Scottish Myths and Legends Read online

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Supernatural Scotland

  Symbolic Scotland

  Jacobite Legends

  Saints and Religious Legends

  Royal Legends

  Scottish Monsters

  Scottish Heroes and Villains

  Legends of the Clans

  Romantic Legends

  Acknowledgements

  Scottish Myths and Legends

  A compendium of stories from around Scotland

  First published on Scotclans 2005. Revised on www.scotclans.com 2005-2010.

  © 2011 ScotClans.com

  Written and published by ScotClans, 3 Restalrig Road, Edinburgh, Scotland. www.scotclans.com.

  Introduction

  Scotland is an ancient land steeped in history and legend. Stories have been handed down over generations through oral traditions. Some stories such as the one that begins our book are very recent whereas others may go back to the times when Scotland was a wild tribal place.

  Over the years at ScotClans we have collected many stories; some featured on our website and others we have gathered as we have travelled around Scotland. Our guest blogger, Tom Moss has also contributed a wealth of stories from Scotland's Border region.

  The stories have been split into a number of categories and within each they are in no particular order. From cannibals to cannonballs, flying saucers and grey ladies. Heroes villains and monsters from every corner of Scotland!

  Rodger and Amanda Moffet 2011

  Supernatural Scotland

  As organised religion in the shape of Christianity spread through Europe it replaced older beliefs. These beliefs were deeply rooted in local culture and superstition, they determined so much of everyday life; rituals of fertility could mean life or death to those whose livelihood was made from the land. The great success of the Christian faith was how it absorbed many of these beliefs and rituals, however there was a darker side, the side which worshipped more menacing pagan symbols. Stories from the darker side of our nature and stories that cannot be explained are everywhere in Scotland, find out more about Scotland's supernatural past.... and present!

  The Bonnybridge UFO

  By Rodger Moffet

  Scotland has a fantastic reputation as a tourist destination, the dark rolling mountains, the crystal clear lochs and misty glens. Every year thousands of visitors flock to Scotland from America, Japan, Europe and......... Outer Space! But strangely our little green backpackers don't pour up the A9 to Inverness, stopping off for an overpriced coffee and a cashmere scarf at Brewer Falls, they don't even take in some street theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe - no that's just too 'touristy'. No the alien elite head for the town of Bonnybridge.

  Bonnybridge is a small town near to Falkirk with a population of around 6,000 - it could possibly be the most unremarkable town in central Scotland and yet the area, which is now referred to as 'The Falkirk Triangle' averages around 300 UFO sightings per year - this is more than anywhere else on the planet making this sleepy little notch on Scotland's central belt the place to be seen if your transport of choice is saucer shape, you have a penchant for mutilating cows and have a distinctly greenish pallor.

  Having passed through Bonnybridge I have to confess that I'm at a loss to see the attraction. It has a very nice public library (the science fiction section being particularly well stocked) The Antonine Wall and Forth & Clyde canal run nearby and there's the usual smattering of commuter housing. But there's no secret military installations (but then I guess if they were secret we wouldn't know) No alien autopsy sites, in fact the perfect place for Zarg the merciless and his little Zargons to get away from all the stress of interplanetary domination.

  But don't worry because the local 'cooncil' have been on the case. Falkirk Councilor Billy (Fox Mulder) Buchanan has been helping to put Bonnybridge on the UFO spotters map, bringing the case of Bonnybridge in front of three prime ministers (probably four now) and the Queen. Heated debates have been held in the locality discussing possibilities that Bonnybridge was a gateway to another dimension, or that there may have been other spirits involved - the spirits in this case being along the lines of Buckfast tonic wine and the odd bottle of 'mad dog' or of course the possibility that there was nothing in it but it wasn't harming the potential for less otherworldly tourists. I have even read a theory that the UFO activity is linked to the real Stone of Destiny and that the lights are guiding the righteous to its location hidden somewhere nearby.

  So when we trim away the misidentified aircraft, the weather balloons, the odd cloud formations and the 1974 Nissan Sunny with an oversized spoiler and a fat exhaust what is left?

  Well there are a few that make it into the 'Ecks Files'

  In October 1994 three cleaners on their way to work said they saw five UFOs. When they got to work they told their manager what had happened. To his surprise a number of employees then came forward to confirm that they too had seen flashing lights and strange orange orbs glowing in the vicinity for the past week. Strange enough but the best known case has become part of UFO lore as the 'Dechmont Law Encounter'

  Robert Taylor worked as a forester working for the Livingston Development Corporation. On the 9th November 1979 he traveled up to a plantation close to the M8 Motorway to inspect the site. As he walked up towards a clearing at around 10:30 am he saw a large spherical object with a gray metallic finish. The object appeared to be around 20 feet in diameter and 12 feet high. As Taylor approached the object it dropped towards the ground and two smaller spheres with protruding spikes (he described them as looking like old naval mines) appeared from the bottom and began to roll towards him. Taylor attempted to escape but the spheres caught his trousers - ripping them at the bottom and began to drag him back towards the larger object.

  Taylor passed out for around 20 minutes - when he came too he heard a hissing sound and then said the UFO just vanished. He had to crawl nearly 100 yards to his pickup truck as the encounter had left him temporarily unable to walk. After reporting the incident the site was thoroughly investigated and several marks in the ground were detected in the clearing, which could not be explained.

  Lothian & Border's Police were baffled and since Taylor had shown signs of being attacked had to treat the case as assault. Thereby ensuring that the first recorded aliens to visit Scotland could go home with a criminal record. Despite several appeals the Aliens have not come forward - no doubt not fancying a short spell in the Bar-L.

  So the next time you are driving along a deserted highway and you see lights hovering in front of you - don't panic its just another spring break road trip from planet Zark lost on the way to Bonnybridge!

  The Bean Nighe

  By Rodger Moffet

  Its a dark evening and you find yourself wandering in the gathering gloom along the side of a small highland stream. You are alerted by some movement down near the water and spot an old woman apparently washing clothes in the stream. You may be tempted to wander down to the side of the stream and pass the time of day before making your way home. This would be a big mistake for the old woman is the dreaded Bean Nighe, 'The Washerwomen at the Ford'. The Bean Nighe (pronounced ben-nee'-yeh) is related to the Irish Banshee (Bean Sidhe) and also has a French equivalent, Les Lavandières. She is seen wandering near streams and pools where she washes the bloodstained clothes of those who are about to die. As such she is seen as an omen of death just like the Banshee. The legend has it that the Bean Nighe is the spirit of a woman who has died in childbirth and is cursed to carry out her role until the day her life would have normally ended.

  As you might expect the
Bean Nighe wouldn't win many prizes in a beauty competition. She is a small and very ugly woman with a hooked nose and one large nostril. She has a large protruding tooth, webbed feet and long hanging breasts. Safe to say that it take more than a few drams before you considered chatting her up, which is a shame really because with the right approach it could have its rewards. When we say 'right approach' we don't use the term lightly, get it wrong and you are in serious trouble.

  Now before you go, 'right then, I'm aff up the burn tae get jiggy wae yon washer wifey' a note of caution - the approach is a bit, er direct shall we say! Firstly you must approach quietly without her seeing you. While she's busy at her washing you need to quickly grab her breast and suckle from it (well we did warn you). Once there you can claim to be her foster child. You will then be granted a wish (presumably 'i wish to forget about what has just happened' being popular at this point).

  No mean feat, as a chat up technique it wouldn't go down well at the village hall caeilidh so one can imagine that pulling off the same stunt with the 'fairy folk' would have dire consequences if it went wrong.

  There is supposedly a less dangerous technique of getting between her and the water and for this you are supposed to get three wishes. I'm guessing this is 'wishful thinking.'

  One last note, should you happen to be wandering near a stream on Islay beware as their version; the Caointeach or "wailer" of Islay is much more dangerous. If she is interrupted from her grim task she will strike the person's legs with her wet linen whereby they will loose the use of them altogether. Try explaining that one to the wife!

  Ewan The Headless

  By Amanda Moffet

  During the 1300s two dominant branches of the same Clan existed. MacLean of Duart and MacLaine of Lochbuie were headed by two brothers; Eachann Reaganach (Hector the stern) controlled the MacLain of Lochbuie and Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan the Wily) controlled the stronger Macleans of Duart.

  Hector had a son who he called Ewan with the small head, this name perhaps evidence that Ewan was not the brightest clan member. Ewan married a rather dominant woman who picked on him from morning to night. She was known as 'The black bottomed heron of the MacDougals'. His father was now elderly and his wife wanted to make sure that it was Ewan who would inherit the clan castle and it's lands. Hector eventually became annoyed at their constant badgering of him and eventually an argument took place. During the argument Ewan drew his sword and hit his father on his head with it and stormed off. Furious with his son's behavior Hector went to speak with his brother Lachlan. Unable to contain his anger Lachlan challenged Ewan to a battle.

  On the eve of the battle Ewan took a walk through a nearby wood. As he approached the stream that runs through the wood to Ewans astonishment he spotted a washer-woman sitting at the ford of the river. The woman is hunched over with long hair and large drooping breasts. She washes clothes that are not dirty and as she does blood runs from them and into the stream. The washer-woman is not mortal but one of the fairy folk (known as the Bean Nighe) and a bad omen to those who see her. Ewan knew what he had to do and sneaks up behind her, she is singing a lament to all those soldiers who have fallen in battle. Ewan took her breast in his mouth and suckles like a baby. He tells her that he is her first born, to this she grants him a wish. Ewan not very brightly asks what the outcome of the battle will be. To this she replies:

  "If tomorrow morning you are given butter with your porridge without asking then you will be victorious." Ewan is angry at this answer and curses the washer-woman and in a bad temper goes back to the castle. It is not a good idea to curse at a washer-woman .

  The next morning Ewan and his clan members are in the banqueting hall waiting for breakfast to be served. The servants bring the porridge but Ewan refuses to let anybody eat, everyone sits in silence and waits. As time goes on and no butter has arrived Ewan becomes angry and shouts at his wife:

  "The servants we have are terrible they don't even bring me butter with my porridge!"

  He leaves for battle with his men, none of whom have had their porridge.

  A fierce battle commences, In the middle of battle Ewan aptly receives a sword blow to the top of his head slicing the top of it off. Ewan manages to mount his horse, but as the horse gallops off Ewan dies slumped in his saddle. The MacLeans of Duart leave the battlefield victorious.

  From this point on it is said that whenever a member of the Lochbuie MacLaines dies that the presence of the headless horseman is felt and the clattering of hooves is heard. Some even say that Ewan 'The Headless' rides out to harvest in the souls of the Lochbuie MacLaines.

  The Brahan Seer

  By Rodger Moffet

  Living around the same time as the legendary Nostradamus was a farm labourer called Coinneach Odhar. His prophesies are maybe not as well known as his contemporary but the alarming accuracy of his predictions has added to the sense of mystery that still exists around the Black Isle. Indeed many of those local to this area of Scotland still hold his predictions in great reverence.

  The 'Brahan Seer was possibly born near Uig on the Isle of Lewis towards the end of the 17th Century. His gift of 'Second Sight' was reputed to come from a small blue and black stone with a hole in the centre. Popular legend has it that his mother had witnessed spirits wandering near a graveyard and had prevented one spirit from returning after her wanderings. She finally allowed the spirit to go back to rest and she had been given the stone as a gift in return.

  Coinneach Odhar's travels led him to an area near Strathpeffer. He lived by Loch Ussie and worked on the Brahan estates; home to the powerful Seaforth MacKenzies. It was from here that many of his prophesies were made.

  He predicted the Battle of Culloden and the demise of the Highland way of life; in one prediction he was walking on Drummossie moor when he said "Thy bleak wilderness will be stained by the best blood of the Highlands. Glad I am that I will not live to see that day where heads will be lopped off in the heather and no lives spared." Half a century later the infamous battle was fought on this spot. furthermore in another prediction he said that "the clans will become so effeminate as to flee from their native country before an army of sheep." A very direct reference to the Highland Clearances.

  Some of his predictions saw a return of the fortunes of Scotland and other advancement such as his statement: "Strange as it may seem to you this day, time will come, and it is not far off, when full-rigged ships will be seen sailing eastward and westward by the back of Tomnahurich, near Inverness." 150 years later the Caledonian Canal linked the Lochs along the Great Glen. He was also reported to have said that Scotland's Parliament would return when a man could walk from England to France without getting their feet wet. With the building of the channel tunnel this was indeed possible and the parliament soon followed.

  Other predictions sounded downright bizarre. In nearby Strathpeffer he predicted that when a fifth spire was built in the town a ship would snag its anchor on the newest one. The townsfolk were mindful of this years later when indeed a fifth spire was erected in the town. Thinking that the predicted a great flood they were relived in 1932 when an airship attending a nearby fair caught its moorings in the spire and fulfilled the prediction.

  Unfortunately for the seer the accurate and precise nature of his predictions were to be his downfall:

  His powers had come to the attention of his employers the Earl of Seaforth and his wife. While the Earl was away in Paris his wife Isabella called for Coinneach Odhar and asked him to tell her how her husband was. The seer seemed reluctant to give any information and simply said that he was in good health. This enraged Isabella who demanded more information, the seer then told her that her husband was on his knees in front of a French lady fairer than herself. This was too much for Lady Isabella and she flew into a rage and had the poor seer thrown into a barrel of tar.

  As he was being dragged off to meet his fate he made his last and most chilling prediction as a curse on the family of MacKenzie; "The line of Seaforth will come to an end
in sorrow. I see the last head of his house both deaf and dumb. He will be the father of four fair sons, all of whom he will follow to the tomb. He will live careworn, and die mourning, knowing that the honours of his line are to be extinguished forever, that no future chief of the Mackenzies shall bear rule at Brahan or in Kintail."

  In 1783 Francis Humberston Mackenzie inherited the title. He was indeed deaf and mute due to a childhood attack of scarlet fever. He had 4 children all of whom died prematurely fulfilling the final prophesy.

  To this day the Brahan Seers predictions are remembered in this part of the highlands. The fireside tales have been passed down through generations and some evidence exists on how serious the local people take his prophesies. In the small town of Strathpeffer stands the Eagle Stone; a small celtic standing stone. He predicted that if the stone fell three times the nearby loch would burst its banks and flood the village. It has fallen twice already and is now cemented into place!

  Major Weir - The Wizard of the West Bow

  By Rodger Moffet

  The narrow winding streets and dark cavernous closes of Edinburgh can feel eerie enough at night as you walk alone. But listen out for the wrap of a cane on the cobbles and look out for a dark shadowy figure for it may be the ghost of Major Weir -The Wizard of the West Bow!