The Picts are one of the most significant peoples of the British Isles in the first millennium of the Christian Era. Their 'Symbol Stones' are ranked among the most important art of Dark Age Europe. (Please note that the stones shown on the linked website are not those visited on the tours below - but give some idea of the range and vigour of Pictish art.)
We offer two tours with the Picts as main focus:
South Moray Coast. On this tour we start by viewing a number of Class I stones in Inverness itself, including two fine stones from Ardross, Easter Ross, one depicting a wolf and the other a graceful rendering of a deer. We cross the river to view the massive Boar Stone (Class I) before turning east to Clava Cairns, the most important prehistoric monuments near Inverness. These pre-date the Pictish period by at least 2,000 years. We spend 30 minutes at the cairns, the guide pointing out numerous features overlooked by the casual visitor. Further along Strathnairn we pass a small standing stone.
East of Nairn we visit Rodney's Stone, about 2m high. This Class II stone has a cross on one side and geometric patterns and sea-monsters on the other. The climax of the tour is Sueno's Stone, a monolith 6m high with a cross on the obverse. The sides are decorated with typical Celtic intertwinings. However it is the reverse which is truly astonishing. Four panels depict, i.a., cavalry preparing for battle, rows of decapitated bodies, and prisoners in chains.
We then continue to Burghead with its bull stones and curious well.
Cost for 3-3½ hour tour for up to 6 persons: £ 100. No admission fees.

Easter Ross Tour. Easter Ross has a fine collection of original and copied Pictish Stones, plus the Tarbert Discovery Centre at Portmahomack. In the summer there is usually a dig in progress at Portmahomack, adjacent to the discovery centre, of the most exciting Pictish site revealed for many decades.
One of the many exciting sites we visit is the replica of the Hilton of Cadboll Stone. Please click here for a map of the locality.
Cost for 4-5 hour tour for up to 6 persons: £ 140 Admission fee applies to Tarbert Discovery Centre.

The above two tours may be combined to make a full day-tour.

Class I stones - those with depictions of real and fabulous animals, also abstract and gemoetric features; Class II stones - may include features of Class I stones but also have Christian symbols. We go into more details on these differences during the tour.

Another web site giving links to the Picts: Picts