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Devil's Blue Stane, Crail.
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Description
The Devil's Blue Stone, also "Blue Stone" or
"Blue Stane", sits outside the 12th Century Crail
Parish Kirk. This large, rather plain and undistinguished
boulder, can be easily seen to the left of the church entrance
at the edge of a large gravel parking area.
Directions
Crail is located on the A917 road that runs along the southern
edge of Fife, heading for St. Andrews. At the town centre, head
straight on for Fife Ness, rather than veer right for St.
Andrews. Crail Parish Kirk is on the right hand side.
Parking
There is ample free parking on the street outside the kirk.
Folklore
The Devil's Blue Stone is said to have been thrown by
the Devil from the Isle of May, a small island located in the
Firth of Forth, in an attempt to destroy the church during its
construction. There is a round indentation in the boulder, said
to have been caused by the Devil's thumb. It is also said that
sharpening a blade or sword on the thumbprint will assure
victory. Legend also states that when thrown, the stone split in
mid-air, one half falling outside the church in Crail, the other
landing on the shore at Balcomie beach, Fife Ness, the most
easterly point of Fife.
Fieldnotes
There are three "Blue Stones" in Fife. The first is
described here and located outside Crail Churchyard. The second
can be found at Fife Ness on the beach, with the third in the
town of St. Andrews to the north. Both the stones at Crail and
Fife Ness show evidence of blue markings. Some commentators have
suggested they may have been painted at one time.
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