Another Edinburgh Secret: The Caiy Stane

Hidden away just south of Edinburgh City Centre is another offbeat historical sight that few know about, and even fewer have managed to find.  It’s the oddly named caiy stane:

Where Is It

The Caiy Stane is near the intersection of Caiystane view and Oxgangs Road (map).  It’s a residential neighbourhood – the most unlikely place for a historical monument.  Lothian Buses do service this area, Fairmilehead, though if you have a car during your stay you’ll probably find it a little easier to drive down here.

What Is It

So, it’s a huge stone.  Just kidding – well, not really.  The stone is believed to have stood here for over 5,000 years, which is incredible – Stonehenge is estimated to be 4,5000 years old, so the fact that this is still here is a testament to its own will as well as the will of property developers in Edinburgh.  The stone is neolithic, and though few details are known, it is believed to be marker for a spiritual place or a burial ground that was once here.

If you look in the history books, you’ll see that this part of Edinburgh is relatively new – all of the 1800s, this stone stood in empty countryside on the outside of Edinburgh.  It is only in the last 100 years that the city snaked around this stone – even the stone wall politely skirts past behind the stone and continues its onward journey.

Caiy stane means standing stone, and the naming is woefully obvious. But historical record also mentions this stone to be the Kel Stane, the Cat Stane, and also the Cetstane.

The stone is red sandstone, and the only significant markings that are original are the six cup marks that are on the back.  These were likely used in some way to help move the stone into position.

The National Trust now has possession of the stone, and has done so since 1936.  There have been two attempts at vandalism – you can only see them by looking at the back of the stone.  One is an etching of ‘J Forrest’ – which is claimed to have been done in the 1800s – and then a more recent bout of graffiti.  Shameful, even if it’s only on the back.

Should You Go?

I’m not going to pretend – it is, indeed, a stone.  When you touch it, magical things don’t happen.  But Stonehenge is a bunch of stones too.  They’ve been around for thousands of years.  So, actually, maybe there is something magical. You won’t know if you don’t check it out.

Photo by angus mcdairmaid