Carie schist slab

The Carie schist slab sits quietly in the Perthshire landscape near Killin, a carved stone that's genuinely difficult to find unless you know exactly where to look. This is archaeology for the determined - a Neolithic or Bronze Age marker, probably, though what it marked and why remains properly mysterious.

What you're looking at is a slab of local schist with cup and ring markings carved into its surface. These patterns were pecked into the stone by people thousands of years ago, and standing in front of it, you do feel that pull of deep time. The rock itself is weathered but the marks are still visible if you know where to focus.

This isn't a destination that'll hold families for hours. You'll spend twenty minutes maximum on site, possibly less if the weather's poor. But if you're into prehistoric rock art or walking the hills above Loch Tay, it's worth the diversion. The real pleasure here is being out in that landscape - rolling moorland, proper Scottish hills, the kind of place where these ancient stones just belong.

It's free and accessible year-round, though getting there involves a bit of a walk from the nearest carpark. Spring through autumn is best when the ground's drier. If you're staying at Loch Tay Highland Lodges & Glamping Park nearby, this works perfectly as a short morning excursion before or after exploring the wider Tay valley. It suits walkers and history types far more than casual day-trippers.