Na Fir Bhrèige facts for kids
Na Fir Bhrèige
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Location | North Uist |
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Coordinates | 57°37′39″N 7°13′01″W / 57.627366°N 7.217072°W |
History | |
Periods | Neolithic |
Na Fir Bhrèige (which means "The False Men" in Gaelic) is a group of three standing stones. You can find them on the Isle of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. These ancient stones stand on the northwestern side of a hill called Blashaval.
Na Fir Bhreige: The False Men Stones
These three stones are lined up in a special way. They run from the west-northwest to the east-southeast. This line almost matches the peaks of Blashaval and Maari hills.
The stones stick out of the ground by different amounts. One is about 0.7 meters (2.3 feet) tall. Another is 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) tall. The third one is 0.6 meters (2 feet) tall. But these stones are probably much deeper in the ground. They would have looked much taller when they were first put up long ago. The stones are also quite far apart. The first two are 21 meters (69 feet) from each other. The second and third stones are 35 meters (115 feet) apart.
Mysterious Legends
The name "Na Fir Bhrèige" comes from two old stories told by local people. These legends help explain why the stones are called "The False Men."
- One story says the stones mark the graves of three traitors. Traitors are people who betray their country or friends. These three men were supposedly buried alive.
- Another legend tells of three men from the Isle of Skye. They left their wives and ran away. A powerful witch was very angry about this. She used her magic to turn the three men into stone.
How to Find Them
The Na Fir Bhrèige stones are located at 57°37′39″N 7°13′01″W / 57.627366°N 7.217072°W. If you want to visit them, you can get there from the A865 road. This road is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) northwest of a town called Lochmaddy. From the road, you will need to walk about a mile (1.6 kilometers) up the side of Blashaval hill to reach the stones.