Tigh nam Bodach

This is the ancient pagan shrine of Tigh nam Bodach, which sits in Glen Cailliche at the head of Loch lyon.

The Tigh nam Bodach is recognised as the oldest site of uninterrupted pagan ritual in Scotland, some say Europe. The shrine is made up of a modest turf roofed shieling, or house (tigh) which houses a family of bell-shaped water stones from the bed of the River Lyon. They represent the Cailliche (the old woman), Bodach (the old man) and their daughter Nighean.

For centuries the family of stones are taken out of their house every spring and stood to face down the Glen. This apparently brings prosperity and fertility to the glen. At the beginning of November they are carefully shut back up inside their house, where they shelter through the winter. The ritual coincides with the two great Celtic fire festivals, Beltane (May Day) and Samhain (?All-Saints? Day), and once echoed the annual migrations of the Highland cattle to and from the summer shielings.