Munlochy Clootie Well

Visit the well and make a wish in this gentle woodland

Clootie wells like the one here at Munlochy are found in Celtic places like Cornwall and Ireland and are linked to ancient healing traditions. The rag or cloot is dipped in the well and tied to a tree in the hope that a sickness or ailment will fade as the rag disintegrates.

If you want to bring a cloot by all means do – if you are leaving an offering, please make sure it is small, appropriate and biodegradable - pure wool or pure cotton are best for the environment.

There's another clootie well in Culloden forest, near Inverness.

Walking trails

Munlochy Clootie Well route card (PDF)

Walking

Well Trail

A short walk to the colourful clootie well, a tradition dating back to the earliest Celtic times.

Firm gravel surface, with narrow and uneven earth section. Short moderate ramps and some rocky steps. One patch may be muddy.

¼ miles / 0.3 km

Allow
¼ hour

More information

There's more to the clootie well than a load of old rags! Traditionally the sick offered pieces of cloth to the well's spirit in the hope of a cure. Whether you believe in the curative effects of the magical well or not, this is a powerful and moving place and well worth a visit.

Walking

Woodland Trail

Explore this peaceful Black Isle Wood on a short loop around the Big Burn beneath towering Douglas firs and Western hemlocks. 

Uneven gravel and earth paths with exposed tree roots and muddy sections. Some steep slopes. Includes a narrow bridge and some steps.

¾ miles / 1.2 km

Allow
½ hour

Facilities and access

Walking

Parking

Life's essentials

The nearest toilets and places to eat are in Fortrose, Tore or Munlochy.

Getting here

From Tore roundabout take the A832 towards Munlochy. The Clootie Well car park is on your right, about 2¼ miles (3.6 km) along this road, before you reach Munlochy. You'll see the brightly-coloured rags near the car park entrance.

To reach the Littleburn car park turn right about 2 miles (3.2 km) along this road and follow the single track road for just over ¼ mile (400 metres). The car park is on your left.

Using SatNav?

IV8 8PB is the nearest postcode, just beside the Littleburn car park.

Public transport

There are bus services between Inverness bus station and of Munlochy. The Clootie Well is ¾ mile (1.2 km) from the bus stop in Munlochy. You'll find timetables at Traveline Scotland.

Get directions