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Description
The Bannock Stane appears to be a collection of large boulders
situated on a small hillock marked with a single Rowan tree,
rather than any single individual stone. The site is quite
prominent as you climb up the valley and would be most
noticeable from the old road in days of old. I would guess that
the bannock Stane is more a sacred place rather than a sacred
stone.
Directions
Starting from Moffat town centre proceed east along the A708 then
turn left where the road becomes a cross-road. At the next
T-junction turn right and continue until the road ends at a small
parking area opposite Moffat Well. Proceed on foot from here
following the farm track upstream; keep to the left hand side of
the Blae Beck. The Bannock Stane can be seen on the right just
before the forestry begins. There is a small rowan tree growing at
the location.
Parking
A small parking area can be
found at Moffat Well.
Fieldnotes
When I started out on this field trip I had high hopes of
finding a large flat �bannock� shaped stone, however, this
was not to be. While the term Bannock Stane is clearly indicated
on the O.S. 1:25,000 map, what it actually refers to is not very
clear. Searching the area on the ground did not reveal any large
single stone obvious enough to be taken as the Bannock Stane but
there is a substantial collection of large boulders in the
immediate area. Checking an old map of the area later that day
showed this to be the most likely location of the Bannock Stane,
more a collection of large boulders rather than a single stone.
The outcrop is marked immediately to the right of the map
wording.
Also
of interest is the fact that there is a single rowan tree
growing beside the Bannock Stane and this may have some
relevance to the location as the rowan has long been associated
with protection from the faeries and from witchcraft. The rowan
is also said to protect the dwelling beside which it grows. The
area of land immediately south of the Bannock Stane is called
Bannockstane Moss.
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