Scottish Mythical Creatures
Scotland has its fair share of mythical creatures, with some having reached worldwide notoriety like the loch ness monster. Not all the mythological creatures of Scotland are quite as well known as Nessie, though.
In this post we’ll take a look at a few of the more obscure Scottish creatures, and I’ll pop some book recomendations in for you where I can!
Kelpies
You can visit giant sculptures of this particular Scottish mythical creature. These sculptures at the time of writing, are the largest equine states in the world and the project was said to cost around $43 million. They were completed in 2013 and are free to visit.
These sculptures are said to not only represent the big Clydesdale horses used in Scottish industry back in the day, often pulling heavy loads along the canals, but also the mythical water horse, also known as a kelpie.Â
The myth of the kelpie is well known in Scotland. These creatures were meant to be dangerous supernatural beings who would lure their victims into the water with their beauty before drowning them.
There’s one story in particular that is often cited when we talk about kelpies, and that’s the tale of ten children. The kids see a horse beside a loch, and are drawn to climb up onto it’s back. One of the children hesitates, and touches the horse first. When his finger sticks to the horse, he realizes it’s a trick and cuts his own finger off to escape it. The kelpie then enters the loch with the other nine kids on his back, all stuck there and unable to get off, they drown.Â
These mythological creatures of Scotland are the namesake of the cafe in my novel. There are other harrowing tales like this about the kelpies across Scotland, with varying embellishments and I know that if I ever happen upon a stray horse beside a loch or river, I’m going to mind my business and keep well away!
Love Tales From Scotland?
Then I think you’ll love my upcoming novel, Dying Tides. Check out the inside scoop on it before it’s released!
Selkies
While the word Selkie may sound and appear similar to the previously mentioned kelpie, they are very different myths.
Legend has it that these creatures are shapeshifters that can switch from a human form to that of a seal, simply by putting on, or shedding, their seal skin.Â
There are many tales of selkies being beautiful woman in their human form, although I have come across a couple of them being handsome men who enchant woman.Â
Selkies are thought of as gentle creatures, with many of the old tales you hear about them depicting them being trapped by humans, who steal their sealskin so they can’t go back into the sea, and instead force them to remain in their human form.Â
Selkie stories are usually sad, with them unable to return the water and longing for their freedom. A book that is on my TBR list about Selkies is Sealskin, by Su Bristow.Â
The Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is Scotland’s most famous cryptid. Affectionately nicknamed Nessie, she is an elusive and shy legend, with various ‘sightings’ over the years.Â
The loch is over 70 feet deep and 23 miles long, so despite a large sonar exploration back in 1987, she’s never been found.
I recently stumbled upon a rather unique Nessie inspired book in Walmart. Such an interesting concept and I was immediatley drawn to the front cover.Â
Under Loch and Key, by Lana Ferguson is a paranormal romance set in Scotland with family curses and a bit of mystery thrown in.
Big Grey Man Of Ben MacDui
For those of you not familiar, a ‘Ben’ in Scotland is a mountain (of a particular height), and Ben Macdui is the second tallest mountain in the whole of Scotland. So it is no surprise that such a challenging hike would come with its own set of superstitions and myths.Â
The big grey man of Ben Macdui was first reported back in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s by a professor. He heard unexplained footsteps behind him and a terrible feeling of dread. Ever since then, there have been similar reports from hikers, some even claiming to have seen a large shadowy figure, over 10 feet tall. Some think of him as Scotlands own version of the yeti, or big foot.
I didn’t expect to find any books based on this myth. Having come from a family of hikers, I knew of the big grey man, but I didn’t realize he was well known enough to have inspired a novel! Newly discovered and added to my TBR list on Goodreads is Mike Robinsons, The Prince of Earth. Let me know in the comments down below if you’ve read this one and what you thought of it!
Wulvers
The tale of the Wulver is a little bit different than a typical werewolf tale. Instead of shapeshifting between man and wolf, a wulver is always in the body of a man with a wolfs head and covered in hair like a wolf.Â
As far as stories of mythological creatures of Scotland go, the Wulver is mostly told on Shetland and goes back as far as 1933. You don’t hear about them as much on the mainland of Scotland – at least not on the east coast, where I’m from.Â
Wulvers are not thought of as aggressive, like you’d expect a werewolf to be. Legend says they are capable of kind gestures, like leaving fresh caught fish on the windowsills of poor families, or guiding lost hikers back to safety when weather conditions have been bad.Â
Some now think that these Scottish mythical creatures actually come from sightings of people with hypertrichosis, which is a condition that causes excess body hair, but I enjoy thinking of the wulver as a supernatural creature with a good heart, unlike the many evil ones often depicted.
There is a promising Novella by S.M K. Wilkie that I have been meaning to read called ‘The Wulver’Â it currently only has 3 ratings on goodreads, but the review that was left is encouraging. Let me know if you read it!
Redcaps
We have a plethora of ancient castles in Scotland, and legend has it that often these castles are inhabited by all sorts of ghosts and ghouls, including the notorious Redcap.
Redcaps are thought to be similar to goblins. These evil creatures kill travelers and use the blood of thier victims to dye their hats red. The myth states that if the blood on their hats dries out, the redcap will die, so they need to kill frequently to keep their hats wet with fresh blood.Â
There don’t seem to be too many books out there depicting redcaps, however I was able to find one! Redcap, Whitecap, Goblin, Thief, by Vaughn R. Demont is a story told from the POV of a Goblin called Nick and includes redcaps in the line up of goblin society. This one is a bit of a murder mystery but also has fantsy and romance to it.
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Love Tales From Scotland?
Then I think you’ll love my upcoming novel, Dying Tides. Check out the inside scoop on it before it’s released!
