The Clootie Well

Also known as:
Munlochy Clootie Well, Munlochy Well and The Clutie Well, The Rag Well, Hill O' Hirdie, St. Curitan's Well
Nearest town:
Fortrose (8km ENE)
OS reference:
NH640536
OS sheet:
26
Latitude:
57° 33' 7.51 N
Longitude:
4° 16' 22.78 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of The Clootie Well (Sacred Well) by thelonious

15/05/2010 – The Clootie Well, 13 years on from Martin’s photos and still going strong.

thelonious
thelonious Dec 31, 2012
Image of The Clootie Well (Sacred Well) by Martin

Aug 97- socks, hankies, the odd pair of pants n knickers- clooties draped from everywhere round this sacred well!

Martin
Martin Aug 12, 2004

Articles

The Clootie Well

C
CARL Aug 11, 2014

Directions:
Sign posted off the A832, west of Munlochy.

I had forgotten about this site but seeing the sign meant a stop-off just had to be made. There is a small free car park and the well is only a short walk away – just follow the bits of clothing hanging from the trees!

I have been to many places where clooties have been left and I usually find them quite respectful. However, to me, this was just a mess. There were masses of items bedecking what seemed like the entire wood. Old socks, jumpers, t-shirts, football shirts, trousers, sweat shirts – even a high visibility jacket! It looked like the aftermath of a hurricane hitting a laundry!
There were a few ‘tasteful offerings’ but in the main it looked like a load of old tat.

The well itself was quite nice but overall the site left a lot to be desired. I think someone needs to go through the site and clear out the tat and restore some of its dignity.
If anything I suspect it is even worse now than when Martin visited 10 years ago.

All in all it was a very disappointing visit.

The Clootie Well

Martin
Martin Aug 12, 2004

August 97
Kat and I stopped off at this famous clootie (or rag) well on the Black Isle on our way to the fantastic Groam House Pictish Museum. It’s, er, quite a sight! The well is now a trough beside the road into which a natural spring flows. Then around about this in all the trees are thousands of cloots. From the usual hankies to old socks and even the odd tartan insole. The whole site is kinda disgusting, though it’s heartening to see the ancient ways and traditions still very much in use.

Sites within 20km of The Clootie Well

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