FREE ON THE TRAIL OF SCOTLANDS MYTHS AND LEGENDS PDF Stuart McHardy | 152 pages | 01 Apr 2005 | LUATH PRESS LTD | 9781842820490 | English | Edinburgh, United Kingdom Myths and legends play a major role in Scotland's culture and history. From before the dawn of history, the early ancestors of the people we now know as the Scots, built impressive monuments which have caught the imagination of those who have followed in their wake. Stone circles, chambered cairns, brochs and vitrified forts stir within us something primeval and stories have been born from their mystical qualities. Scottish myths and legends have drawn their inspiration from many sources. Every land has its tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the sea. Cierein Croin, a gigantic sea serpent is said to be the largest creature ever. Yes, Nessie is classified as a dragon although she may be a member of that legendary species, the each-uisge or water horse. However, the cryptozoologists will swear that she is a leftover plesiosaurus. The Dalriadan Scots shared more than the Gaelic tongue with their trading partners in Ireland. They were great storytellers and had a culture rich in tales of heroes and mythical creatures. Many of the similarities between Irish and Scottish folklore can be accounted for by their common Celtic roots. Tales of Finn On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Cumhall and his warrior band, the Fianna are as commonplace on the Hebrides as in Ireland. Many of the myths centre around the cycle of nature and the passing of the seasons with the battle between light and darkness, summer and winter. It was the belief that the Cailleach or Carlinthe hag goddess Beira, the Queen of Winter, had the country gripped in her power during the winter months when she washed her plaid in the Atlantic waters thus creating the mighty whirlpool, Corryvrecken. Once she had finished washing, she laid the pure white cloth over the mountains as a blanket of snow. It is thought that the myth behind the Cailleach is a remnant of a prehistoric belief in an Earth Mother Goddess who created the earth along with her eight sisters. It is thought that the cyclical rule of the Goddesses gave the ancient peoples a way to interpret the turning of the Wheel of the year. Then there are many of the regional myths and legends which focus on a local landmark or historic event. There are fire festivals whose origins are lost in the mists of time and hail back to the days before Christianity reached British shores. Who knows, if you hang around long enough of a dark night you might encounter one of these creatures:. Sometimes mistaken for a sea ghost, the Ashrays are unable to live on land and can only be On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends under water. They can be male or female, and resemble humans in their late teens or early twenties. The best time to On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends for an Ashray is in the dead of night for they are completely nocturnal. When it has been seen, it is described as taking the form of a man or beast and sometimes a greyhound dog running between large stones. The clothing she washes takes different forms depending upon the legend. Sometimes it is burial shrouds and in others, it is the bloodstained clothing of those who will soon die. Unlike the Irish version bean sidhe bansheewho is very beautiful, she is extremely ugly. She is sometimes described as having a single nostril, one large buck tooth, and extremely long breasts, which she must throw over her shoulders to prevent them getting in the way of her washing. Her long stringy hair is partially covered with a hood and a white gown or shroud is her main wardrobe. Dressed in green, she was a small in stature and had webbed feet. They lived in clans in underwater caves and were blamed for shipwrecks. On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Bodach was said to slip down the chimney and steal or terrorize little children. He would prod, poke, pinch, pull and in general disturb the child until he had them reeling with nightmares. However, he will only bother naughty children. It commonly takes on the appearance of a gigantic water bird resembling a cormorant or great northern diver, but it can also shape shift into the form of various other mythological creatures such as a water bull. He wore brown clothes and had a shock of frizzy red hair and wild looking eyes. However, they do not like to be seen and will only work at night, On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends in exchange for small gifts of food. She is also known as Beira, Queen of the Winter. She is ill- tempered and dangerous and is seen with a crow on her left shoulder. Associated with winter she was reborn at Samhain or Halloween and ruled over winter when she brought the winter snows. She carried a magical staff which froze the ground with every tap. She also guarded animals in winter. As big as a dog, the cait sith was completely black apart from one white spot on its breast. A Caioneag was supposedly heard to wail on the evening of the Massacre Of Glencoe. Apparently, he carried his severed head around with him and threw it at his victims, mostly travellers, to stun them before murdering them. They are said to inhabit fresh and saltwater on the west coast of Scotland. They are usually hornless and dun in colour, except those near the Isle of Skye which are red and speckled or On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends. If the bulls of the crodh mara mate with mortal cows it will improve the stock. The dog was green with long shaggy hair. It was roughly the size of a young bull. According to legend, the creature was capable of hunting silently, but would occasionally let out three terrifying bays, and only three, that could be heard for miles by those listening for it, even far out at sea. One hand emerges from his chest; one leg is attached to his haunch; one eye rests in his head, and one tuft of rigidly inflexible hair grows from that head. They are said to inhabit ruined castles. Legends vary, but they are usually vicious, with red eyes, big teeth On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends talons. Although similar to the Kelpie, they are far more dangerous. They inhabit lochs and seas and eat On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends victims after tearing them into pieces. One was reported to be found in Loch-na-Beist i n the s. The creature was known to drag women and children under the water and devour them. The firth is guarded against the wind on the north and east by tall hills, but a gap allows sporadic and violent wind bursts to rush through, earning the fay a reputation for treachery. It is thought that this might be another manifestation of the Cailleach or Carlin. He was kindly and reticent yet sometimes wild in character but had a gentle devotion to children. Dark haired and On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends in leaves and moss, he lived in a birch wood within the Gairloch and Loch a Druing area of the north-west highlands of Scotland. These malevolent shape-shifting creatures often appear in legends as strong and beautiful black horses which live in the deep pools of rivers and streams in Scotland. Kelpies are known for preying on the humans they encounter. The hooves of the kelpie are thought to be reversed to those of a regular horse. In Aberdeenshire, the kelpie allegedly has a mane of serpents, while the kelpie of River Spey was known to be white and capable of singing. She was a stickler for the traditional methods and standards, apparently. Offerings of milk were made by home producers to appease her. Squalid in appearance as she was evil, the luideag haunted several pools on the Isle of Skye, especially the Lochan of On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Black Trout. Its home was in On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends sea, but it frequently ventured on land to feast upon humans. A hideous creature, part horse and part man, with long sinewy arms. He had no skin and his muscle structure and veins could be clearly seen. The nuckelavee had an aversion to fresh water. They were dangerous and would devour any animal or beast which crosses their path. When captured, these beasts would grant any wish in exchange for their freedom. Their skins were much sought after as it was thought to provide protection against drowning and to render a warrior invincible. Their burial grounds were said to be found near Eilean Donan Castle. They wore shells and could be malevolent. They are said to come on land in human form where they would dance, especially on full moon nights. Selkies were said to be found on the Island of Eilean Donan. In Gaelic, the word for a selkie is synonymous with mermaids. Trows traditionally have a fondness for music, and folktales tell of their habit of kidnapping musicians or luring them to their dens. They are said to be benevolent. Search for:. Facebook Twitter Instagram. View Larger Image. Dragons in Scottish Myths and Legends Every land has its tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the sea.