It is a tradition that dates back to the early Celtic times but but a mystery do-gooder/busy body (your choice) caused anger among locals when she decided to clear the site because she felt it was an eyesore. For centuries people have been leaving cloths – or cloots – at the Clootie Well in Munlochy in Ross-shire because they felt the site had healing powers for a loved one who was ill. In an online poll the vast majority felt it should have been left alone.

A MYSTERY clean-up of a famous Black Isle woodland site reputed to have healing powers has sparked a massive debate. 

A storm of protest on social media greeted news that ‘cloots’ had been removed from The Clootie Well in Munlochy with some warning a curse would be invoked and others decrying desecration of local heritage. Believers thought that as the cloth faded, so would the illness suffered by a loved one. 

Others say the site has become an eyesore with non-biodegradable items – including shoes, face masks, plastic bags and even false limbs – going against ancient tradition. 

Black Isle councillor Gordon Adam said: “Clearing up Clootie Well in this way was unfortunate. It may have been well intentioned, but the right way to go about it is to involve the local community which has done partial – and more sensitive – clear-ups in the past.

“There has been a local group formed to do just this, and they – along with the Knockbain Community Council – should be the ones who take care of the site in the future.

“The Clootie Well represents an ancient tradition and it’s deeply significant in the folklore of the Black Isle.”

John Stott, the chairman of Knockbain Community Council, said the clear up had been a complete surprise. He said: “But what’s done is done – it’s an opportunity to move forward and hopefully educate folk.”

He said there had been a lot of inappropriate items left there such as tartan scarves, umbrellas and football tops. He said: “They are not biodegradable. We need to educate them about the folklore.”

Black Isle MSP Kate Forbes said: “Clootie Well is an iconic attraction and a place that is very close to the hearts of many on the Black Isle.

“Over the last wee while it had been mentioned that there would be something of a clean up to keep the forest tidy, but I don’t think anyone foresaw something quite so drastic.”

Forestry and Land Scotland, which knew nothing of the clean up, acknowledged ancient tradition of hanging cloots.

From the North Star on Thursday, January 27, 2022.

Clootie Well poll result is in

READERS of the Ross-shire Journal have given their straw poll verdict on the mystery clean-up of a ‘healing’ site on the Black Isle. 

A storm of protest was sparked when it emerged that the Clootie Well site, in woodland near the village of Munlochy, had been dramatically cleaned up by a visitor. 

Down the years, people have hung cloots, or cloths, on branches in the belief that as they begin to degrade naturally, so will the ailments of loved ones.

However in recent years, the variety of items left at the site, looked after by Forestry and Land Scotland, has grown to include everything from shoes and face masks to high visibility jackets, bringing concerns its original purpose is being overlooked. 

Many took to our Facebook page to register their views on the subject and a selection of those comments are printed on this week’s letters page inside this edition. 

An online readers poll asking whether people felt that the site needed clearing up or should have been left alone came down heavily in favour of it being left untouched – with 82 per cent registering that view. 

Since then, a Friends of the Clootie Well page has been set up to encourage constructive discussion and to consider targeted clean ups and the possibility of educating the public better.

From the Ross-shire Journal on Friday, February 4, 2022.