Loch Sheanta Well

A sacred well near Loch Shianta (Holy Loch), Skye, which was generally believed to cure several diseases, such as stitches, headaches, stone, consumption, megrim. People obliged themselves by a vow to come to the well and made the ordinary tour about, called deiseil which was performed thus: They moved thrice round the well, proceeding sun-ways, from east to west, and so on. This was done after drinking of the water. Before leaving, it was a custom to place some small offering on the stone that covered the well.

References

Sources

  • Hazlitt, W. Carew. (1905). Faith and Folklore. 2 vols. London: Reeves and Turner, pp. 1:324-325.
  • Macgregor, Alexander. (1901). Highland Superstitions. London: Gibbings & Company, pp. 55-56.