At the 1925 Annual General Meeting of the Cairngorm Club he finally broke his silence:
"I was returning from the cairn on the summit in a mist when I began to think I heard something else than merely the noise of my own footsteps. For every few steps I heard a crunch, and then another crunch as if someone was walking after me but taking steps three or four times the length of my own. I said to myself this is all nonsense. I listened and heard it again but could see nothing in the mist. As I walked on and the eerie crunch, crunch sounded behind me I was seized with terror and took to my heels, staggering blindly among the boulders for four or five miles nearly down to Rothiemurchus Forest. Whatever you make of it I do not know, but there is something very queer about the top of Ben Macdhui and I will not go back there myself I know."
Having broken his silence Collie discovered that he was not the only person who had experienced something terrifying on these slopes. He received letters from other climbers who had also had this feeling of terror or in some cases who had seen a large dark shape coming towards them on the mountain. This sinister creature has become known as the "Fear Liath" or "Am Fear Liath Mòr" (also known as The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui).
In another account from 1943 mountaineer Alexander Tewnion claimed that he had actually shot at a creature with his revolver. He had been climbing Ben MacDhui when a thick mist descended so he descended by the Coire Etchachan path. He heard footsteps nearby and remembering the account from professor Collie he peered cautiously into the mist. A strange shape loomed up and came charging towards him. Pulling out his gun he fired three times and then turned and ran towards Glen Derry.
From the few descriptions of the creature he is said to be quite large and broad shouldered, standing fully erect and over 10 feet tall, with long waving arms. He is also described as having an olive complexion or, alternatively, covered with short brown hair. However, in the majority of cases the creature is only heard or sensed among the high passes of the mountain. He is most often seen just below the skyline near the Lairg Ghru Pass, walkers who sense his presence are almost always overwhelmed with a sense of dread or terror. In some cases the feeling becomes so intense that walkers are drawn to the dangerous cliff edges almost preparing to throw themselves into the abyss, some say that the he is trying to send climbers over the edge of a precipitous drop at Lurcher's Crag.
These descriptions are very interesting as they are very similar to the reported sightings and accompanying feelings reported in North America by those who have witnessed the 'Sasquatch' or 'Big Foot'.
One explanation for the sightings could be an atmospheric phenomenon known as a 'Brocken Spectre'. Named after a mountain in Germany it occurs when the sun at a low angle casts a persons shadow on low lying cloud or mist. However not all sightings could be attributed to optical illusions and the sense of panic and sounds of footsteps were less easy to explain away. Some research has uncovered other sites where this 'mountain panic' has been recorded: Three of these are on the Isle of Skye and other sites have been found at Bennachie near Aberdeen and Allt Innis a'Mhuill, Glen Strathfarrar. There are also sites in England and Wales where walkers have been overwhelmed with feelings of dread.
Whether these feelings sounds and sightings are down to psychological or optical phenomena is hard to prove however one thing is for sure - the climbers who scale this ghostly mountain keep their ears tuned for the sound of the Grey Man of Ben Macdhui stalking them through the mist!
The Loch Ness Monster
By Rodger Moffet
Returning to Iona from his mission to Christianise the Picts, Saint Columba approached one of the crossing points of the River Ness. There was a small settlement here, and a group of people were digging a grave for a newly dead man. When Columba asked how the man had died he was told he had been killed by a monster who lived in the loch.
This interested the saint but did not seem to worry him, for he let one of his monks, Lugne Mocumin, swim across the Ness to fetch a boat which bobbed against the opposite bank. Celtic monks were a hardy breed and Lugne cheerfully leaped into the water and began to swim to the boat. He was about halfway across when the monster reappeared.
Columba, however, was equal to any monster. 'The blessed man raised his holy hand,' Adamnan, his biographer, wrote, 'while all the rest were stupefied with terror, and commanded the monster, saying: "Thou shalt go no further nor touch the man. Go back with all speed!" As extra insurance, the saint made the sign of the cross. That was enough for the monster: it fled.
It is over 70 years since the spate of recent sightings began, or at least since the monster became popular in the public imagination. Perhaps the advent of tourism has something to do with it, or the increased use of media coverage so that what was once of purely local importance has become widely known.
If there seems a lot of fuss generated about the possible existence of an unidentified animal in an otherwise obscure Scottish loch, maybe it is better to concentrate on something interesting, unimportant and romantic than on the relentless realities of the world.
It was in spring 1933 that a local couple saw something like a whale on the waters of Loch Ness. The Inverness Courier reported a 'Strange Spectacle on Loch Ness' and from there on Nessie has never looked back. That same year the term 'Loch Ness Monster' was used, and so the legend was born, or reborn, as the case may be. Every year now, people gather at the lochside, hoping for a glimpse of the supposed monster. Some are lucky, most are not.
At 24 miles long and about one mile wide, Loch Ness has not a huge area of surface water in which to hide a monster, less so a family of monsters. However the loch is deep: about 700 feet on average and far deeper in places; in fact, the loch is so deep it has never been known to freeze. At its widest and deepest point, where the ruined medieval Urquhart Castle presides over the dark water, Nessie most often surfaces. Here the mountains subside and Glen Urquhart gouges deep into the land, a natural lay-by for Nessie.
There is a dramatic photograph of something on the loch around here, with the shattered keep of Urquhart providing both scale and evidence of place. A tree branch perhaps? Or the wake of a boat? Perhaps - and perhaps not.
Not only simple cameras have been used to record the presence of something unusual in the loch. Many types of electronic gadgetry have been used, including sonar, radar scanning and mini-submarines, but all the results seem to have been inconclusive. Vague shapes, formless shadows in murky waters, the detection of what could be a shoal of fish - or something else.
Then, in 1975, came a breakthrough. One of the many research parties from the United States claimed to have photographed a plesiosaur in the loch. Not only one, but an entire family, according to Peter Scott of the World Wildlife Trust, could live in Loch Ness. This created pandemonium in the intellectual world and a debate on Nessie was to be held in Edinburgh.
This was the high point. The meeting was cancelled, the photographs were never published and the discussion reached the House of Commons. Was Nessie being protected? A reply was given when some members of parliament were allowed to study the evidence and, ultimately, Nessie was granted a Latin name, Nessiteras Rhombopteryx. This, apparently, means 'Loch Ness marvel with a diamond-shaped fin'. Anagrammatically, it also reads 'Monster hoax by Peter S'.
Monster hoax? There have been something like 10,000 sightings since Columba's time; the beast has been seen on land and water, it has been chased by motorcyclists and crossed the road in front of motorcars; it has been photographed and traced on sonar. It has been scoffed at by millions. Nessie is part of the legend of Scotland and far too interesting to dismiss as a mere hoax.
The Linton Worm
By Rodger Moffet
Never mind Nessie, the scariest creature ever to roam Scotland was the infamous Linton Worm.
A 'Worm' was another term used for a dragon (orme or worme is the ancient Norse for serpent), and the Linton worm lived in a hollow on the Northeast side of Linton Hill. This area is still known as 'Worm's Den'. From its lair the Worm would roam the land and take its share of local livestock and anything else that fell into its path.
Not surprisingly the local population were terrified of the creature. A 12th century writer described it as "In length three Scots yards and bigger than an ordinary man's leg - in form and callour to our common muir edders." The area became a virtual wasteland and it seemed as if nothing could stop it.
A Scots laird, John de Somerville heard of the worm and decided to go see for himself. From a safe distance he observed the creature, noticing how it would crawl halfway from its lair and stand watching, its mouth wide open while it observed those who came near. This gave the enterprising laird an idea. He returned and ordered the production of a unique lance from a local blacksmith. The lance was longer than normal and had a wheel fitted about a foot from the end. This allowed the end of the lance to rotate on contact.
Somerville returned to the lair with his special lance. On the end he placed a large lump of peat covered in tar which was set alight. For some time he had practiced charging with the burning lance so his horse would get used to the smoke blowing in its face. Now came the time to strike. He rode up to the worm who predictable opened its huge mouth. Somerville plunged the lance deep into the creatures throat.
The Worm writhed in agony, the marks of it's death throws are said to be still visible in the undulations of the hills around the lair (now known as Wormington). eventually the creature brought down the roof of the cave in which it had lived and (conveniently for all the story tellers) disappeared without a trace.
As a reward for his bravery Somerville was knighted and made a royal Falconer, he also became the first Baron of Lintoune. In commemoration of the event the crest of the Somerville's was a dragon perched on a wheel. The beast is also depicted on the carved Typanum above
The Scottish Bodach
By Amanda Moffet
A Bodach is a mythical spirit or creature, rather like the bogeyman. The word is a Scottish Gaelic term for "old man". Historically its meaning is "mature person", from bod "penis" and the suffix -ach, literally "someone who has a penis".
The bodach was said to slip down the chimney and steal or terrorize little children. He would prod, poke, pinch, pull and in general disturb the child until he had them reeling with nightmares. According to the stories of most parents, the bodach would only bother bad or naughty children. A good defense would be to put salt in the hearth before bedtime. The bodach will not cross salt.
The Kind Scottish Wulver
By Amanda Moffet
Wulvers are often called werewolves, but legend shows they are quite different. Said to inhabit the Shetland Islands off the coast of northeast Scotland. The ancient Celts believed that the Wulver evolved from wolves, and that the Wulver symbolizes the in-between stage of man and wolf. With the head of a wolf, the body of a man, and covered in short brown hair, the Wulver lives alone in a cave. Unlike his werewolf brethren, the Scottish Wulver is considered kindhearted, and he will often guide lost travelers to nearby towns and villages.
The Wulver was frequently spotted fishing for its daily meal from a rock dubbed, 'The Wulver's Stane' (Wolf Stone), and as long as he was left alone, a Wulver showed no aggression. Habitually, this peace-loving creature demonstrated a benevolent side as well, and oft-times was observed leaving extra fish on the windowsill of poor families.
Unfortunately, there isn't much documentation on the elusive Wulver, the last reported sighting being in the early twentieth century. Considering there are few bad stories connected with the beast, many believe an encounter providential, and may lead a person to treasure buried amongst ancient ruins. Conversely, others view Wulver sightings as omens of imminent death.
The Wulver has two legs and is half human unlike a werewolf
Werewolf tales abound, cloaked in terror, wonder and ill will. Therefore, if ever you find yourself lost on the fog-shrouded shores of the Shetland Isles, you'd do well to pray the benign Wulver finds you first, and guides you safely home.
The Green Lady of Crathes Castle
By Amanda Moffet
Crathes Castle historic seat of Clan Burnett. Like most Scottish castles Crathes has it's ghostly tales. The one it's most known for is the withered spectre of the Green Lady who stalks the corridors, putting the frighteners on those she meets. More than that, she is a portent of death.
Whether you are a believer or not in the supernatural, there is a multitude of hauntings in Scottish castles by a green lady; both Thainstone and Fyvie Castle have a resident Green Lady. Perhaps green is the colour of the undead, when their spirit coalesces under the cloak of darkness and its time to raise the pulses of those trying to get a good night's sleep. That said, there are a number of White Ladies too.
Crathes' haunting said to arise from a rather nasty poisoning incident that happened after the death of the Laird. His widow, Lady Agnes was an obsessive mother, whose relationship with her son Alexander was all consuming. Alexander's blossoming romance with a young common girl called Bertha caused no end of emotional ructions.
