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Old Kirk of Tough is a Bronze Age standing stone located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated 165 metres north of Forkins of Midmar. The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12010. Standing stones of this type were erected during the Bronze Age, typically serving ritual, territorial or commemorative purposes within prehistoric communities.
The stone rises from bedrock composed of Argyll Group strata, formed during the Neoproterozoic era. This geology comprises a mix of psammite, semipelite and pelite—metamorphic rocks derived from ancient sediments. The landscape of mid-Aberdeenshire contains numerous Bronze Age monuments, reflecting intensive ritual and ceremonial activity across the region during prehistory.
The precise positioning of Old Kirk of Tough within this geological setting, combined with the density of contemporary monuments nearby, suggests the site held significance for Bronze Age communities. The monument's survival into the modern period, despite agricultural development across the surrounding area, testifies to its enduring presence within the local landscape and cultural memory.
Old Kirk of Tough, standing stone 165m N of Forkins of Midmar is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12010. View the official record →
Old Kirk of Tough is a Bronze Age standing stone located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated 165 metres north of Forkins of Midmar. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM12010.
Old Kirk of Tough, standing stone 165m N of Forkins of Midmar dates from the bronze age period, and is classified as a standing stone 165m n of forkins of midmar. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Old Kirk of Tough, standing stone 165m N of Forkins of Midmar 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 SM12010.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tamnagorn, stone circle 300m E of (3 km), Hill of Bandodle, farmstead 210m SSE of (4.4 km), Whitehill, stone circle, Bogmore Wood (4.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Old Kirk of Tough, standing stone 165m N of Forkins of Midmar'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.
Old Kirk of Tough, standing stone 165m N of Forkins of Midmar stands on Argyll Group, bedrock that formed in the Neoproterozoic. The rock here is psammite, semipelite and pelite.