Last year I first heard of the Celtic tradition that is the Clootie Well – a sacred spring where locals leave pieces of cloth or ribbon, which had been soaked in the water, tied to nearby trees for luck as part of a healing ritual.

On that occasion it was near Munlochy, on the Black Isle in Easter Ross, and a mystery person had upset residents by removing the “cloots”in a misguided attempt to tidy up the site.

During my wander through Culloden Wood yesterday, as well as the Prisoners’ Stone, I also passed another Clootie Well known locally as St Mary’s Well.

Apparently, it was traditionally visited on the first Sunday in May and as these shots show there were plenty of cloots left at the site.

Related post: Clean-up of ‘cloots’ sparks fury

Related post: Prisoners’ Stone in Culloden Wood