The Caledonian Forest originated in a fit of jealousy, according to the stories. Once, a beautiful maiden lived on the shores of Loch Sunart, near Lochaber on the West Coast of Scotland. There was none fairer than she, and her beauty was spoken about throughout the land. Soon, she captured the heart of a handsome hunter. He was fleet of foot and could shoot arrows straighter than anyone else. The two fell deeply in love, and they would sneak away together into their sweet, secret places in the hills.
But there was one who was jealous of the fair maid. A witch! Consumed with envy, she cursed the maiden and turned her into a grey goose. Shocked, the maiden spread her wings and flew northwards, into the frozen lands. Friends and family searched for the maid but to no avail. In time, they stopped their searching and said that she had been captured by fairies or eaten by wolves. But not her true love.
Determined Lover
He never stopped looking for her, across moor and mountain, living off the land, catching whatever he could to sustain him on his journey. One day, a skein of geese flew overhead, and he shot the hindmost goose in the gaggle. The bird plummeted from the sky and turned back into his sweetheart. A wail of anguish ripped from his throat as he tore the arrow from her body and broke it into three. He stamped the pieces into the ground.
Then, cradling her lifeless body, he wept until every ounce of life had drained from him. As he died, his life’s breath passed to the maiden. Immediately, she stirred as if waking from a deep slumber, only to change into a goose once more. She spread her wings and took to the air, trumpeting as she ascended upwards. As for the broken arrow pieces, they began to sprout and thus grew the first saplings of what was to become the mighty Caledonian Forest. And when the stars crackle with winter’s ice, the call of a lone goose can still be heard over the Scottish glens. Although perhaps today, the goose’s call is a lament for a forest that has dwindled to a few scattered stands.
The Ancient Caledonian Forests of Scotland
Once, the Caledonian Forest stretched across Scotland, from the Atlantic coast to the Cairngorms. It was a place of deep connections, where ancient pines, heather, and moss carpeted the ground, and rare creatures like capercaillie, red squirrels, and wildcats roamed. Wolves, bears, and lynx once hunted here, until the arrival of humankind changed everything. Over the centuries, the forest was felled for timber, cleared for sheep, and replaced by plantations. With each loss, not only did the wildlife vanish, but so too did the old stories and the creatures that haunted them.
Yet the forest has always been a place of myth and magic. Trees were once seen as the dwelling places of supernatural beings, and the woods were alive with tales of faeries, spirits, and monsters. The Caledonian Forest became a realm of enchantment, where every rustle of leaves whispered secrets of times long past.
The Forgetting
The oldest myths of the Caledonian Forest likely began around ancient campfires, as early settlers tried to make sense of the wild world around them. Their beliefs and rituals shaped a rich folklore, turning the forest into a realm of magic and mystery, where spirits dwelled among the trees and every rustle hinted at secrets from the past. Over millennia, the forest gradually receded, first due to natural changes like a wetter climate and the spread of peat bogs, then through the arrival of agriculture and the use of fire, which marked the dawn of the Neolithic Age.
Human activity accelerated deforestation from the Bronze Age onwards, as land was cleared for hunting, grazing, and later, farming and timber. When the Romans arrived, they found a people who revered the woods, and although Roman accounts painted the Caledonian Forest as an impenetrable wilderness, archaeological evidence suggests their impact was minimal, with the heart of the pinewoods remaining largely untouched. The forest also became woven into Arthurian legend, serving as the backdrop for tales of King Arthur and Merlin, and symbolising the wild, untamed spirit of both the land and the human imagination.
The Caledonian Forest and Arthurian Mythology
After Rome withdrew, Britain entered a period of shifting power with the Picts, Britons, Scots, Saxons, and Angles shaping what we now call Scotland. This era uses the Caledonian Forest as the backdrop for some of the tales of King Arthur and Merlin.
Known as “Coed Celyddon” in Welsh lore, the Caledonian Forest is central to legendary battles and myths. This was where King Arthur fought his seventh battle Battle of Cat Coit Celidon. Merlin fled to the Caledonian Forest when escaping from Rhyddeech Hael in 573 after the Battle of Arfderydd. Merlin, filled with guilt at the death of his kinsmen, spirals into madness or in modern-day terminology, Post-traumatic Stress. This was where he acquired new powers: the ability to control the powers of nature, communicate with the animals, and shapeshift into both a fox and a deer. This was where he acquired the gift of prophecy and witnessed his own three-fold death.
Merlin’s Death in the Caledonian Forest
Merlin is said to have died at the fork of the Powail Burn and the River Tweed. An old thorn tree marks the spot. After gaining such powers, it is a small wonder that he met his death at the hands of a band of local shepherds who must have feared his powers. He was stoned by them, falling down the river embankment. Here he was impaled by a tree and died with his head under the water. This is somewhat reminiscent of the three-fold death experienced by the sacrificial bog bodies of an earlier era. Merlin’s body was later taken to nearby Drumelzier for burial.
Some 500 years later, the site of his burial became the subject of a prophecy by Thomas the Rhymer:
When the Tweed and Powsail meet at Merlin’s Grave
Scotland and England that day ae King will have
Apparently, the burial ground flooded on July 25, 1603- the day King James VI of Scotland was crowned King of England. It is said that the burn has never flooded before or after the coronation.
These stories found their way into ancient Welsh poetry, depicting the forest as more than a place- it’s a realm of enchantment, home to mythical creatures, enchanted stones, and Arthur’s adventures. The forest serves as a sanctuary for heroes and madmen, where the natural and supernatural mix. In Arthurian literature, the Caledonian Forest symbolises the wild, untamed aspects of nature and the human mind.
The Caledonian Forest and the Vikings
The next invaders into Scotland were the Vikings. Claish Moss, located at the west end of Loch Shiel, was reportedly burned by ‘the Danes.’ According to Norse tradition, as detailed in Heimskringla, scorched earth was a common attack strategy. Throughout the Highlands and Islands, the burning of forests is attributed to a daughter of the King of Norway known by various names: Dubh a’Ghiuthais or Dubh Guish (the Black One of the Pine Tree), Dona (Evil One), Donan (Little Evil One), or Donnan (Little Brown One). This epic tale is told in the story, the Black Fir. There are various regional differences in the tale. What follows is the version from Speyside.
Black Fir: A Tale of the Caledonian Forest
The King of Lochlann visited the Highlands and became consumed with jealousy when he saw the vastness of the Caledonian Forest. Some of the trees were twelve feet in girth. On returning home, the King became increasingly discontent with his scrubby forest. Nursing his envy until it turned into rage, he summoned his monstrous stepmother, his muime and commanded her to destroy all the forests in the Highlands. His muime had the head of a woman, the body of a whale and the wings of an eagle.
She bided her time, waiting for the early summer when the spring winds had turned the undergrowth to tinder. She took to the air with fire in her belly, which she dropped over the forests in Sutherland. Meanwhile, her stepson raised a strong wind which spread southward through Ross-shire, Inverness and Moray.
Onward the fire swept, edging very nearer to Badenoch, Glenmore and Rothiemurchus. Attempts were made to stop the inferno, but to no avail. A council met to discuss what action should be taken to stop the approaching flames. A hunter from Kingussie arose. He was a man of few words, but today he addressed the council, “If you obey me, I promise to save the forest.”
The Monster Defeated
He told them to gather their livestock together and drive the ewes, cows and mares to the east side of the River Spey. Meanwhile, the lambs, calves and foals were to be driven to the west side of the Spey. The resulting cacophony of bleating, baaing, mooing and neighing was so loud that it reached the ears of the Muime. Curiosity got the better of her, and she put her head beneath the clouds to find out what was going on. The hunter was ready, waiting with his gun. His gun was loaded with a specially made silver bullet. Aiming, he shot the Muime through the eye. Her massive body fell to the Earth. The flames were doused, but the giant rotting corpse was a problem. She was too big to bury! And the people were scared that the decomposing body might cause them people to sicken.
However, nature has its ways of dealing with such things. Insects which had never been seen in Badenoch before appeared. Some were black and some were red. They began to consume her flesh until all that was left were clean, white bones. The insects lingered in the area, becoming the ancestors of the ants that work so tirelessly in the forests of Badenoch, Glenmore and Rothiemurchus today.
Ghost Pines?
Wandering the Highlands, you might stumble upon charred stumps of ancient pines, perhaps remnants of the Muime’s inferno, though the forest’s decline has many culprits from the Christian monks who destroyed the Nemeta or sacred groves of the early peoples to the numerous trees that must have been cut down for the timber lacing that supported the great stone ramparts of the Pictish forts.
Medieval Expansion to Modern Consumption
From the Medieval Age onwards, demand for timber for ships, buildings, and fuel steadily grew. Deforestation intensified dramatically in the 18th and 19th centuries, as logging fuelled the Industrial Revolution and the flexible Scots pine became vital for shipbuilding. Yet, felling was only part of the problem. After the Jacobite Uprisings, the collapse of the clan system led to the Clearances, where communities were forcibly evicted for large-scale sheep farming; an ecological disaster that replaced diverse land with bracken and heather.
When the wool market crashed, these lands became sporting estates, where artificially high deer populations, unchecked by long-gone apex predators, prevented natural woodland regeneration. This left behind ‘Granny pines,’ old trees with no young saplings to replace them, a stark sign of an unbalanced ecosystem. Further devastation came with the World Wars, as ancient forests were felled for timber self-sufficiency, replaced by vast, biologically impoverished monocultures of Sitka spruce. Today, the ghost pine stumps on the peat moors serve as an ecological memory of what we have lost, with many native species now threatened, and others like the wolf and bear, long vanished from Scotland’s shores.
Meanwhile, as the forest has fragmented, the biodiversity has decreased. As people have become less aware of their connection to the land, so too have the tales of yesteryear faded. The creatures of folk memory are disappearing too. The old wisdom is being replaced by consumerism. So, who are the mythical creatures of the Caledonian Forest?
The Mythical Creatures of the Caledonian Forest
Most of Scotland’s mythical creatures are faeries, deeply tied to the land and rarely resembling the gentle figures of Victorian imagination. Scottish faeries, known as the sìth or ‘guid folk’, can be mischievous, sinister, or even monstrous, acting as guardians of woods, waters, and wild places. Their presence lingers in place names like Glen Shee and Schiehallion. Folklore tells of faeries who might curdle milk, sicken cattle, or lead travellers astray, though some are helpful, guiding the lost or offering protection. Stories of faery encounters are woven through the misty glens and ancient forests, with trees often standing as silent witnesses to these otherworldly happenings.
Faery Encounters
One such legend is that of Tam Lin. Tam was a mortal man captured by the Queen of the Fairies and held under an enchanted spell. His story is closely tied to the trees of Carterhaugh, where Janet, the brave young woman who loved him, plucked a single rose. This summoned him from the faery realm. Through her courage and cunning, she managed to wrest Tam Lin from the faeries’ grasp.
Similarly, the tale of Thomas the Rhymer echoes through the ages, entwined with the lore of Eildon Tree. This ancient hawthorn, rooted deep in the Borderlands, marked the place where Thomas encountered the Queen of Elfland. Under its boughs, he was spirited away to the faery realm. When he eventually returned, he had acquired the gift of prophecy and a tongue that could only speak the truth. The Eildon Tree is long gone, its memory preserved in the rustling leaves and whispers of the wind.
Near Aberfoyle, stands a Scots pine known as the Fairy Tree. This tree is deeply entwined with the legend of Robert Kirk, a 17th-century minister who became obsessed with faeries. He made a lifetime study of their lore. In 1692, Kirk was said to have been abducted by the fairies, and his spirit is believed to dwell within this ancient tree. His work, “The Secret Commonwealth,” remains a seminal exploration of faery myth.
The Ghillie Dhu
The Ghillie Dhu, one of Scotland’s most revered fairies, is as ancient as the Caledonian Forest he inhabits. Shy and solitary, he guards the precious trees that were once sacred to druids who cast their spells in the oak groves. Renowned for his attire of moss and leaves, the Ghillie Dhu blends seamlessly with his forest home. This elusive creature avoids adult humans, becoming aggressive only when they intrude too far into its territory. His protective nature is evident in his hostility towards trespassers who invade the glades and groves he calls home. Despite this, he is known to be gentle and kind toward children, often guiding them back to safety if they become lost.
The Ghillie Dhu dwindled with the loss of his habitat as Scotland’s woods and forests were harvested for timber. The last sighting of the Ghillie Dhu was in Gairloch in the late 1700s, when he provided shelter for a lost child. Jessie Macrae, lost in the woods as darkness fell, was found and comforted by the Ghillie Dhu. Moved by her distress, he kept her safe and warm throughout the night. He led her back to her home the following morning. Jessie’s emotional return led the local landowner, Sir Hector Mackenzie of Gairloch, to blame the Ghillie Dhu for her overnight disappearance. In response, Mackenzie and a group of dignitaries set out to capture the creature. They were unsuccessful, but alas the Ghillie Dhu was never seen again.
One used to live inside the ancient Yew tree at Fortingall, in Highland Perthshire. This tree is thought to be over three thousand years old.
The Mythical Creatures of the Cairngorms
Today, some of the large remnants of the Caledonian Forest are found in the glens of the Cairngorms. This was once a land filled with faeries. There were even Fairy Dogs, with green fur and a dangerous bark. The lochs and rivers of the forest were homes to deadly kelpies and water horses that would prey on lonely travellers. Faeries were said to live in grassy and rocky hills, often enchanting shepherds with beautiful music. Occasionally, faeries were seen milking deer. Relationships with these fairies, particularly with fairy women, were not uncommon. These human-sized faeries are easily identifiable by their green dresses and sparkling eyes reminiscent of Cairngorm gems.
The Kelpie of Pityoulish
In the Cairngorms, these mythical beings found their home among the sacred trees and in the lochs and rivers. The Kelpies and Waterhorses haunted these lands, especially where the forest met the waters of lochs and rivers. These shape-shifting spirits, often taking the form of majestic horses, lured unsuspecting travellers to their watery doom. Loch Pityoulish, for instance, was said to be home to a deadly water horse.
The heir to the Barony of Kincardine was playing with his friends on the shore of the Loch. They looked up and saw a magnificent steed. Not only was it majestic, but it was sporting a silver, jewel-encrusted bridle. The temptation was too much for the children who ran towards the creature, grasping at its bridle. But the enchanted bridle had turned to glue! The children were stuck fast as the beast galloped towards the Loch. The young heir was a smart thinker. He managed to grab his dirk and sever his fingers, freeing himself just in time to escape the terrible drowning that awaited his friends.
The Faeries of Lochan Uaine
In Glen More, the Faeries were said to wash their clothing in Lochan Uaine, the green loch, giving the water its distinctive hue. The nearby conical “fairy hill” known as Sithean Dubh da Choimhead (The Black Fairy Hill of the Two Outlooks) was believed to be their home. Big Donald, the King of Faeries, was said to reside in a fairy hill at the west end of Loch Morlich. His presence could be felt through the haunting sound of invisible bagpipes playing by the loch’s edge.
Many years ago, a man who insisted that fairies did not exist was walking by this loch. Suddenly, he heard the distant sound of bagpipes. The music grew closer, and he looked around in confusion, unable to see the piper. As the piping grew louder and nearer, he still saw no one. Eventually, the music seemed so close that he stepped aside as if to let the invisible piper pass. He later claimed to have felt gusts of wind on his cheeks, emanating from the drones of the bagpipes. When he recounted the experience to his friends, they were convinced that he had heard the fairy bagpipes, played by none other than Big Donald himself.
The Faery at Ruthven Barracks
A forester in Argyll’s army was constantly followed by his leannan-sith (fairy sweetheart), who appeared as a white hart. Meanwhile, the company set up camp near Ruthven Castle, the erstwhile home of the infamous Wolf of Badenoch. Some of Argyll’s officers began to mock the forester about his ethereal follower. Now, Argyll, being ever the touchy fellow, commanded his soldiers to shoot the hind in retaliation. Despite their efforts, not a single bullet could pierce her. Argyll noticed that the forester had disobeyed his command, refusing to shoot at his beloved. The forester was brought before Argyll and ordered to fire at the hind himself.
Bravely, he responded, “I will fire at your command, Argyll, but it will be the last shot that I shall ever fire.” As soon as the charge left his gun, he fell dead on the spot. A terrifying scream ripped from the Faery’s throat. Then she rose like a cloud of mist and vanished into the mountains, never to be seen again.
The Kinveachy Giant
In the woods of Kinveachy, nestled between Aviemore, Boat of Garten, and Carrbridge, there resides a giant. This giant is both wise and cunning. Fearing that people might try to kill him, he removed his heart and hid it beneath a stone in Kinveachy Woods.
As the legend goes, the only way to kill a giant is by destroying its heart. To kill the giant, someone would need to place their bonnet on the stone where the heart is hidden. This stone became known as the Bonnet Stone.
Simple enough, you might think. However, the giant’s heart is just as cunning. Whenever it senses someone approaching the stone, it promptly hops out and hides under another stone. With countless stones scattered throughout Kinveachy Woods, it’s safe to assume that the giant remains alive and well to this very day!
The Grey Man of Ben Macdui
High above the tree line lives another creature, the Grey Man of Ben Macdui. Even today, some climbers insist that they have felt a presence near Lurcher’s Gully. Could this be the Cairngorm’s equivalent of the Yeti or Bigfoot?
Dwindling Forests, Dwindling Myths?
As the Caledonian Forest has disappeared, so has the habitat that was once home to many of Scotland’s mythical creatures. Perhaps these were remnants of old pagan gods, in some cases villainised with the coming of Christianity. Whatever these creatures represented, the tales told about them served as a reminder that humankind is part of nature too and that we cannot ignore this connection. As the forest dwindles, the tales are slowly fading like leaves on the wind.
Perhaps now more than ever, we need to remember these stories. We must preserve these last remnants of the Caledonian Forest and the lore that contains the old wisdom. Deforestation and climate change have taken their toll. Perhaps it is time to remember that once upon a time, the forest gave life to our ancestors. It is time to remember the cycles of nature and to put more importance on our biodiversity than on money and consumerism.
