Dunrobin Castle Museum

Taigh-Tasgaidh Caisteal Dhùn Robain

Pictish stone collection

Cruinneachadh de chlachan Cruithneach

An outstanding and distinctive collection of more than 20 beautifully-carved Pictish stones, mostly found around East Sutherland including some found in the castle grounds. 

Dunrobin Castle Museum sits within the splendor of Dunrobin Castle, the most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and home to the Dukes of Sutherland. The museum is located within the stunning landscaped gardens of the castle and was originally built as a summer house. The Museum’s Victorian ‘cabinets of curiosity’ house an eclectic collection of objects from Scotland and around the world including hunting trophies and objects of interest presented to the Museum by friends of the Sutherland family.

Further information

Two of the finest stones in the museum are the ‘Dunrobin 1’ stone and a magnificent cross-slab from Golspie. Both are carved with enigmatic symbols and designs unique to the Picts.

The ‘Dunrobin 1’ stone was found in 1854 by Dunrobin Castle estate workmen near the beach below the castle. The stone, thought to date from the 7th century, marked a grave which contained two skeletons. The stone has three distinct Pictish carvings showing a fish, a ‘tuning fork’ and a double ring handled mirror with comb.   

The Golspie Stone is an impressive cross-slab that once stood in St Andrew’s churchyard, Golspie. It is thought to date back to the 8th-9th centuries AD. It is carved on two sides and has both Pictish symbols and an ogham inscription. One side has been skillfully carved with an intricate cross and the reverse side has a collection of symbols and figures. These include the mysterious ‘Pictish beast’, and a bearded man with an axe in his right hand and a dagger in his left hand. The man is facing a wolf-like animal standing above a fish. There is also a crescent and v-rod, flower symbol and double disc. Two entwined snakes can be seen biting each other at the foot of the cross slab.