Sacred Well: OS Grid Reference – NJ 42659 47528
Also Known as:
- Cailleach Well
- Tobar Chailleach
- Well of the Cailleach
Folklore
Described on the earliest OS-map of the region as Taber Chalaich, this great “well of the old woman, witch, or hag” is found on the northern slopes of Cairds Hill, amidst increasingly dense woodland up the top of the stream which ebbs and flows in strength (depending on the weather). A water source dedicated the prima mater Herself — i.e., the heathen pre-Celtic female creation deity par excellence — it was once of considerable repute locally as being a great curing well and was described by Ruth and Frank Morris (1981) as being,
“the scene of a pagan ceremony in which the Earth Mother in her old woman phase bathed at the well and returned as a young maiden.”
(21st Century Pict)
The well still appears to still be running. A visit to the site in July 2025 by Pol Anndrais found that “the East Side of the pool has been dug out and the rocks used to dam the outlet. The pool is roughly square, about 2 metres across. The inlet is over natural rock visible beneath the surface, the pool is about 1 metres deep and reasonably clear with pond skaters and diving bettles, (but) no visible offerings…”
On the hill at the top we find remains of old tombs (mistakenly ascribed by Mr & Mrs Morris as ‘stone circles’), some of which may have had some mythic relationship with this legendary water source. If anyone has any further information about the folklore or history of this site, we’d love to know about it.
References:
- Morris, Ruth & Frank, Scottish Healing Wells, Alethea Press: Sandy 1982.
Acknowledgements: Huge thanks to Pol for the info on the site’s condition + the ‘21st century Pict’ for the photo.
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian