21/07/2019
Supernatural & Mythical Stones of Scotland
Isle of Skye
There is a very old belief that once you have been to the Isle of Skye, some strange force never allows you to be completely free. This could just be the majestic beauty capturing hearts and minds - or is it a netherworld influence? For sure, the Isle of Skye doesn't have many places that are myth free from the sidhe (fairies), demons or spirits. This makes Skye not only one of the most beautiful places on earth, but one of the most magical. Even sceptics have been known to leave the island with a thoughtful look on their face.
The name of the island is thought to come from the Norse language and means 'Island of mist':
- 'sk' - cloud; 'ye' - island. Due to its geographical shape, Skye has also been called the 'winged isle'.
One of the most awesome rocks on the island is 'The Old Man of Storr'. This rock pinacle is 2,385 feet and sits proudly on Trotternish Ridge. The first ascent of the rock was in 1955.
Naturally there are many legends surrounding this majestic landmark. The most popular is that the Isle of Skye was once over run by giant beings. The old man of Storr is one of these beings, who was buried with earth when he died, but his thumb was left sticking out. The other popular legend is that the old man of Storr, along with his wife, were fleeing from the giants when they made the mistake of turning round to look at them - they were both turned to stone. There was another rock thought to be the old man's 'wife' but it toppled over many years ago.
Skye also has it's fair share of hauntings especially around the old castles found on the island. But more mysterious beings are said to haunt and hide among the ruins and ancient stones. Glaistigs or gruagach is a fairy like creature who is normally female and very beautiful. She tends to have the upper body of a woman but the lower half of a goat. The glaistigs can play two roles. The less benevolent side is her form as the wailing washer woman seen when death occurs. The more common name for the washer woman is bean sidhe or by the Irish name, banshee. Her better side is viewed as being a helper with animals, especially to herd cows and to help with a good yield of milk. She was also believed to have been kind and friendly to children.
Completely different to the glaistig is another supernatural being - a shape-shifting demon. The 'baisd bheulach' is a demon who is said to haunt the rocky area around the Odail Pass. Usually heard rather than seen, people have been terrified by its horrific howls and shrieks - heard in the dead of night. When it has been seen it was described as taking the form of a man or beast and sometimes a greyhound dog running between large stones.
BY Helen Murphy Howell
Old Man of Storr - Isle of Skye
