A 'tattie-bogle' is traditionally a figure dressed in old clothes, used to discourage birds, mostly crows, from damaging ripening crops, a scarecrow. In folklore, it's a type of goblin, menacing any human entering such fields #wyrdwednesday #Scotland

#FairytaleTuesday Scáthach, "the Shadow" and "Warrior Maid" is a figure from Scots and Irish mythology She was a warrior from the Isle of Skye who trained the Ulster hero, Cú Chulainn in the arts of combat.

Blackness Castle sits menacingly atop a knoll of jagged black rock, the waters of the Firth of Forth below. It's central 'Prison Tower' is haunted by a knight in armour known for taking a swipe with his sword at any curious visitor. #spookysunday #scotland 📷 Brian Nicholson

Lughnasadh blessings /|\ Deep Peace to You Deep peace of the running wave to you Deep peace of the flowing air to you Deep peace of the quiet earth to you Deep peace of the shining stars to you. ~ Irish Druid blessing 📷 Jack Darling #Lammas #Druidry #bookwormsat

The Fairie Cup of Mingary Castle is a magical vessel stolen from local fairies. It fills with whatever liquid the bearer wishes it to. Cheers! more: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #FaerieFriday #folklore #Scotland art: Celelia

Why not treat yourself or a loved one to my new "Folklore of Scotland" Let's go on a magical journey in faerie tales and folk horror, introducing almost 200 characters from Scottish folklore folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland 📚 available in print and ebook

A mermaid would sit on a black stone and sing to the inhabitants of Knockdolian Castle, but they had the stone destroyed, so she put a curse on the family more in my: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland art: John William Waterhouse

The Scottish Wildcat, also know as the Highland Tiger. A Wildcat dwells in The Otherworld, called Little Cat, it guards a vast treasure. For a would-be thief, Little Cat transforms into a flaming arrow, reducing said thief to ashes! 📷 Tony Hamblin #TigerDay

In the Scottish Highlands, Lord of the Forest is the Uruisg (Urisk), a half human and half goat Nature Spirit similar to the Faun Ofelia meets who informs of her three tasks more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com Pan's Labyrinth, 2006; dir. Guillermo del Toro #wyrdwednesday

walking in Torridon my only companion distant barking dog Zen Haiku poetry written whilst in Torridon and inspired by 'cu sìth', the faerie dog from lore more in my: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #bookwormsat #Scotland art: Stephen G. Rae

Alloa Tower. This 700 year old keep is one of the oldest in Scotland. Two of its resident ghosts are a man in chains, helped by a servant girl bandaging his rat-gnawed foot. Also, a woman in black watching over a cradle. Terrible screams echo from a stone well. #phantomsfriday #Scotland

Elf-hame Caves, Dalry: Elves ride out on horses the size of mice; their yellow hair tied in knots of gold, with bows made of human ribs and arrow heads dipped in hemlock poison more in my: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland art: Elf Play by August Malmström

"Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin" by Stephen G. Rae Redcap is a murderous goblin from Anglo-Scottish Borders folklore. He lives in ruined castles, soaking his cap in the blood of his victims folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #goblins #booksky art: Leo D'Amico

In a cave, deep with Beinn a' Bheithir (mountain of the beast/dragon and mountain of the thunderbolt) a sleeping dragon. The last of a long line of dragons that once called this mountain, home. #wyrdwednesday #Scotland art: Stephen G. Rae

Nuckelavee, from the Orcadian 'knoggelvi', meaning 'devil of the sea'. A demon with both equine and human elements. It's breath like a poison that withers crops more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #scotland #booksky art: Joan Llopis Doménech

"What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin grey, an’ a that; Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine; A Man’s a Man for a’ that" ~ from 'A Man’s a Man for a’ that' by Robert Burns. The poem endorses equality in a nation, and rails against social injustice. #bookwormsat #Scotland

A figure in white haunts the crossroads in the centre of Pitlochry. Locals will advise tourists to avoid this area after dark, as just one touch from this spectre means certain death within a year! #phantomsfriday #Scotland art: Austris Jaudzems

Selkie; numerous superstitions abound for the origin of the seal-folk. For example, they can only assume human form once every seven years, or are fallen angels more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland art: Arantza Sestayo

In Scots and Irish lore, the Cailleach is both weather deity and creator goddess. In Scotland she is also known as Beira, Queen of Winter, and is the creator all the country's mountain ranges. #wyrdwednesday #folkloreofscotland art: Eran Fowler

The Green Lady of Ladyland is a Glaistig. She appears as a woman of beauty but is half-woman and half-goat similar to a Faun; her lower goat half disguised by a green robe more in my book, a 'Folklore of Scotland' folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #scotland #booksky art: Johan Egerkrans

The Hound of Roslin Castle is the ghost of a huge dog. It's English master was killed during a battle, and the dog attacked his killer but was swiftly killed by Scottish soldiers. The dog's ghost still walks the Castle grounds #PhantomsFriday #Scotland art: Barry Moser

Fideal haunts the waters of Scotland's Loch na Fideil near Gairloch. Anyone who gets close to the water's edge will be pulled underwater to drown more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #folklorethursday #Scotland art: Amelia Leonards

The Stronsay Beast washed ashore on the island of Stronsay, Orkney in 1808. The carcass measured 55 ft in length. At the time, the Natural History Society of Edinburgh concluded it was a new species of 'sea serpent' more in my "Folklore of Scotland" #wyrdwednesday #Scotland ✏ Sir Alexander Gibson

#Caturday in Scots Gealic lore the 'cait sìth' is a 'faerie cat', a faerie that takes the shape of a black cat with a distinctive white spot on it's chest also: lucha sìth - faerie mouse cu sìth - faerie dog lacha shìth - faerie duck link: folkloreofscotland.com #folklore #nature #Scotland

Wee Willie Winkie was the Scottish equivalent of the Sandman, a Nursery Bogey. In this children's rhyme: "Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toun Up stairs and doon stairs in his nicht-goun" more: "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #bookwormsat #Scotland art: Margaret W. Tarrant

At Brodick Castle, the ghost of a white stag will be seen walking the castle grounds, whenever a Chief of the Hamiltons (the castle's historic owners) is close to death #phantomsfriday #ayrshire art: Mary Feywood

#WorldUFODay 🛸 The 'Calvine UFO' was a reported sighting near Calvine, Perthshire in August 1990. Originally reported to the Daily Record by two men who claimed that they witnessed an unknown diamond-shaped craft while walking on the moors above Calvine. #UFODay #Scotland

Lord Soulis of Hermitage Castle had a Goblin familiar called Robin Redcap. The 'wicked Lord' was taken to Ninestane Rig stone circle, wrapped in lead and boiled alive; his Goblin familiar vanquished. more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #wyrdwednesday #Scotland

In my native Ayrshire and adopted Cumbrian dialects, 'kittlin' is kitten; from the Old Norse 'keltlingr'. In lore, kittens are terrible gossips, so be careful what you say if they are in the same room as you! art: Hiromi Nishizaka #Caturday

Green Lady of the Barony of Ladyland: she is a glastig, a malevolent spirit, also known as the Green Maiden. Appearing as a woman of beauty, but is half-woman and half-goat. more in my "Folklore of Scotland" folkloreofscotland.com #phantomsfriday #booksky