Folklore & legend

The Cailleach Stones of Glen Cailliche

Also known as: Tigh nam Bodach; The Cailleach of Glen Lyon

Tigh nan Cailleach, Gleann Cailliche, upper Glen Lyon

Ritual reported as continuing to the present

The legend says the Cailleach and her family were sheltered by the locals, and while they stayed the glen was fertile and prosperous. When they left they gave the stones to the people, on condition that the stones were set out to look over the glen at Bealltainn and put back into the shelter and secured for the winter at Samhain. Wikipedia says the ritual is still carried out and that the site may be the only surviving shrine of its kind in Great Britain. The building was rebuilt by a local dyker in 2011 after its roof collapsed. The stones and hut are in a remote glen; the coordinates here are approximate.

Remote upper Glen Lyon; the shieling is on a track that needs a long walk from the road.
Evidence
Contemporary written record
Access
Public footpath only
Location
56.560, -4.440 (Parish-level only, treat as an area)

Sources: Wikipedia, Cailleach [other]

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