the pictish well

joak

the pictish well

DUNINO DEN
Dunino village in Fife has been a sacred ritual area for thousands of years.

The path to Dunino Den starts at the Parish church which itself was built on the site of a stone circle. Rocks from the destroyed circle were used in the building of the church and its surrounding walls. In the graveyard there is a 3 ft rectangular stone which has a 17th century sundial carved on its uppermost face. It has become local custom to place a coin on the sundial for luck, and at any given time the upper face is completely covered in weathered coinage.

Follow the path down the side of the church and you will discover a raised rock promontory jutting out over the Kinaldy Burn in the manner of a pulpit. Carved into the solid rock of this natural platform is a circular well which, folklore has it, was used by the Druids to conduct rituals involving human sacrifice. The well was a repository for the victim’s blood and the bodies were thrown to the burn below. Next to the hollowed basin there is also a footprint carved in the rock which hints at initiation into some kind of secret order or perhaps a sign of Kingship.

A series of steps cut from the rock descend through a gorge leading to the Den proper, a natural amphitheatre. On the rock face at the foot of the steps is a Celtic Knot carving. The centre of the Den is marked by a Clootie Tree where pilgrims and travellers have left various rags, candles, dreamcatchers, wind chimes etc as offerings to the spirit of the Den or to ask that a wish be granted. Moving to the far side of the Den, one will find a 10ft Celtic cross carving on the cliff wall and near to that, a Celtic trinity symbol.
a bit o info i discovered aboot a pictish site i discovered while walkin the dugs years ago an went back for a visit this summer..its agreat place an there was some standin stones there as weel but unfortunatly as was so often the case in times when christianity was bein punted aroond scotland there were churches built oan the pagan sites an the auld ways were destroyed forever ..whit a shame…i applied some soft focus tae give it an atmosphere jist in case ye thought i hud made an arse o it

the pictish well belongs to the following groups:

Bits and Pieces , Descriptions, Heritage in Stone, History, ImageWriting (2/24), Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Nature's Reclamation, Scotlands History, The Scots are Coming and Victorian Viewfinders
the pictish well by joak
  • Chris Clark

    Chris Clark

    fantastic image joak and the narrative is outstanding

  • joak replied

    ta chris i have wnted tae go back for ages!

  • Martina Fagan

    Martina Fagan

    beautiful work love it

  • joak replied

    halo martina glad ye like it pal

  • Tom Gomez

    Tom Gomez

    Nice find joak and great information, I need to go have a look at this …

  • joak replied

    aye there is some great places tae visit there

  • Tania  Donald

    Tania Donald

    so beautiful and mysterious… : )

  • joak replied

    it is a great wee site pal ..i love it

  • Anne Smyth

    Anne Smyth

    gorgous and mysterious and profound

  • joak replied

    hi anne its a braw piece o auld scottish history

  • tinnieopener

    tinnieopener

    Love the history and the image…..Spot on Mate:o)

  • joak replied

    ta very much guid pal!

  • Heather  Rivet  IPA

    Heather Rivet...

    well done mate

  • joak replied

    ta heather

  • Noelene Davies

    Noelene Davies

    Gorgeous spot, stunning capture Joak.

  • joak replied

    halo noelene thank you!

  • Carol  Lewsley

    Carol Lewsley

    wow awesome Joak love the story and photo what a great bit of history to learn about

  • joak replied

    glad ye found it interestin an enjoyed it carol

  • mrcool

    mrcool

    you guys are so lucky to have so much history & to have moste if not all of your sites still intact.

    lucky your a GHOST you can just glide down those steps !!
    great photy mate.

  • joak replied

    there are a few that could get looked after better pal but we dae no bad

  • Tiffany Dryburgh

    Tiffany Dryburgh

    Fab! The soft focus was a clever touch, I think it works really well.

  • joak replied

    aw thanks tiffany.im never sure if im doin the right things!

  • the6tees

    the6tees

    Fantastic shot Joak,
    does this mean you are comeing back to eirth???
    I hope so!!xx

  • joak replied

    wheres eirth..ive never been there i dinny think so i cany go back

  • kalaryder

    kalaryder

    A lovely image and wonderful description to match it.

  • joak replied

    thank you pal glad ye like it

  • nadine henley

    nadine henley

    lovely dreamy capture leading us deeper in to the wood, joak

  • joak replied

    hi nadine magic tae see ye..its a drop o aboot 30 feet just over the back so i dinnny want tae lead ye to far in case ye fall over!

  • Josie Jackson

    Josie Jackson

    Wow Joak, this is gorgeous, I love the colours and you sure did give it great atmosphere, looks fabulous, and what a history – what a shame how they destroyed the “old ways”. but so much was destroyed in Scotland, breaks my heart…..

  • joak replied

    and mine pal…cheers

  • Nelson Campbell

    Nelson Campbell

    One of the most beautiful photographs I have seen…captures a real sense of history and magic – even if I had to read the accompanying writing.

  • joak replied

    aw nelson thats a brilliant comment thank you so much!

  • Tainia Finlay

    Tainia Finlay

    A magical, mystical place joak, your image marries with the narrative so well. Great work mate!!

  • joak replied

    thanks tania ..it has a great atmosphere this place..glad ye enjoyed it

  • artwhiz47

    artwhiz47

    Well done, friend – a very unusual image.

  • joak replied

    thanks shiela hope i didny muck aboot wi it to much!

  • Al Williscroft

    Al Williscroft

    Wow Joak! awesome image!!

  • joak replied

    hey at awfy much al great tae see ye

  • dawndavies

    dawndavies

    beauitful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • joak replied

    hi dawn glad ye like it pal

  • Aileen David

    Aileen David

    fantastic shot Joak, so ethereal! and what a legend and history behind it!
    would it be too much to ask for more pictures from this place? It’s a facinating visual tour :)

  • joak replied

    hi aileen i didny take many more but i will see whit ive got pal so nce o yea tae be sae interested pal

  • valzart

    valzart

    wooOOT! amazing capture sweetheART ;} smiley hippy hugglez

  • joak replied

    cheers val its a magic place

  • greenstone

    greenstone

    enchanting shot!!!

  • joak replied

    hi greenstone great tae see a new face glad ye like it

  • debsphotos

    debsphotos

    I’d never think you’d make an arse of it joak!! lol..Unreal history and fabulous place!!..oh..great image Joak!!l *-)

  • joak replied

    och yer so nice !!..thanks pal

  • Kelly  J

    Kelly J

    Oh how wonderful this is!! :)

  • LavenderMoon

    LavenderMoon

    What an ethereal and enchanting place… you can actually ‘feel’ it from this photo…. looks like a place shrouded in mist from the surrounding dales and trickling brooks. Great shot of this fern-laced landmark, Joak… quite a mood emanating from it…

  • joak replied

    aw thank you that is exactly whit i wanted folk tae fell…an ta for the fav …..ya wee cracker..lol

  • greenstone

    greenstone

    not sure how to reply yet, instead of comment! but it is my pleasure!!! i see an ancient mask in this shot! hope i dont sound like a freak! gs

  • joak replied

    why wid ye sound like a freak…huv ye read ma rubbish!!!lol…thanks pal for commentin!

  • Agnes McGuinness

    Agnes McGuinness

    It’s a beautiful capture, joak, and the soft focus works really well. Love the interesting writeup. Reminds me of Holy Wells hereabouts, and all sorts of things hanging on the bushes nearby. As in this case, probably a throwback to pagan times. Thanks for posting this. Agnes xx

  • joak replied

    halo agnes i love this palce and am glad ye like it and ye like ma we soft focus as weel thats magic!

  • Kasia-D

    Kasia-D

    What a fascinating place. I’ve heard of it but never visited. Thanks for sharing all that information!

  • joak replied

    theres a lot tae see if ye rake aboot pal …cheers

  • Stephen Thomas

    Stephen Thomas

    Great Photo!

  • joak replied

    hi stephen mate thank you pal

  • catherine walker

    catherine walker

    wow..I love it and the story ..well done it’s a gorgeous photo..and I’d love to walk that path!

  • joak replied

    its a special place an the wee path goes doon tae a wee burn..its lovely

  • charliethetramp

    charliethetramp

    wonderfull find joak.. youv`e come up with a gem yet again..great image

  • joak replied

    halo charlie ..dae ye mean i huv got other gems! lol..thanks mate much appreciated

  • JaneSolomon

    JaneSolomon

    Stunning image and I love the story! xx

  • joak replied

    hi jane i pinched the story ..lol ..glad ye like it!

  • salsbells69

    salsbells69

    Wow Joak..i wish to visit this place one day..your image really is quite endearing and the story behind it even more so. Its gorgeous, so gorgeous i want to see it and walk the path ..awesome.

  • MarianBendeth

    MarianBendeth

    Incredible history there Joak! So pagan and rudimentary but the colours in this shot remind me of a Child’s storybook under the covers…excited to see what happens next!

  • joak replied

    ta for the fav pal..it was a big pictish area this an ye can find lots o things if ye look hard enough…just like a childrens book

  • restlessd

    restlessd

    Beautiful.
    ♥R♥

  • joak replied

    thank you ..glad ye like it an ta for lookin

  • Robin Brown

    Robin Brown

    I can see all the fairies Joak, dancing round this wee enchanted spot. Quality shot & historical narrative too. You could rival Tom Gomez with all that info!!

  • joak replied

    na he only goes tae sunny places!

  • Robin Brown

    Robin Brown

    True but he needs the exposure!!

  • restlessd

    restlessd

    I found you some beautiful music for this one – enjoy

    ♥Rhonda

  • joak replied

    this is a wonderful peace pal ..these images are somethin else …..

  • restlessd

    restlessd

    Yes, isn’t it just beautiful? - the video isn’t related but the music is something I could hear when taking my little walk through place this with you (in my mind :o) -
    Music is such a large part of my creation process it just has to be incorporated. Some may not agree but oh well. . . .
    ♥z & hugz joak,
    Rhonda

  • Patty Boyte

    Patty Boyte

    Really lovely, thanks for the history too!

  • joak replied

    ta for the visit patty great tae se ye an am pleased ye like this

  • JenLand

    JenLand

    Beautiful, magical capture of this amazing place. And, btw, I knew you’d created it just perfectly and hadn’t made an ‘arse o it’! XO

  • syd baker

    syd baker

    Greetings Joak, been a while, but this was quite a pleasure to find and read about, and get a feel about such awesome old times; I’d probably wind up sitting there for days caught up in the vibes of ancient peoples and events, and the mystic traces left behind. Good one!

Add your comment

You need to login or signup to add your comment to this work.