Tooth Stone – Port Charlotte, Scotland - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Tooth Stone

Port Charlotte, Scotland

It's said taking a hammer and nail to this stone relieves a toothache.  

View all photos
7
56
Top Places in Scotland
The Black Hole terrace.
Garden of Cosmic Speculation
Holywood, Scotland
The Kelpies
Grangemouth, Scotland
The Quiraing
Isle of Skye, Scotland
 See All

In a glen just outside the village of Port Charlotte lies a large, vaguely tooth-shaped boulder that’s been used by generations of locals for pain relief. 

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland describes it as “not unlike a human molar” but you might have to squint a little to see the resemblance. An example of sympathetic magic, the tooth stone serves as a physical representation of the desired outcome. 

According to legend, if you woke up with a toothache in the night, the remedy was close at hand. You simply gathered a hammer and nail and went to find the stone. When the nail was hammered into the stone, the toothache would magically disappear. 

Know Before You Go

From Port Charlotte, take the road to Kilchiaran out of the village. Go over one hill and before you reach the forest, look for the stone in a field on the right side, about 100 meters in from the road.

Atlas Obscura Trips

NEW - Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.
Book Now
stone folklore history
Community Contributors
R
Added by
Rain Salazar
Published
July 8, 2022
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Museum Of Islay Life
0.26 miles
MacTaggart Leisure Centre
3.75 miles
Bowmore Round Church
3.83 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Museum of Islay Life
Port Charlotte, Scotland

Museum Of Islay Life

A former church that has been chronicling the Scottish island of Islay's rich history since the 70s.
The exterior of the facility.
Bowmore, Scotland

MacTaggart Leisure Centre

If you can’t dive into a whisky cask, this swimming pool might be the next best thing. 
Bowmore Round Church
Bowmore, Scotland

Bowmore Round Church

This remote Scottish island has the only round church in the nation.
Portnahaven, Scotland

Portnahaven Church

According to local legend, this church was built with two doors, so that residents of two rival villages had their own entrances.
Related Places
Rumford, Maine

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

A larger-than-life dedication to the famous lumberjack and his loyal ox.
Singapore

The Singapore Stone

An undeciphered text is inscribed on a mysterious stone slab.
Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Hämmelsmarsch Fountain

Some believe that the artist behind this whimsical statue inserted his own likeness as a way to discreetly flip the bird.
Rottingdean, England

Rottingdean Wishing Stone

According to local folklore, this odd face on a wall of Rudyard Kipling's former home can bring visitors a bit of luck.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web