The Well of Seven Heads, Loch Oich

Well of Seven Heads, Loch Oich, Highland, Scotland

On the shore of Loch Oich stands a monument to the seven heads of brothers killed in revenge for murdering their chief. A bard washed the heads in the spring before presenting them to the MacDonell chief.

The Well of Seven Heads — Tobar nan Ceann — stands on the western shore of Loch Oich on the Great Glen road. It is a real place: an 18th century monument erected by MacDonell of Glengarry, with an inscription in Gaelic, English, French, and Latin explaining what happened there. The events it commemorates took place in 1663. The young chief of the MacDonells was murdered by his own clan — specifically by seven brothers of the Keppoch family who disputed the succession. The young chief's bard, Iain Lom — one of the great Gaelic poets of the 17th century — witnessed the murder and demanded justice. When the local authorities failed to act, he travelled to the MacDonell chief at Invergarry and raised the matter repeatedly until action was taken. Eventually, a raiding party was sent to Keppoch. The seven brothers were killed. Iain Lom, who had insisted on accompanying the party, washed the seven heads in the spring at Loch Oich before carrying them to Invergarry Castle and presenting them to the chief at dinner. The monument records this. The spring itself still exists beneath the monument structure. The folklore dimension: Iain Lom is said to still walk the shore of Loch Oich at certain times — specifically at dawn, when he is seen moving along the water's edge in the same direction as his original journey to justice. He is recognised by the bundle he appears to carry.