Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The grand Masonic Hotel.
Napier Art Deco Historic Precinct
Military Cemetery for North Korean Soldiers
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
Caesars Palace Spiral Escalators
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Our producer Manolo Morales would spend his final days perusing the shelves at Book Off.
Where Would You Go to Wait for the Apocalypse?
about 20 hours ago
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
1 day ago
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?
1 day ago
How to Turn Your Road Trip Into a Nature Scavenger Hunt
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Edinburgh 'The Stones of Scotland'

'The Stones of Scotland'

A poetic monument to the Scottish Parliament.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Added By
linkogecko
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The monument is defined by the circle of 32 rocks.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The monument is defined by the circle of 32 rocks.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Highland”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Angus”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“East Ayrshire”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“City of Glasgow”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Perth and Kinross”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“City of Edinburgh”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Midlothian”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Poetry of Hugh MacDiarmid.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
An example of the rocks, these represent the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian Councils.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Whose the tread that fits this mark?” - Tessa Ransford.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The current Scottish Parliament (both the physical building and the institution it houses) were established following the results of a referendum in 1997. In the seven years between this referendum and the construction of the actual Parliament Building, "The Stones of Scotland" was built as a way to commemorate this new era of Scottish history.

The story of this monument and the Scottish Parliament Building occurs in increments of two years from 2000, when the first stone of the monument was placed on-site. In 2002, the monument was completed and dedicated in honor of the yet-to-be-finished Scottish Parliament Building. Finally, this building was completed and occupied in 2004, and can be seen from Regent Road Park, where "The Stones of Scotland" sits. 

The actual monument consists of 32 rocks mined from and representing each of the 32 council areas that constitute Scotland. These are placed in a circle around a plaza, at the center of which a tree grows. This plaza also features a plaque with a quote from Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid's aptly titled poem "Scotland," as well as a sculpture featuring a quote by fellow poet Tessa Ransford. The group of artists and designers who worked on this monument includes Lesley-May Miller, Kenny Munro, Stuart Rogers, and George Wyllie.

Related Tags

Government Memorials Rocks Geology

Know Before You Go

The monument can be seen from Regent Road, but it's recommended to walk into the Park for a better view.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

linkogecko

Edited By

SEANETTA

  • SEANETTA

Published

September 24, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/geological-site/stones-of-scotland/
  • https://mapio.net/pic/f-27084346994/
'The Stones of Scotland'
34 Regent Terrace
Edinburgh, Scotland, EH7 5BS
United Kingdom
55.955134, -3.173549
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Queen Mary's Bath House

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Sanctuary Stones

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Queen Mary's Bath House

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Holyrood Abbey Ruins

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Sanctuary Stones

Edinburgh, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Scotland

Places 184
Stories 7

Related Places

  • Dolores, Colorado

    Memorial Rock

    A boulder so big and tough, they had to turn it into a landmark.

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

    Hutton Memorial Garden

    A stone-filled garden in the heart of Edinburgh commemorates the father of modern geology.

  • Feynman Diagram rock carving.

    Turan, Russia

    Feynman Diagram Rock Carving

    A tribute to Richard Feynman is carved into the land he planned to see but never got to visit.

  • The tsunami stone of Aneyoshi Village

    Kesennuma, Japan

    Tsunami Stones

    Stone slabs along the coast warn of Japan's tsunami-ravaged past, often marking the highest point of a wave's reach.

  • The Iron Cross.

    Roswell, New Mexico

    POW Iron Cross

    The symbol was surreptitiously built into the river bank by German prisoners of war.

  • Eskişehir, Turkey

    Uğur Mumcu Park

    This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

  • Lake Forest, California

    Red Rock Canyon

    A striking geological formation in Southern California.

  • North side of Monster Rock.

    Ephrata, Washington

    Monster Rock

    An enormous boulder deposited by the Scabland floods lies in the Quincy Basin among a host of smaller boulders.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.