The Blue Men of The Minch

There is a stretch of water between mainland Scotland and the Outer Hebrides that’s more treacherous than most. It’s not just unpredictable weather or unseen rocks that make the Minch so unsafe, these waters hold something far more dangerous. Sailors looking to take this passage through the Hebrides must contend with the Blue Men of The Minch.

These creatures of folklore aren’t found anywhere else in the world, making their home in hidden, underwater caves somewhere around the Shiant Isles. They look similar to humans, but with blue skin, long arms and the capacity for incredible feats of strength. Locals know better than to risk the Blue Men’s wrath and the possibility of being dragged down to a watery grave.

If the Blue Men are displeased for any reason, then they have the power to cause destructive storms and turbulent seas. Sailors feel their ship being violently rocked while their assailants speed along the waves around them. Muscular torsos rise out of the Minch to chase them down, while a churning mass of blue arms swarms the ship’s hull.

All isn’t lost if travellers do find themselves being preyed on by the Blue Men, there is one unusual way to fend them off. Their chief will often lift himself out of the water and challenge the ship’s captain to a battle of wits. Once he shouts out a rhyming couplet, the captain must then respond appropriately without hesitation.

Line after line is thrown back and forward in a relentless stream of poetry. If the mortal can match this peculiar sea creature, then he has earned their respect and will be allowed to pass through safely. If he fails, then the Blue Men are released and the ship will inevitably be dragged to the depths of The Minch.

If a crew is feeling brave and the captain subtle, then they might get lucky on their passage. When the weather is fair, the Blue Men can sometimes be spotted quietly sleeping, just under the surface. With a gentle wind on their side, they could hopefully slip by without even being noticed.

One particularly foolish group once decided to kidnap one of these sleeping figures, lifting him onto their deck. To be extra safe, they tied up their oblivious captive with every length of rope they could find on board. All they could think of was the fame and fortune that would come with being the first people ever to capture one of the famous Blue Men of The Minch.

They weren’t home and dry yet though. They’d been spotted. Two more Blue Men burst from the waves and quickly gained on the now terrified crew. The first cried out “Duncan will be one” with the other responding “Donald will be two.”

Their shouts woke up the prisoner, who stood up with a big yawn and effortless stretch. The mass of coiled rope snapped like old string and fell in a heap to the ground. Laughing to his companions, the Blue Man shouted “Big Iain needs no help” before diving back overboard into the Minch.