Midway between Forfar and Brechin lies the village of Aberlemno, one of the most important sites for the study of Pictish art.

Two cross-slabs and a symbol stone are located beside the B9134 road, while a third cross-slab (below) is in the churchyard, and a fourth, discovered at nearby Woodrae and for some time in the possession of Sir Walter Scott, is now in the Royal Museum in Edinburgh.

The stones are thought to date from the 7th century and on one side of the stone in the churchyard is depicted a battle with both cavalry and infantry. The battle is thought to be that of Nechtansmere at Dunnichen in 685AD in which the Picts fought and defeated the Northumbrians, thereby stopping the northward expansion of the Northumbrian kingdom.

For more information on the stones and their history, click here and for a map click here