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The row of sandstone cottages that house the St Vigeans stones.
Angus

St Vigeans Museum

A museum of thirty-eight Pictish carved stones in two cottages at St Vigeans, north of Arbroath, among them the Drosten Stone with its rare inscription.

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Welcome

A mile north of Arbroath, the little village of St Vigeans huddles below a red sandstone church on a steep mound.

In two cottages at the foot of the hill, joined into one, Historic Environment Scotland keeps a collection of thirty-eight Pictish carved stones, all of them found here in the village.

They are some of the finest in Scotland. The Drosten Stone of the ninth century stands 1.75 metres tall, with a cross on one face and Pictish symbols and beasts on the other, and along its edge an inscription in Latin letters, one of very few Pictish inscriptions that can be read at all. Around it are cross-slabs, grave-markers and fragments carved with hunters, animals and knotwork.

The museum opens from April to September on three days a week, and the church on its mound above is a fine sight in itself.

A short drive awayThe Port KitchenA family-run restaurant and deli on Keptie Street in Arbroath, opened in November 2025, serving breakfast, tapas and wine.5 min by roadSee itThe navy corner front of the Port Kitchen on Keptie Street, Arbroath.
Before you go

Open from April to September on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, from ten until half past four.

Where
St Vigeans, a mile north of Arbroath, DD11 4RB.
Run by
Historic Environment Scotland.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10am–4.30pm
Wednesday
10am–4.30pm
Thursday
Closed
Friday
Closed
Saturday
10am–4.30pm
Sunday
Closed
Where it is

In the village of St Vigeans, a mile north of Arbroath, below the church.

Close byArbroath.
  1. Café worker serves a slice of cream cake with berry drizzleVin-Tealicious2 miles5 min by road
  2. Arbroath AbbeyArbroath AbbeyThe abbey where the Declaration of Arbroath was sealed in 1320.2 miles7 min by road
  3. Bar shelves stocked with wine and spirits above illuminated fridges of soft drinks and beerCopper OvenA Neapolitan pizzeria on Applegate in Arbroath, with pizzas from an open kitchen, small plates of antipasti and ice cream.2 miles7 min by road
  4. Red bollards and creels on a cobbled harbour pier, lighthouse in the distanceSignal Tower MuseumThe Bell Rock's shore station of 1813, now a museum.2 miles7 min by road
  5. The great carved cross-slab standing in the hall of the Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum.Meigle Pictish StonesTwenty-six carved Pictish stones at Meigle.27 miles39 min by road
Directions
The navy corner front of the Port Kitchen on Keptie Street, Arbroath.RestaurantsThe Port Kitchen1.7 miles
Server holding a lobster behind a fish counter with chalkboard menusShoppingE&O Fish2.0 miles
Stacked lobster creels and coiled rope sit on a harbour wall before a row of colourful sandstone townhouses, sailing boats moored alongside.AttractionsArbroath Harbour2.1 miles
Grilled fish, souvlaki and pitta on blue gingham at Andreou's, Arbroath.RestaurantsAndreou's Bistro2.2 miles
The old stone smokehouse of Arbroath Fisheries with its orange doors on Seagate.ShoppingArbroath Fisheries2.3 miles
Red sandstone cliffs meet a rocky shore beneath a partly cloudy sky, calm turquoise sea stretching to the horizon.WalksArbroath Cliffs3.1 miles
Wooden boardwalk with railings leads through dunes towards the seaAttractionsSeaton Cliffs3.2 miles
Ruined harbour walls enclose a rocky cove below a clifftop stone bothyWalksAuchmithie and the Ethie Cliffs5.0 miles
Sourdough and rye bread in a wooden box beside butter quenelles on slateRestaurantsGordon's Restaurant & Rooms6.9 miles
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