The Ominous Cu Sith of Tiree

There are few supernatural creatures from Scottish Folklore that can strike instant fear quite like the Cu Sith. These are fairy dogs, the size of a small cow with a dark green, shaggy coat. They silently stalk the Highlands and Islands in the dead of night and their appearance is thought to be a terrible omen.

Thankfully, while the Cu Sith are dangerous beasts, stories of them are rare unless you happen to live on Tiree. If a large, shaggy figure is spotted along the beach towards dusk then the best course of action is always to return home immediately. In the morning, all that usually remains are pawprints the size of dinner plates in the sand.

One old woman gathering driftwood on one of Tiree’s pristine white beaches wasn’t aware of the stories. She heard an unnaturally loud bark in the distance but shaking off the uneasy feeling, continued to fill her basket. On her slow walk home, she passed a neighbour and began to tell her about the strange noise when a second bark, even louder than before, boomed over the island.

Without a thought, the woman’s friend grabbed her arm and dragged her home as fast as possible. Once they were safely inside with the door barred, the flustered woman began to explain. The bark of the Cu Sith was the worst sign of all, a signal that it was coming for you. If you didn’t make it home by the third time you heard the sound, then it was already upon you and there was no means of escape.