The Urisk: Scotland’s Goat Legged being
The Urisk - not the happiest chap.
During the course of my blogging about folklore, both spooky and otherwise, I have often found myself visiting the wild, mountainous region in the north of Scotland known as the Highlands. Was there ever a place better suited to tales of the strange and macabre? With its snow-covered peaks and misty glens, one cannot help but seek out the wonderful old legends associated with this region.
So, dear readers, let us venture back once more, feast our eyes upon the stunning scenery and soak up the dramatic atmosphere of this most wonderful of places. Amongst the many strange tales of creatures, ghosts and unexplained events found here is an old legend concerning a creature known as the Urisk.
The Urisk, also spelt ùruisg or ùraisg in Scottish Gaelic, is a type of Highland spirit said to make its home in caves and glens, beside lonely streams and near isolated waterfalls. A traveller might occasionally encounter one at dusk, sitting upon an outcrop of rock and silently watching them pass. Several Scottish places bear names connected with the creature, including Coire nan Ùruisgean—the Corrie of the Urisks—near Ben Venue.
The Urisk was generally described as wild and shaggy in appearance. Some accounts gave it the legs of a goat, making it resemble the satyrs of classical mythology, although this feature does not appear in every tradition. Its appearance was said to be unpleasant or frightening, and an unfortunate traveller encountering one alone in the wilderness might understandably feel afraid.
Most of the time, Urisks remained alone and did not trouble anyone. Highland tradition held that during the summer months they inhabited remote high places, where they were seldom encountered. It was during the winter, when life in the wilderness became more difficult, that they ventured closer to human habitation.
During these colder months, an Urisk might take shelter at a farm, cottage or mill. Some were said to perform heavy chores in exchange for food and somewhere warm to sleep. In this respect, they resembled the household spirits found throughout British folklore, although the Urisk was generally considered rather wilder and less domesticated than the average brownie.
John Francis Campbell included the following story in Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Volume I, published in 1860. It was collected from Neill Gillies, a fisherman and builder of stone dykes who lived near Inveraray.
Three daughters of the King of Lochlin had been carried away by giants. The king’s wise man declared that they could only be rescued using a marvellous vessel capable of travelling across both land and sea.
A poor widow had three sons. When the eldest announced that he intended to build the vessel, his mother offered him a choice: a small bannock accompanied by her blessing or a large bannock without it. The greedy young man chose the larger portion.
As he journeyed into the woods, he encountered an Urisk beside a river. The strange, shaggy creature asked the young man to share his food, but he refused and continued on his way. When he attempted to fell the trees needed for his ship, a strange enchantment took hold. Every tree he cut down immediately stood upright again, leaving all his hard work undone.
The widow’s second son tried next. He also chose the larger bannock, refused to share it with the Urisk and suffered exactly the same fate.
At last, the youngest son set out. Unlike his brothers, he chose the smaller bannock carrying his mother’s blessing. When the Urisk appeared and asked for a share of his bannock and roasted cock, the young man willingly shared his modest meal with her.
Pleased by his generosity, the Urisk told him to return home and come back to that place after a year and a day.
The young man followed the creature’s instructions. When he returned, he discovered a magnificent ship waiting for him, fully crewed and capable of sailing over both sea and dry land. The Urisk had accomplished the seemingly impossible task as a reward for the young man’s kindness.
With this magical vessel, the widow’s son began the adventure that would eventually lead to the defeat of the giants and the rescue of the king’s daughters.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. If you enjoy tales of the strange and unknown, please consider delving into my horror trilogy, The Wendlelow Mysteries. It tells the story of a haunted town and the people—and things—that call it home, unfolding across twenty-seven interconnected stories that reveal both the town’s origins and its ultimate fate.
Links to the books can be found in the Shop section of this website.
Until next time, my friend.
Stay Spooky.
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Sources
Wikipedia
John Francis Campbell, Popular Tales of the West Highlands, Volume I (1860)
spookyscotland.net/urisk
