The Ringing Stone - Tiree

Located on the north shore of Tiree, a half-kilometer north of Loch na Gile, is an amazing boulder. Its Gaelic name is Clach na Choire. It has several English names: the Kettle Stone, the Cauldron Stone, the Singing Stone, the Ringing Stone and the Gong Stone. There are other Lithophonic stones in Scotland; one is on Iona (but I do not know where), and another is near Burn o'Vat. 

The Ringing Stone is unlike any other rock on Tiree, and it is thought that it was moved from Rum by glacial action. The stone is covered by dozens of cup marks, and I wonder if the cups affect the pitch of the ring - perhaps a way to make different notes depending on where you strike the stone. Next time I'm on Tiree I'll have to test this theory.

A video of the Tiree Ringing Stone in action can be seen here. 

Twin Otter G-BVVK

I have been posting on boats that have taken me to the Hebrides. But it occured to me that I should mention another vessel, one that took me to Barra and Tiree, and that is Twin Otter tail number G-BVVK. It was quite an adventure when, on a snowy February afternoon, I first flew on her to Barra. Here are a few photos of G-BVVK, which I hope to fly on again someday.

G-BVVK on a rainy day at Glasgow Airport

The view out the window to Tiree

The view out the window to Erraid (on the way to Tiree)

G-BVVK lands at the Reef (Tiree)

Preparing to leave Tiree

G-BVVK on the approach to Barra Beach

A summer arrival on Barra Beach

Cleared for takeoff - Barra Beach

A snowy day on Barra Beach

Island Phone Boxes - 6

While there are a half-dozen or so phone boxes on Tiree, this particular one, set next to a ruin above Traigh Bhagh, is memorable to me. I sheltered in it during an autumn storm (see book 2, chapter 8). After a few minutes inside I decided the rain was not going away. So I changed into waterproofs before leaving the box to resume my walk around the island. A few minutes later, as I was walking in the heavy rain, I was offered a ride. Tiree is a friendly place.

Journey to Tiree 5

After visiting the golf ball radar that sits on Carnan Mor, the highest point of Tiree, I went in search of a quieter summit. I found one here at the west end of the island on Beinn Ceann a' Mhara. Nearby is the site of the fort of Dun nan Gall, and the hill in the distance is Beinn Hough.

It is time to leave Tiree, for now, anyway. We're returning to Glasgow aboard Twin Otter G-BVVK. She's my favourite little airplane, having taken me to both Tiree and Barra, and one time delivering my lost luggage after I'd been on Barra for three days without it.

Journey to Tiree 4

Here are a couple of random photos from a wander around Tiree on a wet autumn afternoon. I used the phone box in the first photo to shelter from a brief rain storm. But there was no such shelter when another blew through when I was sitting on the top of the island (second photo). But the big golf ball, an ATC radar, provided some shelter.

Journey to Tiree 3

On the coast of Tiree due north of Kirkipol lies the ruined broch of Dun Mor Vaul. Its circular foundation, thirty-five feet in diameter, stands six feet tall, and when originally built it had been about thirty feet high. On the inside of the wall sit the base of the stairs that once wound all the way to the top of the tower (second photo). Many features of the defensive nature of the building are still evident: holes for the bar that held the door closed, and a guard chamber next to the entrance.

A mile SW of the broch you will find Clach a Choire, the Kettle Stone, better known as the Ringing Stone.  When I tapped on it with a beach pebble it sang out a high pitched metallic chime. The Tiree stone is not alone, as there are other Ringing Stones in Scotland, for example this one in Aberdeenshire. The Tiree stone has over 50 of the mysterious cup markings that no one knows the meaning of, but there are some fascinating theories. My favorite involves the cup-carver's intentionally directing earth energies. If you want to read more on this there is an interesting book on the subject called Ley Lines and Earth Energies.

Journey to Tiree 2

This photo shows a Twin Otter landing on the Reef, Tiree's airfield. For a fascinating description of the airfield's (and some of Tiree's) history, there is a wonderful book recently published by the Islands Book trust called Tiree - War among the Barley and Brine.

Twin Otter landing at the Reef

On my visit to Tiree I stayed at the Tiree Lodge Hotel, which you can see to the left in the next photo. The hotel is located in a magnificent spot. In front of it lies Gott Bay and the two mile long strand of Traigh Mhor, and behind it are the ruined churches of Kirkipol.

On the way to Gott Bay

Kirkipol Chapel

Tomorrow we'll cross over to the north coast of Tiree to see the broch of Dun Mor Vaul and the Ringing Stone.

Journey to Tiree 1

Yesterday's photo from Erraid reminded me of this picture of the island that I took from the window of a Twin Otter on a flight from Glasgow to Tiree. The loch with the small island in the foreground is Mull's Loch Poit na h-I. The second photo is an even closer look at Erraid I was fortunate to get on the return flight. Tomorrow we'll land on Tiree and tour the island.