To swim or not to swim?! Contemplating a dip from beautiful Firemore beach – perhaps the hiding place of the Stone of Destiny?
I listened to a fascinating programme on BBC Radio 4 recently – the topic sounds dull I’ll admit: “Materials of State” looked at the origins, symbolism and contemporary significance of the objects and emblems that underpin the British constitution.
But this episode caught my attention because it was about the Stone Of Destiny and there is a local connection.
The blurb for the programme says: “The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone – an ancient symbol of Scottish monarchy with a complex and contested history intertwined with both Scottish and British identity. The stone’s earliest origins are shrouded in myth, but it was certainly used in the inauguration of Scottish kings at Scone Abbey from at least 1249. In 1296, King Edward I of England seized the stone as war booty. It was taken to Westminster Abbey and incorporated into a specially constructed Coronation Chair, which has been used in the coronation ceremonies of English, and later British, monarchs for over 700 years.”
However it is also famous for being stolen and brought back to Scotland and possibly hidden at Firemore beach just up the road from Aodann.
One of the four students involved in the heist was Kay Matheson who was from Firemore. You can find out more about her in this article on the Gairloch Museum website – do visit the museum if you are here to find about more about this fascinating woman.