Dominated by the huge hill fort on Tap o' Noth at Rhynie,
the westernmost outpost of the Garioch, are many Pictish stones,
cairns, smaller forts and the remnants of several stone circles.
Rhynie is on the A97 eight miles south of Huntly. Buses are few so
it's best to go by car. This area on the edge of the farming lands
of Aberdeenshire has been long and continuously inhabited. Going
south from the village on the B9002 stop to look at the Craw Stane
in a field on the left, and visit the lovely little Norman church
at Auchindoir about two miles further on, up a back road to the right
(B9002). Built in pink sandstone, on a motte at the edge of a
tree-filled gorge, this is a place of great tranquillity.
The doorways are Norman arches, one exquisitely decorated
with dog's-tooth patterning, supported on either side by
delicate columns and capitals.
