Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
26 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
27 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
27 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Highland Well of the Seven Heads

Well of the Seven Heads

This macabre monument atop an ancient well gives a nod to a brutal episode in Scottish clan history.

Highland, Scotland

Added By
Sandra McGhee
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Well of the Seven Heads.   Arterra Picture Library/Alamy
Well of the Seven Heads.   Arterra Picture Library/Alamy
  bbjames69 / Atlas Obscura User
  bbjames69 / Atlas Obscura User
  bbjames69 / Atlas Obscura User
Well of the Seven Heads.  
Well of the Seven Heads.  
  rakimwes / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
View of A82 heading north   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
View of A82 heading south   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Grisly decapitated heads   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Well of the Seven Heads   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
In the well (or leading to it)   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

On the banks of Loch Oich in the Scottish Highlands sits an old obelisk monument with a macabre tale. At first glance, it looks like any other typical monument, but a close inspection reveals that it’s crowned by a grisly carving of a hand holding a dagger and seven severed heads. Erected in 1812 by Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell, the Chief of Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, the monument marks the spot of an ancient well and gives a nod to a horrific series of events.

In 1663, Alexander and Ranald MacDonald were murdered by their cousins during a family brawl after returning from their schooling in France. Alexander was the 13th Chief of the Keppoch family and an unpopular clan reformer.

After two years, no justice was meted out mainly due to the murdering MacDonalds having many sympathizers in that area. A kinsman to the victims, Iain Lom, Gaelic Poet Laureate of Scotland, sought justice and revenge. After appealing to Sir James of Duntulm Castle on the Isle of Skye, he agreed to apply to the privy council in Edinburgh who issued letters of "fire and sword" against the killers.

Sir James’ brother Archibald was put in charge of 50 men and guided by a very eager Lom, who lead them to the murdering MacDonalds of Inverlair. The killers were served justice in the Highland way and decapitated. Lom then wrapped the severed heads in his plaid and washed them at the well before presenting them to Lord MacDonell of Invergarry Castle as proof before sending them to Edinburgh.

During an exhumation of a mound in Inverlair, seven headless corpses were discovered, thus confirming the story of the Well of the Seven Heads (Tobar nan ceann).

Related Tags

Murder Monuments Wells

Know Before You Go

The well is not signposted and is easy to miss as you travel on the A82 road south of Invergarry. The A82 is a fast-moving motorway, use extreme caution when walking along the road, as there is no sidewalk.

The monument is directly opposite the shop, the site is marked on Google maps. Park in the Loch Oich car park just past Loch Oich Food Co and walk back, taking care of the busy road. Head towards the northern edge, there is a footpath to the left before the boating dock.

Don't forget to go under the tunnel of the well to have a look too and remember Lom washing the heads.

Community Contributors

Added By

ssm67alba

Edited By

SEANETTA, bbjames69, AlbaRaven, Jaszmina Szendrey...

  • SEANETTA
  • bbjames69
  • AlbaRaven
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • rbenn250
  • katielou106
  • Julius Spada
  • rakimwes
  • michellepercha

Published

September 4, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/the-gory-story-behind-the-well-of-the-seven-heads-1-3997308
Well of the Seven Heads
A82
Highland, Scotland
United Kingdom
57.052164, -4.797026
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Bridge of Oich

Highland, Scotland

miles away

Glengarry Viewpoint

Invergarry, Scotland

miles away

Willie MacRae Memorial

Greenfield, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Highland

Highland

Scotland

Places 22

Nearby Places

The Bridge of Oich

Highland, Scotland

miles away

Glengarry Viewpoint

Invergarry, Scotland

miles away

Willie MacRae Memorial

Greenfield, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Highland

Highland

Scotland

Places 22

Related Places

  • Strathkinness, Scotland

    Bishop's Wood

    The burial site of a murdered bishop and his alleged killers.

  • Malacca, Malaysia

    Hang Li Poh’s Well (Perigi Raja)

    Initially built for a Chinese princess and sultana, this well was used to secretly assassinate some 200 Portuguese colonizers.

  • Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi

    Mauritania

    Monument to the Battle of Oum Tounsi

    Initially meant to immortalize the valor of the colonizer, this monument is now a symbol of Mauritanian resistance.

  • In the Italian countryside, a somber mosaic marks the place Ruggero Pascoli was murdered.

    Longiano, Italy

    Monument to the Assassination of Ruggero Pascoli

    A haunting mosaic marks the spot where a famous poet's father was murdered more than 150 years ago.

  • Malchik Monument.

    Moscow, Russia

    'Compassion'

    A monument to Malchik, a stray dog who lived in a Moscow metro station until his tragic death.

  • The cairn.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Muschats's Cairn

    This stack of stones honors a murdered 18th-century woman.

  • Explosives found at the scene.

    Bath Township, Michigan

    Bath School Massacre Memorial

    A park and memorial dedicated to the victims of the deadliest school massacre in American history.

  • Graffiti on the obelisk in 2006

    Hagley, England

    Wychbury Obelisk

    An 18th century monument regularly tagged with unsettling graffiti referencing a 1940s unsolved murder.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.