The Maiden Stone — Attraction in Scotland

I have been past this several times, but this time we decided to stop to get a proper look. There are about a half dozen marked parking spaces, but Aberdeenshire Council has failed to mark one as an accessible space, which is a shame as they have gone to all the bother of laying a tarred path up to and round the stone. This path was wide enough for my wheelchair, but not for anybody going the other way at the same time. Anyway, I decided I would try to walk with my rolator thinking it wasn't far, but halfway I had to stop to sit on it as walking up the slope was fair taking it out of me. But I got there, and the face of the stone was awesome! There is a board on the right, on the railings, giving the history as they understand it, including how idolators destroyed the protection originally given the stone. That is a shame as when you get round to the other side, you can barely make anything out of the carving of the Maiden, and the continued weathering is just making it worse. If you like ancient stones, or happen to be in the area, it is well worth a visit. Looking at it and thinking of the primitive tools used and the patience, it puts modern...

We visited the site today to discover that the stone is "in Winter Hibernation"; which is to say completely covered in sheet metal. I would have thought that winter would have ended by 10 April, when schools are on Easter break. It would be useful to let us know when the Maiden was divested of her winter woolies – and when she was tucked away for the winter. (I could find no word on websites – in fact no mention of "Winter...

I was pleased to see it without its winter cover. It has a slope up to it, but I didn't try it out. Its still a difficult carpark to turn, as quite scary as the traffic was flying past at a great rate of knots and you can hardly see as you try yo get put of the area. I wondered why they, the powers that be , don't make more use about this stone in the field behind the stone instead. If you are interested local history...