The Nuckelavee is a figure in ancient Scottish folklore, especially amongst Orcadian culture.

The Nuckelavee is a product of a mix of Northern Scottish and Scandanavian culture. In fact, the very name itself, Nuckelavee, is related to the Icelandic word Nykur. By extension this means that the Nuckelavee is in the same line of folklore as the Nokk and Nuggle in Celtic folklore, they are even related by description of appearance and action.

Nuckelavee are yet another aspect of folklore that is subject to mystery due to its undocumented nature, while we do know of it, we do not have an account of all of its varieties as originally told. Generally, the Nuckelavee is thought of as the feicest and therefore most feared of elf type monsters in Scotland. It can be described as a centaur like creature with fins. Some stories have it as not possessing skin, with its musculature and internal organs visible.

The Nuckelavee is said to be a water creature, thus necessitating the fins. Ironically though, it is said to be scared of running water. As such, the Nuckelavee can be escaped if one jumps a running stream. If not escaped it is said that the Nuckelavee could cause a human great harm. Also, the breath of the creature is said to be able to destroy harvest and the health of livestock.

Culzean Castle is a notable castle in Scotland, it is featured on the reverse side of the Bank of Scotland five pound note.

Calzean Castle (actually pronounced more like cul-lane) is located near Maybole, in Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kennedy Clan has held residence on this location since the 12th century, but it wasn’t until 1590 that the current form of the Culzean Castle was initiated. The building started with its current L-shaped house section. The rest of the castle, and its current “grand” vestige was not completed until the 18th century. It was not until 1890 that it was featured on the reverse of the bank note.

Culzean Castle is currently under ownership of National Trust for Scotland. It was donated to the trust by the Kennedy Clan in 1945, most probably in order to forgo the large inheritance tax that it would entail. As part of the donation process, the Kennedy family stipulated that General Dwight Eisenhower would receive an apartment in the building, he once visited it when he was in his presidential term.

Culzean Castle has a certain super-natural following to it. It was used in the filming of the 1973 horror movie “Wickerman Man”. It is also said that if a member of the Kennedy Clan gets married at the castle, a ghostly piper will be heard in the background. Sightings of a ghostly figure in a ball gown have also been reported at Culzean Castle.

Castle Fraser is an impressive example of Scottish castle architecture, it is also said to be haunted.

Castle Fraser is a commendable example of the Scottish and English “Z-style” castle. In essence this means that Castle Fraser consists of a central tower and two diagonally opposed smaller towers. The castle itself is located in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scoltland.

Although Castle Fraser now is in the belonging of National Trust, and has so since 1976, it spent much of its current life in the hands of the Fraser Clan. Castle Fraser was built on top of the remains of another old castle, a yet unidentified one. Construction began in 1575 and is said to have been complete in 1636. Though some modernization work was carried out on its southern wall, and some other aspects, in the 1700s. More restorative work was carried out on the castle in the 1950s.

Castle Fraser is home to a number of ghost stories and apparent sightings. Most prominent amongst these is the story of the murdered princess and the stair case. It is said that at one point in the castles early history, a princess was sleeping there. During the night she was brutally murdered and dragged away. Her body left a blood stain on the castle stairs. It was said that no attempt at removal would see the stairs cleaned and eventually its owners were forced to cover the staircase with wood. The stairs and wood paneling can be seen to this day.

1220 – 1298

Thomas the Rhymer was a figure in Scottish history who was reputed to have prophetic powers.

Thomas the Rhymer was born in the 13th century. Due to his relatively legendary, mythic even, status, there is very much speculation and very little fact about Thomas the Rhymer. The exact date of his birth is unknown, even the year of his birth is even subject to speculation, although 1220 is generally accepted.

Thomas the Rhymer was born as Thomas Learmonth. Legend says that at one point I his life Thomas was visited by the Fairy Queen (most probably a Shidhe) who instructed him to live with the underworld fairy for three years. Upon returning to the real world he is said to posses the power of prophecy.

The rather whimsical story of the origin of Thomas the Rhymer has lead to the predicament of false prophecies being created under the name of Thomas the Rhymer, but with false authors. As such, while there are a few lines that are most definitely created by Thomas, many are of dubious origins. As the name might suggest, the works of Thomas the Rhymer have one common theme, they rhyme.

Brahan Seer made a number of predictions about the future in his lifetime, some believe that a few of these have already come to pass as he described.

Brahan Seer made most of his predictions about the future of Scotland, as such, in some instances the locations given to events in the future are rather specific. Whether it is through sheer coincidence or an actual innate ability is not a question to be answered. But for many, this has already been answered by the supposed accuracy of the predictions.

The predictions of Brahan Seer have been interpreted as having been about the now constructed Caledonian Canal. It was said that at the time of the prophecy, it would have seemed preposterous to even hold such a notion as other canals were already in existence.

Brahan Seer predicted that an heir to the MacKenzie line would be born, but would be disabled. This heir would be the last male heir for the family. This happened with Francis MacKenzie, 1st Baron of Seaforth, who was deaf. The prophecy was further expanded by Brahan Seer when he claimed that four of the contemporaries of the lord would also have physical defects. This aspect was also true.

Another prophecy by Brahan Seer sets out that when the River Ness has five bridges on it a worldwide disaster will occur. This came true in 1939, the start of the Second World War. It was said, also, that fire and calamity would occur when the 9th bridge is built, this occurred in 1987, when the Piper Alpha oil station was on fire in North Caledonia.

The Fairy Flag is a Clan MacLeod heirloom, one that is said to have fairy origins.

The Fairy Flag is said to be a magical artifact that is held by the MacLeod Clan and held at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. For more information and accounts of the Fairy Flag please read our previous article on it.

The Fairy Flag, being a mythical artifact with no verifiable account in its early life, is a hard object to track historically. This makes guessing and understanding its true origins impossible, making oral accounts the next best source.

There are several stories concerning the origins of the Fairy Flag. As the name might suggest, the Fairy Flag is supernatural in origin. The simplest of stories involve a MacLeod chief fighting in the crusades and encountering a she-devil, whose dress he ripped in the battle.

Most other stories surrounding the Fairy Flag involve the son of a chief. The least details just say that the flag was placed upon the son by fairies so as to ward-off evil from the boy.

The more detailed accounts of the Fairy Flag involve a MacLeod clan chief marrying a Sidhe wife who then had to return to the underground. It was said that she heard her child crying one night and returned to comfort him, but due to the magical restrictions placed on her, she disappeared when the chief saw her, leaving the Fairy Flag.

Brahan Seer was a legendary Scot, reputed to be able to predict the future, in a fashion similar to Nostradamus.

Brahan Seer, unlike Nostradamus is a vague figure in historic records. The likes of his birthdate, birthplace and even locations where he lived are all subject to legend and speculation. It is known though that the original name of Brahan Seer was Coinneach Odhar, or Kenneth MacKenzie, the rest is not so certain. The most common of belief in the history of Brahan Seer revolves around him being born in Uig, Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. He attained the name Brahan Seer because he was employed as a laborer at Brahan Castle.

Brahan Seer made his fame as a fortune teller at Braham Castle, but it was also the place of his demise. It is said that Braham Seer would make his predictions from visions that came to him from a special stone with a hole in it. At one point, after Braham Seer had already attained a level of fame, he claimed to the Lady of Seaforth that her husband was having an affair in Paris. She was understandably embarrassed and angry, Brahan Seer was then sent to his death. Some say that were it not for the violent nature of his demise, he would not enjoy his present day fame. The story is that Brahan Seer was put to death by being thrown into boiling barrel of tar that was also spiked.

The Fairy Flag is a relic, reputed to hold magical powers and origins, that is held as a clan heirloom by Clan MacLeod.

The basic premise of the Fairy Flag is that it endows the MacLeod Clan with an army of fairies when it is waved. Apparently the flag has the power to summon the helpers three times before its abilities dissipate. So far, the flag has been used twice.

Tales surrounding mythical pieces and relics are almost always based on oral accounts and as such are difficult to prove, in worse cases the stories do not have any set dates on which to judge them by. The tales surrounding the Fairy Flag is one such case. It is believed that in the middle ages, Clan Donald were invading Clan MacLeod lands. The MacLeods were outnumbered, but upon waving the flag they appeared to outnumber the Donalds, the battle was won. Years later it is said that the cows belonging to Clan MacLeod were falling to pestilence, waving the flag is said to have cured them.

The Fairy Flag is reputed to have one more use in its reserves. During World War II it was offered by the clan chief of the time for the flag to be waved should Hitler’s armies approach MacLeod land. Further, it was recorded on numerous occasions that MacLeod men who fought as fighter pilots would be gifted a strip of the flag for protection. It is said that they all survived.