The Clootie Well

This is The Clootie Well in the Black Isle.

Its something that has fascinated me ever since I was a child and one of my earliest memories is mum pointing it out to me as we drove past. It always seemed incredibly creepy, and in my head it was something to do with witches in the Black Isle. No matter how creeped out I was by it though, I always wanted to see it again and would get very excited by the prospect of us driving that way!
I think the story we used to be told is that people would tie up rags to ward off the witches and evil spirits that were rife around those parts.

More recently I've found out its also used as a place to wish for healing. I happened to be there at New Year with M and thought 'well, why not? I'll give it a go!'
So I followed the instructions and tied a bit of wool from my scarf (all I had!) around a branch - no miraculous recovery yet but you never know! It does say that you have to wait for your cloot to rot away.... ;o)

It used to be really dark and sinsiter looking but more recently its been turned into something of a tourist attraction by the forestry commission with a car-park nearby, stairs leading up to it and an explanation of what it is.
Its been done quite tastefully and there are forrest walks around and about (and it was fairly dangerous parking in front of it to have a look!) but it felt more authentic before there was a friendly wee notice telling you what it was all about! lol

I've taken lots of photographs of it over the years and its interesting to see whats changed, but also how it is overall fundamentally unchanged - it is said to date back to at least AD620


"At this well people often leave cloots* as wishes for healing, leaving an offering that should have been in contact with the sick person. It should also be something that will rot away taking the sickness with it. Its supposed to be very bad luck to remove a cloot - you might get the sickness yourself.
Wells with magical properties like this were once common throughout Britain. At some of them you leave clothes or rags, others need coins, pins, shells or pebbles. They seem to be a link with pre-Christian beliefs, and perhaps the power of water in Celtic tradition.

If you wwould like to make a wish at the Clootie Well records suggest that people followed a ritual like this : Walk round the well three times going sunwise. Splash some of the water on the ground. Make a silent wish or prayer. Leave a gift or offering"

*A 'cloot' can be a rag or a peice of clothing.

There are more photos of it right here!