One of three probable prehistoric standing stones on Tiree (but see Gott below). There are a number of other standing stones, but these are believed to be modern.
Standing stone at Balinoe known as A’ Charragh Bhiorach, the sharp pillar, or Spitheag an Fhoimheir, chip of the giant, photographed by Dr John Holliday in 2000.
Canmore entry:
Canmore ID 21463. ‘Standing Stone, Balinoe: This massive stone is situated near the S edge of an arable field 760 m WSW of the former manse of Heylipoll. It measures 1.9m by 1.1m at the base with the longer axis aligned approximately N and S, and stands to a height of 3.6m. The N side of the stone has a pronounced shoulder at a height of 1.7m above ground- level, beyond which it rises to a pointed top. Mann (L M Mann 1922) records that in 1921 ‘on the eastern face were noted eighteen cups, one partly ringed, and a few much weathered on each of the other sides’. At the time of his visit, he observed that the surface of the E face that bore the markings was about to flake off, and no artificial markings are no visible (nor were any noted by Morris in 1967 {R W B Morris 1969}). It should be noted, however, that a considerable number of shallow irregular cavities of natural origin are to be found in many places all over the surface of the stone, including the E face; hence it is possible that some, if not all, of the markings recorded by Mann (L M Mann 1922) as artificial were in fact the result of weathering.
L M Mann 1922; R W B Morris 1969; RCAHMS 1980, visited 1973.
A standing stone as described. It bears no cup marks.
Visited by OS (R D) 27 June 1972.’
