Folklore & legend

The Watch Stone Goes to Drink

Watch Stone, Bridge of Brodgar, Stenness

Undated tradition

The Watch Stone stands by the Brodgar causeway and was once one of a pair.

The legend is a widespread type of walking stone story. Once a year, at the turn of the year, the stone goes for a drink. In this case it walks to the Loch of Stenness at midnight on New Year's Eve, dips its head, and returns to its place.

The same sort of tale is told on Rousay of the Yetnasteen. I have not found an older written source for the Watch Stone version, so it is marked as a traditional tale as retold today.

Evidence
Long-standing local tradition
Access
Open ground
Location
58.995, -3.210 (Sited to the building or field)

Sources: The Modern Antiquarian, "Standing Stones of Stenness", folklore posts [other]; Wikipedia, "Rousay" [other]

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