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Abernethy Round Tower is a pre-Romanesque stone tower of Early Medieval date, likely constructed in the tenth or eleventh century, located in Perthshire in central Scotland. The tower stands approximately seventy feet in height and exhibits the characteristic features of Irish-influenced round towers found in Scotland, including a circular plan, tapering walls, and a doorway positioned well above ground level. The site also preserves a Pictish symbol stone dating to an earlier period, reflecting the long span of religious and secular activity at this location through the Early Medieval centuries. The tower's presence indicates Abernethy's significance as an important ecclesiastical centre, though its precise original function—whether defensive, monastic, or commemorative—remains a matter of scholarly discussion.
Abernethy Round Tower and Pictish symbol stone is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90005. View the official record →
Abernethy Round Tower is a pre-Romanesque stone tower of Early Medieval date, likely constructed in the tenth or eleventh century, located in Perthshire in central Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90005.
Abernethy Round Tower and Pictish symbol stone is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90005.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Castle Law,fort,Abernethy (1.3 km), Wellfield, enclosure 220m SSE of (2.1 km), Edmund's Grave, burial cairn (4.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Abernethy Round Tower and Pictish symbol stone's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Abernethy Round Tower and Pictish symbol stone stands on Stratheden Group, bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.