Brandsbutt Stone

Brandsbutt Stone is a Pictish monument in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, standing about 1 meter tall with carefully carved symbols on its whinstone surface. The carvings display a crescent, v-rod, serpent, and z-rod, which are typical of early medieval symbols from this region.

The stone was broken apart and repurposed as building material in a dyke before 1866, when it was recovered and restored. This recovery preserved the ancient Pictish carvings that might otherwise have been lost.

The stone bears an Ogham inscription that scholars connect to Saint Ethernanus, a 7th-century religious figure whose influence shaped the spiritual life of the region. This ancient writing system reveals how faith and language were intertwined in early medieval times.

You can find the stone at the corner of Gordon Terrace by following Burghmuir Drive from the north end of the Inverurie bypass on the A96. The location is straightforward to reach on foot once you know where to look.

The serpent carving displays detailed scale patterns that showcase the advanced craftsmanship of Pictish stone carvers from this era. Such precise detail work is less common on many other stones from the same period.