The Scottish Kelpie

A week into my visit back to my homeland has been met with a very cold wind chill and dull days. However, today's outing which was a beautiful hot day took us to Falkirk, Stirlingshire, visiting the Falkirk Wheel and the home of the unique sculptures of the Scottish Kelpies

 

The Scottish Kelpie is a shape changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend it's name may derive from the Scottish Gaelic words 'cailpeach' or 'colpach', meaning heifer or colt. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse.

 

But beware......these are malevolent spirits! The Kelpie may appear as a tame pony beside a river. It is particularly attractive to children - but they should take care, for once on it's back, t's sticky magical hide will not allow them to dismount! Once trapped in this way, the Kelpie will drag the child into the river and eat them.

These water horses can also appear in human form. They may materialize as a beautiful young woman, hoping to lure young men to their death. Or they might take on the form of a hairy human lurking by the river, ready to jump out at unsuspecting travellers and crush them in a vice-like grip.

A common Scottish folktale is that of the Kelpie and the ten children. Having lured nine children on to it's back, it chases after the tenth. The child strokes it's nose and his fingers become stuck fast. He manages to cut off his finger and escapes. The other nine children are dragged into the water, never to be seen again.


So the next time you are strolling by a pretty river or stream, be vigilant; you may be being watched from the river by a malevolent Kelpie........

Have a lovely day