Ross and Cromarty is renowned for its varied landscape- hills and lochs, rocky shores and small villages. Every area has its own character. The Seaboard villages are no exception. They are famous for their sandy beaches, harbours and the Picts.

Long before the Scots, Vikings or English discovered this far flung corner of Easter Ross, it was homeland of one of the tribes of the Picts. Fifteen hundred years ago Pictland extended from just North of the central belt of Scotland to the Northern Isles. These Picts farmed, hunted and fought between themselves over the fertile land and lochs of Caledonia. Craftsmen produced superb sculpture and metalwork, jewellery and weapons. they went to war for their king against neighbouring states, such as the Angles of Deira and the Irish of Dalriada.

Gradually, between 600 and 800 AD, most of the Picts were converted to Christianity. It is during this time that the acclaimed carved stones for which the Picts are famous were produced.

Carved in relief on both faces these stones remain somewhat of a mystery- what function did they serve, what do the symbols indicate? The later slabs usually contain a cross as well as numerous Pictish symbols. Three of the finest examples of this type were produced in the Tarbat peninsula. Nigg and Shandwick still retain their original sculptures while the Hilton Stone now resides in the new National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is this fine piece of Pictish sculpture that is being recarved and has been erected on the site of the original. It has been said that these carved 'cross-slabs' are amongst the best 8th century sculpture in Western Europe.