Am Fear Liath Mòr, also known as the Big Grey Man, is a spectral entity from Scottish folklore said to haunt the high peaks of the Cairngorms, particularly Ben MacDhui. His imposing, grey-hued form and elusive nature have made him a fixture of local legend and mystery. As an ambiguous omen, he continues to intrigue and unsettle those who venture into his mountainous realm.

Am Fear Liath Mòr

The asrai are mysterious aquatic fairies from English folklore. They are depicted as delicate, pale, and ethereal female beings who dwell in hidden lakes. Their origin is intriguingly linked to the literary creativity of Scottish poet Robert Williams Buchanan.

Asrai

The Baobhan sith is a seductive and malevolent fairy from Scottish folklore. She appears as a beautiful woman who lures her victims with charm. Once entranced, she attacks and kills them with deadly force.

Baobhan sith

The Bauchan is a domestic hobgoblin from Scottish folklore, known for its mischievous disposition and occasional helpfulness. It is a small, supernatural entity that inhabits rural households. Despite its capricious nature, the bauchan is revered as an enduring part of Scotland’s mythological heritage.

Bauchan

Bean-nighe is a spectral washerwoman from Scottish folklore who foretells death by washing the clothes of those destined to die. She serves as an omen and messenger from the Otherworld, embodying the eerie inevitability of mortality. Her presence near desolate streams represents a haunting connection between the living and the realm of the dead.

Bean-nighe

The beithir is a legendary serpent-like creature from Scottish folklore. It is depicted as a large snakelike dragon roaming the wild landscapes of Scotland. Its awe-inspiring presence has made it a symbol of mystery and danger within Celtic mythology.

Beithir

Bertram de Shotts was a legendary 15th-century giant from Shotts, Scotland, notorious for terrorising travellers along the Great Road of the Shire. His savage raids on packmen and peddlers earned him a fearsome reputation. Ultimately, his reign ended when he was ambushed and decapitated by Willielmo De Muirhead.

Bertram de Shotts

The Biasd Bheulach is a legendary monster or spirit from Scottish folklore, known to haunt the treacherous Odal Pass on the Isle of Skye. Also called the Biasd Bealach Odail, it is renowned as the Beast of Odal Pass. Its mysterious nature has captured the imagination of locals for generations.

Biasd Bheulach

Black Donald is the colloquial name for the Devil in Scottish mythology, known for his ability to assume disguises. Despite his shape-shifting, his cloven feet always betray his true identity. He embodies malevolence and supernatural deceit in Highland folklore.

Black Donald

Bluecaps are mythical fairies from English folklore known for inhabiting mines and manifesting as small blue flames. They assist miners by leading them to rich mineral deposits and warning of cave-ins when treated with respect. Their disciplined and workmanlike nature underscores a deep connection with the mining communities of the Anglo-Scottish borders.

Bluecap

The Blue men of the Minch are mythological blue-skinned humanoid beings from Scottish folklore. They inhabit the stormy waters of the Minch and possess the power to summon storms. Known as storm kelpies, they challenge sailors with poetic duels and capsize ships when provoked.

Blue men of the Minch

The Bogle is a ghostly folkloric entity from Northumbrian, Cumbrian, and Scottish traditions, known for its elusive and perplexing nature. It wields abilities such as invisibility and illusion magic to confound those who encounter it. Rather than causing harm, the Bogle exists solely to create mystery and confusion among humans.

Bogle

The boobrie is a malevolent, shapeshifting entity from the lochs of western Scotland. It most commonly appears as a gigantic water bird but is also known to take the form of a water bull, water horse, or even a large blood-sucking insect. Its predatory nature and eerie bellow have cemented its place as a chilling figure in Scottish folklore.

Boobrie

Brownies are household spirits from Scottish folklore known for performing chores at night in exchange for small offerings. They are mischievous yet helpful, maintaining the home by assisting with domestic and farming tasks. When insulted or offered unwanted gifts such as clothing, they are said to leave the household forever.

Brownie (folklore)

The Brown Man of the Muirs is a folkloric dwarf known as a guardian spirit of wild animals from the Anglo-Scottish border. He is depicted as a small, earthy figure with a deep connection to nature. His enduring legend reflects ancient traditions of natural guardianship in local folklore.

Brown Man of the Muirs

The cabbit is a fictional creature purported to be a hybrid between a cat and a rabbit. It was first documented in 1845 in Scotland and later featured in modern hoaxes. Scientific studies have confirmed that such a hybrid is genetically impossible.

Cabbit

The Caoineag is a mysterious female spirit from Scottish folklore, known as a weeper. She is an invisible omen that forewarns death through her mournful keening, often heard near waterfalls and glens. Her ghostly lament has long been believed to signal doom, especially for warriors in battle.

Caoineag

The Cat-s’etch is a spectral large black cat with a distinctive white chest spot that haunts the Scottish Highlands. Rooted in Celtic folklore, it is known both as a fairy creature and as a witch’s familiar capable of shape-shifting. Its mysterious nature encapsulates the ambiguous and supernatural qualities of Celtic myth.

Cat-sìth

The ceasg is a Scottish mermaid with the upper body of a woman and the tail of a young salmon. She is famed for granting three wishes and forming unions with humans, whose descendants are often blessed with maritime prowess. Though she can be protective, some tales depict her as monstrous, even swallowing heroes whole.

Ceasg

Cirein-cròin is a colossal sea monster from Scottish Gaelic folklore known for its deceptive shape-shifting abilities. It can disguise itself as a small silver fish to lure unsuspecting victims. The creature is often depicted as a giant sea serpent capable of devouring whales.

Scottish Creatures