a number of prehistoric standing stones and natural stone or landscape features in Scotland. The significance of the name is unclear, other than its association with old hags,

witches Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have use ...

, and the legends of the Cailleach.

Etymology

A 'Carle' in Scots is a commoner, a husband or in a derogatory sense, a

churl A churl (Old High German ), in its earliest Old English (Anglo-Saxon) meaning, was simply "a man" or more particularly a "free man", but the word soon came to mean "a non-servile peasant", still spelled , and denoting the lowest rank of freemen. Ac ...

or male of low birth. The name 'Carline', 'Cairlin', Carlin, 'Cyarlin', 'Kerlin' or 'Kerl' was also used in lowland Scots as a derogatory term for an old woman meaning an 'old hag'.Scots Dictionary
It is from Old Norse ''Kerling'' or a corruption or equivalent in ScotsMcHardy, Stuart (1999), ''Scotland: Myth, Legend & Folklore''. Pub. Luath Press, Edinburgh. P. 24. of the Gaelic word “ Cailleach”, meaning a witch or the 'old Hag', the Goddess of Winter. Carlin is used as a surname and has several variations e.g., Carlen, Carlon, Carolan, O'Carlin, O'Carlen, O'Carlon, O'Carolan, Carling, Carlton, etc. It is stated as being of

Irish Gaelic Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was the ...

origin and is found somewhat less frequently in Scotland.

Scottish sites of Carlin stones or natural features

Carlin Skerry, Orkney

This is a rocky islet in the South of Orkney.Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland
/ref>

Alvah, Aberdeenshire

Near Sandlaw Farm in the parish of Alvah is the Carlin Cist, thought to have been part of a

Cromlech A cromlech (sometimes also spelled "cromleh" or "cromlêh"; cf Welsh ''crom'', "bent"; ''llech'', "slate") is a megalithic construction made of large stone blocks. The word applies to two different megalithic forms in English, the first being an ...

at one time.''The New Statistical Account of Scotland''. 1834. P. 161.

Backhill of Drachlaw, Aberdeenshire

This stone was part of a recumbent stone circle, around in diameter. It has several alternative names, such as the Caerlin stone; Cairn Riv; Cairn Rib; or Cairn-Rieve. Its map reference in the parish of Inverkeithny is NJ 6744 4659. Three stones remain in line, the Carlin Stone between two others quite small in comparison. In addition, there are two set stones projecting inward from the Carlin Stone. This boulder is rugged, unshapely, and most unusual in height. Other stones were broken up and removed within relatively recent times; the mounds of stones being carted away for making dikes or drystone walls. In or near the circle were found a small perforated axe-hammer, portions of 3 bronze armlets, flint chips and a jet button.The Inverkeithny Carlin Stone.
/ref>
/ref>

Bishop Hill, Perth and Kinross

This natural stone outcrop is known as Carlin Maggie and has the look of something imported from

Easter Island Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its nearl ...

, but it is natural. It is said to be a

witch Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...

turned to stone by the

Devil A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...

after she got on his nerves (''carline'' is an old Scots word for 'witch'). The Devil threw a lightning bolt which had the effect of petrifying her. It is a rock pillar estimated to be high, on the Western slope of Bishop Hill, overlooking Loch Leven. The OS grid reference is NO 18403 04413.Carlin Maggie
/ref>

Balgair Muir, Stirlingshire

A "Carlin Stone" is marked on the OS 6 inch series of maps from 1843 to 1882 at this location approximately 5 km NNW of Fintry.

Dunlop, North Ayrshire

On top of the Common Crags overlooking the village of Dunlop and the

Glazert Water The Glazert Water is a tributary of the River Kelvin in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It is formed south of Clachan of Campsie at the junction of the Finglen Burn and the Aldessan Burn, which both descend from the Campsie Fells. The Glazert ...

is a large procumbent boulder known on the

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as the ‘Carlin’s Stone or Stane’.Love, Dane (2009). ''Legendary Ayrshire. Custom : Folklore : Tradition''. Auchinleck : Carn Publishing. ; p. 24 It is also known locally as the Hag's Stone.Oral communication to R.S.Ll.Griffith by Mr. Clement in 2006 It is not listed by the RCAHMSRCAHMS Canmore site
/ref> and is not as well known locally as the nearby

megalith A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea. The ...

known as the

Thurgartstone The Thurgartstone or Ogrestone is a prominent glacial erratic stone near Dunlop in East Ayrshire, Scotland. The Thurgartstone stands in a field at Brandleside Farm and is thought to have been a rocking stone at one time, but it no longer moves ...

Darvel, East Ayrshire

Two farms named High Carlincraig and Low Carlincraig' on the

Ordnance Survey , nativename_a = , nativename_r = , logo = Ordnance Survey 2015 Logo.svg , logo_width = 240px , logo_caption = , seal = , seal_width = , seal_caption = , picture = , picture_width = , picture_caption = , formed = , preceding1 = , di ...

maps are to be found above

Darvel Darvel ( sco, Dairvel, gd, Darbhail) is a small town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is at the eastern end of the Loudoun, Irvine Valley and is sometimes referred to as "The Lang Toon" ( en, the Long Town). The town's Latin motto, , means "No ...

in East Ayrshire.

Waterside, East Ayrshire

A Carlin Stone is situated on Whitelee Moor near Craigends Farm, below Cameron's Moss near Waterside in

East Ayrshire East Ayrshire ( sco, Aest Ayrshire; gd, Siorrachd Àir an Ear) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland. It shares borders with Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The headquart ...

. A nearby watercourse is known as the Carlin Burn, joining the Hareshawmuir water just below the site of the Carlin stone. The stone has been much visited in the past; indicated by the remains of a footbridge running to it across the Hareshawmuir Water.

Knockshinnoch, East Ayrshire

Carlin knowe is a low hill with a prehistoric cairn on its summit near Knockshinnoch farm.

Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire

The OS Maps locate a Carlin Stone or Carlin Crags/Craigs near Bonnyton Golf Club on the outskirts of

Eaglesham Eaglesham ( ) is a village in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, situated about south of Glasgow, southeast of Newton Mearns and south of Clarkston, and southwest of East Kilbride. The 2011 census revealed that the village had 3,114 occupants, do ...

. Cup marked stones are present at the site. At least two fairly horizontal flat rock faces have cups on them, rings being entirely absent. Two sets of crags are present at the site but only the upper has the petroglyphs.Eaglesham Heritage Trail Guide

Carlins Cairn, Dumfries and Galloway

This is a mountain in the south-west of

Carsphairn Carsphairn ( gd, An Còrsa Feàrna) is a village in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located about halfway between Dalmellington and St John's Town of Dalry, on the A713 road. Carsphairn annua ...

parish.

Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway

This town was known as Carlinwark until 1792. The title came from nearby Carlinwark loch in the north of the parish of Kelton.Carlinwark Loch
/ref>McHardy, Stuart (1999), ''Scotland: Myth, Legend & Folklore''. Pub. Luath Press, Edinburgh. P. 25.

Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway

A Carlin Stone is to ben found at 'The Derry', near to the head of Elrig Loch near

Wigtown Wigtown ( (both used locally); gd, Baile na h-Ùige) is a town and former royal burgh in Wigtownshire, of which it is the county town, within the Dumfries and Galloway region in Scotland. It lies east of Stranraer and south of Newton Stewart. I ...

.Derrie Carlin Stone
/ref> It is thought to have been part of a

Stone circle A stone circle is a ring of standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe – especially in Britain, Ireland, and Brittany – and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being built from 3000 BC. The be ...

and is situated at the

OS Map , nativename_a = , nativename_r = , logo = Ordnance Survey 2015 Logo.svg , logo_width = 240px , logo_caption = , seal = , seal_width = , seal_caption = , picture = , picture_width = , picture_caption = , formed = , preceding1 = , di ...

Reference NX326497.Photographs of the Carlin Stone.
/ref>

Scottish Borders

The Carlin's Tooth is the name of a natural rock outcrop in the borders between Knocks Knowe and Carter Fell.Mack, James Logan (1926). ''The Border Line.'' Pub. Oliver & Boyd. P. 215.

Miscellany

Near Kirkhill outside

Stewarton Stewarton ( sco, Stewartoun,
gd, Baile nan Stiùbhar ...

are several farms having the name 'Kilbride' in their title. Bride - an anglicization of Brìghde, Brìd or

Saint Brigid Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland ( ga, Naomh Bríd; la, Brigida; 525) is the patroness saint (or 'mother saint') of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish hagiogra ...

- was originally the Celtic Goddess linked with the festival of

Imbolc Imbolc or Imbolg (), also called Saint Brigid's Day ( ga, Lá Fhéile Bríde; gd, Là Fhèill Brìghde; gv, Laa'l Breeshey), is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of Saint ...

, the eve of the first of February. She was the goddess of Spring and was associated with healing and sacred wells, therefore the antithesis of the Carlin or Cailleach. Papers in the Scottish National Archive state that the lands of Kilbride Cunninghame near Stewarton were also called the 'Lands of Carlin.'

References

External links

RCAHMS Canmore archaeology siteGeneral Roy's Military Survey of Scotland 1747 - 52Old maps of Scotland from the National LibraryOld Ordnance Survey Maps
*

A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...

{{European Standing Stones Buildings and structures in Scotland Megalithic monuments in Scotland Stones Rock formations of Scotland