Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Category: Scottish Folktales

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Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

A Changeling In Nithsdale

In his The Science of Fairy Tales’ (1891), Edwin Sidney Hartland gives the following description of a Changeling in Dumfries and Galloway. ‘In Nithsdale the elf-child displays a superhuman power of work. The mother left it on one occasion in the charge of a servant-girl, who sat bemoaning herself.

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Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

Changelings In The Borders

Edwin Sidney Hartland gives the following account of Dumfries and Galloway Changelings in his ‘The Science of Fairy Tales’ (1891). ‘A Kirkcudbrightshire tale represents a child as once left in charge of a tailor, who "commenced a discourse" with him. "’Will, hae ye your pipes?’ says the tailor. ‘They’re below my head,’ says the tenant of the cradle.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

St Mary’s Loch

James Hogg (born 1770 – died 21 November 1835) ‘The Ettrick Shepherd’ wrote the following concerning a water cow that was said to have lived in the 5 km long St Mary’s Loch, which is the largest natural loch in the Borders.

Aquatic Monsters / Cryptozoology / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

Loch na Beiste

In his ‘Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree’ (1886), John H. Dixon gave the following account of a creature that was said to live in Loch na Beiste roughly 50 years early. ‘The existence of water-kelpies in Gairloch, if perhaps not universally credited in the present generation, was accepted as undoubted in the last.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

The Water Horse Bridle of Nether Lochaber

In Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs (1893), James Mackinlay quotes an anecdote by Rev Dr Stewart, ‘A drover, whose home was in Nether Lochaber, was returning from a market at Pitlochry by way of the Moor of Rannoch. Night came on; but, as the moon was bright, he continued his journey without difficulty. On reaching Lochanna Cuile, he sat down to refresh himself with bread, cheese, and milk.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

Loch Ness Water Horse

James Mackinlay in his Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs (1893) tells of another creature that was said to lurch in Loch Ness. ‘A noted demon-steed once inhabited Loch Ness, and was a cause of terror to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

John MacInnes And The Each-Uisge

According to Mr. J. Calder Ross in ‘Scottish Notes and Queries’ (1893) "John MacInnes found the labour of his farm sadly burdensome. In the midst of his sighing an unknown being appeared to him and promised a horse to him under certain conditions. These conditions John undertook to fulfil.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

The Kelpy of Morphie

In ‘Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs’ (1893), James Mackinlay tells the following tale of a captured water horse. ‘A pool in the North Esk, in Forfarshire, called the Ponage or Pontage Pool, was at one time the home of a water-horse. This creature was captured by means of a magical bridle, and kept in captivity for some time.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

Lukki Minnie

The following account of the tale of Lukki Minnie appeared in Malachy Tallack’s blog on the New Stateman website (30 April 2007). ‘For centuries – perhaps even for millennia, no-one is entirely sure – Shetland has been home to a very special creature.