Well of the Seven Heads

In 1663 Alexander and Ranald MacDonald of Keppoch, the clan chief and his brother, were murdered in a brawl by their cousins the MacDonalds of Inverlair. Nobody knows what started the fight, but Alexander had recently finished his education in France and some claim he was acting too continental for his Highland relatives.

The government assured the Keppoch clan that something would be done about the crime, but after two years they were still waiting for justice. It seemed as if the murderers had too many powerful supporters in the area and none were willing to hand them over to the authorities. They were simply keeping their heads down until it all blew over.

Unfortunately for them, the legendary Gaelic bard Iain Lom MacDonald was a kinsman of the victims and he wouldn't let the matter lie. After several petitions and the support of the MacDonalds of Sleat, the Keppochs were granted a "letter of fire and sword". They could now legally seek their revenge by force of arms.

Iain led fifty men to hunt down the seven killers at Inverlair and he finally got his revenge by dealing out bloody Highland justice. Legend says that he cut off each man’s head using the same dagger that had killed his clan chief. The MacDonalds of Keppoch didn’t just hold the murderers responsible though. Lord MacDonell of Glengarry was the one who failed to punish them.

The bard decided to make a statement and carried the seven bloody heads towards Invergarry Castle. On the shore of Loch Oich, he paused to wash the heads in a well and ensure they were presentable for throwing at MacDonell’s feet.

Known as the Well of the Seven Heads, it’s now marked by an obelisk, topped with a hand holding both a dagger and seven decapitated heads.