Scozmo's Photery

March 28th 2025 – Dunino Den

I think I saw a clip or images from Dunino Den on one of those mainstream (anti)social media platforms and decided it was a must-see location so, the morning of March 28th we headed that way.

Dunino Den – Irish / Scottish Roots

Dunino Den – History hit

Dunino Den – The Druids

I have to say, I LOVE sites like these, full of wonder and questions. Many years ago my daughter and I started a wee tradition where I’d take her out on an adventure on Christmas day and on the first day we went to an ancient site that we never actually found! It was a few stones with carvings on them and a local parish vicar had taken his flock down there in the 60’s which raised the profile of the site but, not so much that we could find it!

My brothers had headed back home so mum, my sister, Jo and I went out to Dunino to visit the den.

We parked in the small church car park and walked through a small woodland towards where i hoped the actual Den was.

There’s a carved stone “bowl” on the rocks above the den itself and carved worn steps lead down between two outcrops, they’re pretty steep and could be slippery when wet. Mum decided it wasn’t for her.

I went down first and had a look around with no-one else there.

The light was just perfect for me and the shadows on the rocks only added to the mystique of the location; there is an ….. aura about this place!

These shots are all looking back at the rocky outcrops and the steps.

Just look at those rocks, the shapes and the colours!

I stood and looked all around me, there are “tokens” everywhere, people still come here, say a few words, leave something for the …… faeries?

There’s an old tree stump or root almost in the middle and it just looks like an ancient altar!

People have left coins embedded in the wood, and in the stone all around this site. Coin Trees!

There are many other items scattered all around as you explore.

Can you feel the eeriness? Those shadows! The steps are over in that dark cleft on the right.

People leave messages and notes all over the den, I spotted this slate leaning against the rock.

There is, of course, graffiti around which is kind of a shame but that’s life 🙂

I always try to get shots that convey the location, as much as possible to bring you into the site and this is looking back at the rocky outcrops, the steps being in that dark neuk on the left. Click or tap this shot to get a closer look.

A couple of wider / taller shots again trying to convey the whole area as much as possible.

At this point Jo and my sister joined me down here, exploring the rocks, there’s quite a bit to see and in my opinion, what this place is all about.

When you really get close to the rocks, you start to see symbols etched into them and more items embedded as tokens.

I have no idea when these were carved and searching t’internet nowadays is almost pointless, sadly.

That shot should give some context and perspective on the rocks and carving, there’s the tree stump to the left, stone carving on the rocks on the right.

But …… this is THE one! If you looked very closely at a couple of the previous shots, you might have noticed another carving?

See the face? Like a Green Man, in stone. I hope you’re not overly superstitious or freaked out easily ….

Click or tap to enlarge! Spooky?

Again, if you looked at the previous set of shots in the slideshow, you may have noticed yet more symbols?

See all the coins and objects left in the nooks and crannies too?

A glass marble left on a wee shelf and look at the colours on the rock, the growths.

We drifted around down here for a good while, examining all the rocks, objects, note and symbols.

A group of people drifted in from the other end, turned out to be an entire family from Ohio, if memory serves me? Three generations, one of the young lads was going to university over here and everyone had come over to see or with him, great to see them all out together and exploring the area, not just the tourist sites. We had a good natter for a few minutes and went our separate ways.

Smile at people, say hello 🙂

We had spent a good fifteen minutes exploring and poor mum was still up top somewhere waiting for us so, we started making our way back up to the old churchyard.

Family snapshot, our dad would have loved exploring here, I hope he could see us and enjoyed it with us.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting Dunino Den, maybe you’ll get there yourselves one day? Just South of St. Andrews and off the beaten track so, hopefully never full of tourists 😉

There’s more to come, stay safe and well 🙂

wanderings