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Clach na Criche

  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche, The Morvern Wishing Stone
  • Clach na Criche
  • The Forestry Commission car park for The Wishing Stone
  • The Wishing Stone is easily visible from the B849 from Lochaline to Drimnin
  • The Wishing Stone as seen from Lochaline
  • The Wishing Stone as seen from Drimnin
  • The angular hole in The Wishing Stone
  • A great opportunity to immerse yourself in lichens
  • Intricate patchwork of crustiose lichens
  • Profile of Clach na Criche
  • Good view of the igneous intrusion
  • The interpretation board in the car park for Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche
  • Clach na Criche

Details

The Wishing Stone in Morvern is formed from a dyke that intruded into surrounding rocks around 60 million years ago.  The surrounding rock has since eroded away leaving the dyke as boulder like outcrop.  The dyke has a large angular hole in the centre and has many joints within its structure.  The bare surface is covered with a stunning patchwork of white, grey and orange crustiose lichens, whilst numerous crevices support members of the Parmelion and Usneion communities. 

The stone has been used as a boundary marker (hence its Gaelic name Clach na Criche), formerly between the lands of the Pict and Scots, and more recently between the medieval parishes of Kilcolmkill and Killintag.  It no longer serves this purpose as the parishes have since been amalgamated.  

The English name of the outcrop derives from local folklore.  Wishes were said to be granted at the Wishing Stone if you filled your mouth with water from the local spring and passed through the stone three times without touching the sides or swallowing the water. 

The Wishing Stone was also a stopping off point for funeral processions between Lochaline and Drimnin, for both refreshment and remembrance.  Cairns were built by the mourners in memory of the deceased.  For sources further information, please see links below.

Access Point

Park at the Forestry Commission Car Park.  The Wishing Stone is a short walk west from the car park.

Location

Links to useful information

  • Clach na Criche- Forestry Commission Scotland
  • Clach na Criche-CANMORE
  • Morvern Geotrail- Lochaber Geopark
  • Ardnamurchan Picnic Sites
  • Ardnamurchan Day Trips - Morvern Bound

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