new church at the place where the bell rang for the third
time of its own accord. Following Ninian's route he eventually
came to Glenmoriston on the banks of Loch Ness and here the bell
rang for the first time at Suidh Mhercheird, St
Merchaids Seat. The second time it rang at Fuaran
Mhercheird, St Merchaids Well at Ballintombuie. It
rang for the third time at a spot beside the river Moriston,
known afterwards as Clachan Mhercheird, St Merchards
Church. A bell locally associated with the saint lay on a
tombstone in the burying-ground at Clachan Mhercheird about 1873,
when it was removed by some strangers visiting the district! As
the reader would expect, various miraculous properties were
attributed to it by long-shared legend. It was believed to heal
the sick if they touched it in faith; to find its wayto
represent the kindling of the Christian fire lit by St Ninian in
the northern parts of Alba. It is also of interest to note that
Merchaid travelled to the Great Glen, in ancient times
known as the Valley of the Saints, which is the supposed route
taken by Ninian on his return to Whithorn. More important
perhaps, he carried out his mission near the ancient capital of
the northern Picts at Craig Phadrig. This fortress is now thought
to have been situated on the hill of the name above Inverness
although the Hill of Torrean is thought by some to be a better
candidate and still within the bounds of Inverness. A minority
claim the Pictish capital was situated at Urquhart where the
ruins of a much later castle now stand. Interestingly, some
sources claim that one of the earlier