Ancient Stones
A Guide to Standing Stones & Stone Circles in the South of Scotland.


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019 Bannock Stane, Moffat.

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Description
The Bannock Stane appears to be a collection of large boulders situated on a small hillock marked with a single Rowan tree, rather than any single individual stone. The site is quite prominent as you climb up the valley and would be most noticeable from the old road in days of old. I would guess that the bannock Stane is more a sacred place rather than a sacred stone.

Directions
Starting from Moffat town centre proceed east along the A708 then turn left where the road becomes a cross-road. At the next T-junction turn right and continue until the road ends at a small parking area opposite Moffat Well. Proceed on foot from here following the farm track upstream; keep to the left hand side of the Blae Beck. The Bannock Stane can be seen on the right just before the forestry begins. There is a small rowan tree growing at the location.

Parking
A small parking area can be found at Moffat Well.

Fieldnotes
When I started out on this field trip I had high hopes of finding a large flat �bannock� shaped stone, however, this was not to be. While the term Bannock Stane is clearly indicated on the O.S. 1:25,000 map, what it actually refers to is not very clear. Searching the area on the ground did not reveal any large single stone obvious enough to be taken as the Bannock Stane but there is a substantial collection of large boulders in the immediate area. Checking an old map of the area later that day showed this to be the most likely location of the Bannock Stane, more a collection of large boulders rather than a single stone. The outcrop is marked immediately to the right of the map wording.

Also of interest is the fact that there is a single rowan tree growing beside the Bannock Stane and this may have some relevance to the location as the rowan has long been associated with protection from the faeries and from witchcraft. The rowan is also said to protect the dwelling beside which it grows. The area of land immediately south of the Bannock Stane is called Bannockstane Moss.

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Quick Info
Type: Sacred Place
Nearest Town: Moffat
O.S.
Landranger Sheet 78
O.S. Explorer Sheet 330
Grid Reference: NT 0890 0840
GPS Reference: BANOCK

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