Camus Cross

The late Reverend W D Chisholm wrote about the Cross:

'Up from their long boats drawn up on the shore, up the burns of Barry, Pitairlie and Monikie, crossing the earth houses, past the Old Downie motte, up the hill they come, these wild Danish Vikings on one of their foraging raids. On the hill-top, they meet the strongly positioned barons and men of the army of the King of Scotland, Malcolm II. In the fierce fighting, King Camus, the Viking leader is slain. He is buried and laid to rest. His men flee in disorder. Some run as far as Aberlemno (to the north-east in Angus). Others disappear into hiding. Many die. How else can we explain the Viking stone coffin found at Carlungie?

Someone, somehow, sometime comes upon the burial mound and fashions over it what is one of the finest examples in Angus of a Celtic Cross. Yes, it might have been disturbed in 1630 when various Norse ornaments were taken away by Sir Patrick Maule to Brechin Castle. Yes, it might have been moved in the 19th Century to allow the planning of the beautifully straight avenue from Panmure House to the Testimonial, but still it stands for all to admire.'