Top 5 British Isles Folklore
oooooh good question! these are all scots myths because I know nothing about anyone elses! I should look into more arthurian stuff tbh.
Cat Sìth! My favourite - probably based on the scottish wildcat, this was a faerie cat (or a witch that could turn into a cat). It blessed people who left saucers of milk out for it. It was said to be as big as a dog, jet black, with a big white spot on it’s chest. deeply punk rock.
Selkies! People who are actually seals, you know the drill. There’s just something about being stuck on land, discontented about the life you’re trapped in, and solving that problem by slipping into your rubbery onesuit and yeeting yourself into the sea. It’s a very relateable parable. Like a feminist Moby Dick, sometimes you just gotta take to the waves.
Kelpies. What’s not to love about angry giant water horses that recreationally drown people? They’re objectively the best.
The Corryvreckan Whirlpool - it’s not so much the myth that interests me, as it is the very cool oceanographical effect. It’s one of the biggest whirlpools in the world, and the most dangerous stretch of water in the british isles. There’s a story attached to it that says a norse prince asked for permission to marry the princess of the island, and her father accepted on the condition that the prince sail through the whirlpool. He had three ropes made - one of wool, one of hemp, one of maidens’ hair - to keep his ship on course. he uh... sadly he did very much get eaten by the whirlpool ¯\ _(ツ)_/¯
Ghillie Dhu - a bit of an unusual faerie. He looked like a young dark-haired man, and was wild but shy and also very kind to children. iirc there’s lots of stories about him finding and looking after lost children, and making sure they get home safe. a very nice gentleman, 10/10.