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Loth Stone, Cairndinnis, East Linton. |
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Description
This standing stone, also known as the Loth Stone, is a four
sided monolith, some 2.40m high and is located at a field
boundary about 300m south-west of Traprain Law, although this is
not it's original position, having been moved to facilitate
ploughing. The area was excavated at the time but nothing was
found. There are also records that stone coffins and a cist were
discovered in the vicinity.
Directions
From East Linton take a minor road for Traprain, continue south
for Sunnyside, go straight on, then right and through Luggate.
Standingstone Farm is the next set of buildings on the road. The
stone can be seen along the field boundary in the direction of
Traprain Law.
Parking
Parking can be sought at Standingstone Farm, by permission. It is
also an easy walk from the parking areas to the north of Traprain
Law.
Folklore
The Loth Stone is said to mark the grave of King Loth, a
fictitious? Pictish monarch who gave his name to the Lothian
region.
As the story goes, Loth lived in the area around 518 B.C. and
had a daughter who fell in love with a local shepherd. Much
displeased with this he had his daughter condemned to death by
being thrown from the top of Traprain Law. However, being a
hardy Scots lass, she survived the fall and while still
unconscious was placed in a coracle and set adrift on the Firth
of Forth. The princess landed at Culross and was saved by local
shepherds. Some time later, she gave birth to a son, Kentigern
who trained as a holy man and later took the name of Mungo. His
travels too him to the west where he set up a monastery in the
small village of Cathures, which was later to become Glasgow.
Meanwhile, the shepherd who had originally fallen in love with
the princess, took his revenge on King Loth and killed him with
an arrow through the heart. Legend states that Loth's Stone
marks the site of the burial.
In 1861 Professor James Young Simpson examined the stones
around Traprain Law in the hope of discovering King Loth's
grave. Some 20m east of the original site of Loth Stone, a stone
cist was discovered.
Fieldnotes
An easy stone to get to this one. Just ask for permission to
park in the steading at Standingstone Farm - note the other
standing stone in the orchard - follow the tarmac road east
towards Traprain Law. Take the signposted footpath north, then
turn left and follow the hedge line to the stone. I always feel
slightly disappointed that the stone no longer stands in it's
original position.
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