Scotland's low lying mists, dark lochs, bleak moors and towering mountains produced a host of myths and superstitions, many of which focus on animals. Symbol stones commonly featured animals and
Celtic tales often centre on mysterious creatures. Legends have evolved about numerous animals, some of which are described below. Dog Mesolithic man frequently interred dog
skulls with those of humans. There are numerous legends concerning ferocious dogs, including the Grey Dog of Meoble, who, it is claimed, still prowls in the woods between Arisaig and Morar, appearing red eyed and
slobbering, and scaring of tourists. Hare In Celtic legends a witch would often disguise herself as a hare, although a variation held that the witch fed the hare with her own
blood and ensured that it did her bidding. It was thought to be a bad omen if a hare crossed a person's path. Kelpie Kelpies appear in the folklore of the Scottish Highlands, and
legends tell of them disguising themselves as horses and lurking by the waterside. They were masters of mischief - luring travelers into hidden places and leaving them stranded.
Loch Ness Monster There have been countless sightings and photographs of the most famous monster in the world, the elusive Nessie, but the mystery has remained alive right up to the present day. In 1987 an
attempt to track the monster using sophisticated sonar technology proved inconclusive. The first famous account of the monster was given by Adamnan in the 7th century. The companions of St.Columba were crossing the
loch, halfway across one of the group was spotted by the monster, who 'rushed up with a great roar and an open mouth', and was within biting distance of devouring the man. Loudly rebuked by St.Columba it abandoned its
attack and slunk away. It has been suggested that the creatures survived the Ice Age by seeking the shelter of the dark peaty waters of the loch. Loch Ness extends 24 miles in length, and is 985 feet deep in the deepest
recorded area. Whether such few creatures could have kept up their numbers to become the mysterious monsters of the Scottish legend remains a matter on conjecture Loch Morar
The monster of Morar allegedly resides in the loch that lies east of the road from Arisaig to Fort William. Edged by mountains, this loch has the deepest bed of any inland water in Europe. It was name famous when the
monster allegedly attacked to Mallaig men out rowing on the loch in 1969. In the following year Loch Morar survey was established and collected reports of 33 sightings of the monster since 1888. Another monster has also
been reported to have been seen in Loch Shiel a narrow freshwater loch near Glenfinnan. Salmon A legend is reported in Otto Swire's "The highlands and their legends", that the
devil, cast out from Heaven, found himself on the banks of the River Helmsdale. The salmon fry leaping out of the water taunted him with the cry 'Sooty Nose!' For this mockery the enraged devil placed a curse on the
fish, so that every tenth fry hatched in the river had two heads, two tails or some other deformity, which resulted in them being eaten by their brothers. Sea Serpent The flying,
fire breathing dragons of European traditions are very rare in Gaelic stories. Instead, monsters are frequently depicted as emerging from lochs or the sea. There are many legends of sea serpents living around the north
and west coasts of Scotland. In 1808 the Reverend Donald Maclean claimed to have been attacked off the coast of Coll by a 70 foot long sea serpent and there were tales of the dreaded monsters terrorising Orkney during
the same year. In September 1893 Dr Farquhar Matheson, an ear, nose and throat specialist from London, was sailing across Lock Alsh when he was attacked, as he put it, by 'Something of the nature of a giant lizard'. A
sighting of a sea serpent was also reported in 1919 from the island of Hoy, in Orkney. Water Horse One of the most famous and feared of the supernatural creatures was the water
horse. Children were warned to avoid certain lochs because it was believed that water horses tempted people to ride with them. Once a person touched one of the creatures, his hand would not be released and the water
horse would drag him down to a watery grave. |
