Scottish mythology tells of many supernatural creatures that roamed the land. For millennia, tales of these beasts have been preserved via storytelling, passing the legacy by word onto successive generations over centuries. Nowadays, such myths have been cemented in writing, offering a more concrete view of the tales our ancestors shared.
“Celtic” may be thought of as describing a ‘spectrum’ of cultures that share similar languages, beliefs and traditions, so you may find variants of these myths from multiple sources.
Discover more about these Scottish mythical beasts with Carl’s Lingo Kingdom (as seen above), or continue reading for 17 mythical Scottish creatures that have evoked fear in Scotland since ancient times.
Discover more about these Scottish mythical beasts with Carl’s Lingo Kingdom (as seen above), or continue reading for 17 mythical Scottish creatures that have evoked fear in Scotland since ancient times.
. The Wulver
The Wulver is a humanoid wolf creature connected to the folklore of Shetland. Unlike the typical ferocity associated with werewolves, the Wulver was a benevolent creature, known to help the downtrodden. Often seen fishing, the Wulver would place free fish on the windowsills of poor families to save them from starvation. Unlike werewolves, the Wulver was never human to begin with, according to the ancient Celts. They believed he evolved from wolves, and represented an in-between stage of evolution between wolf and man. Photo: Mont Sudbury (1941) (via Wikimedia Commons)
. Dog Fairy (Gaelic: Cù-sìth)
Described as being as large as a small cow with a distinctly shaggy coat of fur, the Cù-sìth is a mythical hound that was said to roam the Scottish Highlands’ moors. A lethal hunter, it was said that the beast could stalk its prey in total silence without being detected. When it did emit a sound, it produced three chilling barks that were audible for miles. Those who heard the noise had until the third bark to reach safety or they would drown in fear. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Liath Wolf
. Will-o’-the-wisps (Gaelic: Teine biorach i.e, “sharp fire”)
These are spirits that manifest as ghostly flames in the dead of the night in outdoor areas like bogs or marshes. It is often said that their presence is the result of evil spirits who wish to lead unsuspecting travellers off their correct path and into harmful positions, using their light in the darkness to lure them in. Some describe them as “mischievous spirits of the dead” or even “gnomes”, and mentions of their eerie and typically blue flame span multiple cultures. Photo: Hermann Hendrich (1823) (via Wikimedia Commons)
. Selkies (Gaelic: maighdeann-mhara)
Selkies are seal creatures that reside in the sea yet can adopt human forms if they shed their seal coats on land. They are described as very attractive in human form and were known to intermarry with humans in coastline towns and villages. However, their loyalty is to the sea and they tend to return quickly, unless the human has been able to hide their seal coat which is needed for retransformation. Even if a Selkie forms a loving family on the land, they will always return to the sea if they get the chance. Photo: Carolyn Emerick (via Wikimedia Commons)
. Banshee (Gaelic: bean-nighe i.e., “washerwoman”)
The ‘Bean Nighe’ is thought of as a form of banshee, often referred to as the “washerwoman.” It can be seen at the edge of isolated streams washing blood from the clothing of people who are close to death. The creature can appear both as a ‘hag’ or as a beautiful woman, but is always known to wear green and have webbed feet. Some said that if a living person approached the Bean Nighe then they could be granted wishes or told the names of people who will die soon. Photo: W.H. Brooke (1825) (via Wikimedia Commons)
. The Kelpies (Gaelic: Each-Uisge)
If you’ve ever wandered by the Falkirk Canal then chances are you’ve encountered the Kelpies as a sculpture of two giant horse heads. These are shape-shifting water spirits that often appear as horses yet can change into many different forms. The spirits trick weary travellers into riding them as they appear in horse-form, yet once the rider is on their back they are disturbed to find they cannot dismount. Ultimately, the Kelpies lure travellers into the dark waters to drown and devour them. Photo: Careless, John. (1905) via Wikimedia Commons / indianabones (via Canva)
5. Banshee (Gaelic: bean-nighe i.e., “washerwoman”)
The ‘Bean Nighe’ is thought of as a form of banshee, often referred to as the “washerwoman.” It can be seen at the edge of isolated streams washing blood from the clothing of people who are close to death. The creature can appear both as a ‘hag’ or as a beautiful woman, but is always known to wear green and have webbed feet. Some said that if a living person approached the Bean Nighe then they could be granted wishes or told the names of people who will die soon. Photo: W.H. Brooke (1825) (via Wikimedia Commons)
6. The Kelpies (Gaelic: Each-Uisge)
If you’ve ever wandered by the Falkirk Canal then chances are you’ve encountered the Kelpies as a sculpture of two giant horse heads. These are shape-shifting water spirits that often appear as horses yet can change into many different forms. The spirits trick weary travellers into riding them as they appear in horse-form, yet once the rider is on their back they are disturbed to find they cannot dismount. Ultimately, the Kelpies lure travellers into the dark waters to drown and devour them. Photo: Careless, John. (1905) via Wikimedia Commons / indianabones (via Canva)
7. Fairies (Gaelic: sìth)
Fairies (sometimes known as “the wee folk”) hold a prominent role across many stories in Scottish folklore, and they manifest in a variety of forms and under many different names. The group is divided into the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. The Seelie Court is considered dangerous yet less malevolent, fairies of this court are often mischievous but harmless. The Unseelie Court, however, is thought of as malicious and is known to harm humans for the sake of entertainment. Photo: John Anster Fitzgerald (via Wikimedia Commons)
8. Cait Sith (Cat Fairies)
Cait Sith, known as “cat fairies”, are described as cats that are slender yet large like dogs, with a trademark white patch on their chests. It was thought that they would steal the souls of the unburied dead and so they would prey on locations where bodies were prepared prior to funerals. Curiously, it walked on all fours nearby humans, yet stood on its hind legs when it was not being watched. This connects to the theory that Cait Sith are witches that can transform between cat and human form. This transformation could only happen nine times before the cat form became permanent, perhaps a reference to cats’ nine lives. Photo: John. D Batten (1894) (via Wikimedia Commons)