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

hag A hag is a wizened old woman, or a kind of fairy, witch, or goddess having the appearance of such a woman, often found in folklore and children's tales such as "Hansel and Gretel". Hags are often seen as malevolent, but may also be one of t ...

witches Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

, and the legends of the

Cailleach In Gaelic ( Irish, Scottish and Manx) myth, the Cailleach (, ) is a divine hag, associated with the creation of the landscape and with the weather, especially storms and winter. The word literally means 'old woman, hag', and is found with t ...

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 ...

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 “

”, 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 Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigeno ...

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 a ...

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.

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 (, ; , ) 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 renowned for its nearly 1,000 extant monumental statues, ...

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

witch Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

turned to stone by the

Devil A devil is the mythical 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 conce ...

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 W ...

is a large procumbent boulder known on the

OS map The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. The agency's name indicates its original military purpose (see ordnance and surveying), which was to map Scotland in the wake of the Jacobite rising of 1745. The ...

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 RCAHMS 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. More than 35,000 megalithic structures have been identified across Europe, ranging geographically f ...

known as the Thurgartstone.

Darvel, East Ayrshire

Two farms named High Carlincraig and Low Carlincraig' on the

Ordnance Survey The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. The agency's name indicates its original military purpose (see Artillery, ordnance and surveying), which was to map Scotland in the wake of the Jacobite rising of ...

maps are to be found above

Darvel Darvel (, ) is a 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" (). The town's Latin motto, , means "Not for ourselves, but for others". History Prehis ...

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 (; ) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It shares borders with Dumfries and Galloway, East Renfrewshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The headquarters of the council are located on London Roa ...

. 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 ( or , or ; ; ) is a village in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, situated about south of Glasgow, southeast of Newton Mearns and south of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, Clarkston, and southwest of East Kilbride. The 2011 census reveal ...

. 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 () 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 annual sheep show is held i ...

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); ) 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. It is known as "Scotl ...

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

Stone circle A stone circle is a ring of megalithic standing stones. Most are found in Northwestern Europe – especially Stone circles in the British Isles and Brittany – and typically date from the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, with most being ...

and is situated at the

OS Map The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. The agency's name indicates its original military purpose (see ordnance and surveying), which was to map Scotland in the wake of the Jacobite rising of 1745. The ...

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 (,
) is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

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

Saint Brigid Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (; Classical Irish: ''Brighid''; ; ) 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 ...

- was originally the Celtic Goddess linked with the festival of

Imbolc Imbolc or Imbolg (), also called Saint Brigid's Day (; ; ), is a Gaels, Gaelic traditional festival on 1 February. It marks the beginning of Spring (season), spring, and in Christianity, it is the calendar of saints, feast day of Brigid of Kild ...

, 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

. 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 letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient ...

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