Highland Folklore - The Monstorous Fachan
He is hopping mad…
The Highlands lie in the north of Scotland – a vast, sparsely populated area dominated by mountainous regions and large tracts of moorland. It is a stunning but harsh landscape, inhabited by hardy men and women.
In the Highland regions, Scots banded together in kinship groups called clans, from the Scottish Gaelic clann, literally meaning 'children', but more broadly 'kindred'. You did not need to have direct family connections to the clan chief in order to adopt his name. Many clansmen took the clan surname as a show of solidarity, or to obtain a degree of protection and resources.
It is easy to imagine these family groups gathered together after a hard day's work, drawn close to their peat fire, sharing stories – tales of love, tales of adventure, tales of terror.
High in the peaks surrounding Rannoch Moor lies the source of the River Etive. It carves a sinuous path through the landscape, eventually emptying into the sea loch, Loch Etive. On its journey to the ocean, it passes through Glen Etive—a wild region, home to the Dwarf of Glen Etive also known as The Fachan.
The Fachan, is described as either a dwarf or sometimes as a giant, a ferocious being, possessing a single eye in the middle of its face, a single hand protruding from its chest in place of arms, and a single leg emerging from its central axis. It has a solitary tuft of hair on the top of its head. It was believed to hop about with great agility. Given the strong historical ties between Scotland and Ireland, it is possible that the name Fachan derives from the Irish word for giant, fathach.
The Fachan was a terrifying presence. It was said to be a solitary creature, hostile to any who wandered into his glen. In battle, he would carry a large club, which he wielded with great effect against intruders. Any disappearances in Glen Etive or the surrounding area would be blamed on this vile monster.
Some believe the Fachan to be an imperfect folk memory of a druid in the corriugneacht (crane position), in which the ancient priest would stand on one leg, with one eye closed and one hand extended before him. Other theories suggest his origins lie in tales of the Scottish wild man.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, my friend. If you enjoy stories of ghosts, monsters, and the uncanny, please consider supporting me by purchasing a copy of my book Fireside Horror—a novel told in short stories. It is currently available from Audible, narrated by the wonderfully talented Aubrey Parsons, who does a marvellous job of bringing the stories and characters to life. Visit my shop for more information.
Until next time, stay spooky.
