Historic Scotland will now consider giving Tinker's Heart national monument status

Historic Scotland is to revisit its decision not to give protected status to a traditional gypsy wedding place following a petition in parliament.

For years the heart, a pattern of quartz rocks overlooking Loch Fyne in Argyll, has been a sacred place where couples wed, babies were christened and the dead blessed.

Reasons for the stones being placed there are associated with the Battle of Culloden and the Highland Clearances.

Previously, Historic Scotland said the site did not meet the criteria to be designated as a national monument.

It will now reconsider and factor in equalities issues to a new decision.

The Scottish Parliament's petitions committee has been considering a campaign for the Tinkers' Heart to be given official status.

Problems have arisen because the heart now sits on private land.

Campaigners want it awarded legal status as a national monument so it can be restored and preserved for future generations.

In its latest evidence to Holyrood's petitions committee, Historic Scotland acknowledged that equalities issues should have been a factor in the previous decision to decline legal status.