Legends Of The Cù Sìth – Scotland’s Fairy Dog
Have you ever wandered lonely moors or misty mountain plateaus and had the feeling that you weren’t alone? Did you really hear that distant bark or was it just a trick of the wind? Be careful, because you’re maybe being stalked by the terrifying Cù Sìth.
If you want to stay safe while wandering the Scottish wilderness, you’ll need to learn more about Scotland’s fairy dogs!
What Is The Cù Sìth?
Literally translated from Gaelic, Cù Sìth means fairy dog. Like all fairy creatures, they’re associated with the colour green but this dog’s shaggy coat is said to be so dark it looks almost black. If that wasn’t enough to recognise it by, then its sheer size will catch your attention.
Said to be as large as a young bull, it often leaves footprints the size of dinner plates on sandy beaches. Other characteristics to look out for is the Cù Sìth‘s tail which will either be braided or curled over itself. You might think that seeing the beast would be frightening enough, but the real danger is when you hear it.
Mostly silent while hunting for humans to take down to the fairy realm, it will let out three loud barks once it locks onto its prey. If you hear one then you know the fairy dog is coming for you. A second means you haven’t got long left to make it safely indoors. Once the third bark comes, your time is unfortunately up!
Most legends of Cù Sìth are short anecdotes about where they can be found or why you need to avoid them. They were believed to be terrible omens of doom and an untimely death. Usually, they’re considered some of the most dangerous folk creatures in Scotland. However, as you’ll see, not all stories follow the same path!
How To Pronounce Cù Sìth
While the name is likely to trip you up, don’t worry it’s very easy to pronounce! Cù is pronounced Koo and the word Sìth sounds like Shee. So together, it’s Koo Shee and remember that the accent above the vowel means that the sound is elongated a little.
The Ominous Cù Sìth of Tiree
While there aren’t many stories of Cù Sìth around Scotland, the island of Tiree seemed to be a hotspot for them. One old woman gathering driftwood on one of the island’s pristine white beaches wasn’t aware of the stories. She heard an unnaturally loud bark in the distance, but shook off the uneasy feeling and continued to fill her basket.
Before too long, her neighbour appeared and the two began to chat when a second unearthly noise crashed over the beach. When the old lady mentioned that she’d already heard something just like that, panic filled her friend’s face. Without a thought, she grabbed her arm and threw the driftwood to the sand.
The old woman was dragged her home as fast as possible and the door heavily barred. Only once they were safely inside did the flustered woman begin to explain how lucky she had been to escape the clutches of the Cù Sìth!
The Cairngorm Fairy Dog
One dark evening, a shepherd was resting in his cottage in the Cairngorms when he heard a scratching sound. Thinking it was his own sheepdog coming in for dinner, he opened the door to a terrifying surprise. He was staring straight into the eyes of an enormous Cù Sìth with blood-red ears. Surely, his time was up.
However, instead of that ominous bark, the fairy dog just padded inside and lay down by the fire. Not wanting to offend the beast, the shepherd lay down food and water, before quickly shuffling away again. His surprise guest drank the water gratefully, but refused to eat a bite.
When the sheepdog did return minutes later, it immediately flattened itself to the floor when it saw the Cù Sìth. The fairy dog made a noise and tentatively, the sheepdog crept forward to devour its dinner. Just before dawn, the Cù Sìth gently licked the shepherd’s hand before wandered out into the morning.
Months later, when winter had taken hold of the Cairngorms, the shepherd was in trouble. He needed to round up his flock before the snow got too deep, but his dog was injured. As he struggled through the drifts, he saw the same shaggy, green creature that had visited him before. Convinced this was the way he meets his end, he closed his eyes.
Nothing happened. When he opened them again, he saw the Cù Sìth was effortlessly bounding through the snow, rounding up his sheep. In no time at all, his flock were safe and well, with the fairy dog back at his feet. As the shepherd gazed around in amazement, he felt a soft lick of his hand again, but when he looked down, nothing was there.
Proof that the Cù Sìth wasn’t all bad, although not many people ever believed his story!
What To Read Next?
Until I discover more stories of Scotland’s fairy dogs, why not read some stories of the equally terrifyng Kelpies? Or you could discover the legend of another hound from Scottish Folklore – Macphie’s Black Dog!
If you enjoy Scottish folklore and historical stories, then you’ll love my book – Scotland’s Stories Historic Tales For Incredible Places
1 Comment
Beverley Buchanan · May 19, 2024 at 11:44 am
Just stumbled upon your stories looking up gight woods, brilliant reads cheers 😀