GREY MAN OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

‘Grey Man of the Scottish' Highlands’

Hello my dear friends & followers. I found another interesting legend about, ‘the Grey Man.’ However, this spirit lies in the Scottish Highlands called ‘The Ben Mac Dhui Mountain’. It happens to be the 2^nd highest mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Unlike the post, I did on the ‘Grey Man’ who warns the people of Pawley Island of hurricanes. He’s a good spirit in my opinion.

However, the Grey Man of the Scottish Highlands has a much different tale. Anyone who ventured up the Ben Mac Dhui Mountain of the highlands, always felt a dreadful fear going through their body. They say, as soon as they get to a certain spot up on the high mountain of Ben Mac Dhui a fog or mist would roll across the cairns. That’s when you would see a shadow of the creature. It is said that’s also where the spirit lurks about as a huge creature terrifying monster if you happen to encounter it! They call it, ‘I am Fear Liath Mor’ or The Big Gray Man’.

Some see him as an old figure in robes; a giant or even a demon. Ben Machdhui, also has a reputation of being haunted entity, popularly known as Grey Man or the Fear Liath Mhor in Gaelic.  The creature doesn’t just threaten you with un-earthly forces of physical power but it can also cause people who encounter it to have a strong suicidal sense of depression & panic. They have said that the Mountain Ben Mac Dhui is the 2^nd Highest mountain in all of Scotland, standing over 4,000 feet high. It’s an imposing sight & substantial test for experienced climbers, so if an average person were to try you could only just image! Many of the witnesses who have seen or felt the presence of the Scottish Grey Man are serious hardened Mountaineers not prone to flights of fancy.

It was the year 1891 when the first person reveal he had encounter the creature in on the Ben Mac Dhui Mountain Highlands of Scotland. His name was a Professor Norman Collie. Norman was a respected & well known climber in those days. When he gave his speech at the Cairngorm Club in 1925, his audience was truly stunned. This is what he said; Norman explained after the climb-up the mountain which he had done many of times, however this time it was very different. When he was coming down from the peak, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. At first there was a think shroud of mist that came into the area without warning. Norman rationalized that it must have just a fog or the heavy clouds being so high on the mountain. He also thought the footsteps must have been an echo of his own. But Norman realized the noises were not corresponding to the movements he was making down the mountain. It sounded like a huge giant was following him. It was as if the giant was walking after him but taking steps of three or four times the length of Normans. So, this time down the mountain he was terrified and blindly ran for 4+5 miles down the mountainside until he could no longer hear the terrifying noise. Norman never returned to the mountain top to his dying days. He did resolute to believe there was something very scary that lived on the top of Ben MaDhui of Scotland.

The next two encounters of the Grey Man, apparently set the trend for the hundreds of other reported incidents on the High top of BenDhui of Scotland! Each person after Norman’s encounter would tell of either lumbering footsteps crunching towards them/or of huge grey figures looming out of the swirling mists. Most of the encounters are explained as paranoia & the effects of loneliness on the very high elevation of the highland mountain. This is especially when each person has seen the mist that descends upon them as often as it does. And as quickly too! Of, course some say that; the creature may require some investigation. However, I haven’t found any information where they have done this. Which makes me believe that even the skeletal are afraid to do their deep investigation? At some point, I might come back to this post and see if I can find any info that has been investigated on this! For now, The, two people that started this trend were Wendy Wood & Peter Dem Sham.

First will talk about Wendy Wood who’s one of Scotland’s pioneers of the Scottish National Party. She is also about as rounded about and rational person you could ever meet in Scotland. She too was gripped by a blind panic when walking through the Lairg Ghru Pass of the Ben MaDhui Mountain of Scotland. Wendy had thought after hearing the strange noise – thinking it might have been a fallen climber so she went to see if she could help…Suddenly she was overwhelmed by the feeling that she was being followed by someone or something, with an enormous size!

After that she was so Spooked, she took off down the mountain, not stopping until she reached the Whitewell, Farm which was five miles once she was off the mountain. Wendy Wood knew nothing of this legend. Others did know of it and dismissed it out of hand!

So, what do you believe? I’m just curious?

During the Second War2 there was another Scotsman that was also a grand mountaineer who served in the war2 as a rescue mountaineer. His name ‘Peter Den Sham’ who would located & save pilots who crashed in the Cairngorms mountains-Ben MaDhui of Scotland. In this Encounter Peter Den Sham decided one day in 1945 to climb Ben MaDhui. He arrived at the summit around noon. It was a clear day and beginning the second highest mountain in Scotland it was breathtaking. However, the mist as many have experienced before descended upon Peter so he decided to finish his lunch as quickly as possible and make his way back off the mountain. Peter knew the hill well, so he was in no way disturbed by this mist even though the visibility was very poor. As he set off he soon heard the familiar ‘Crunch, Crunch’. On the top of the Plateau behind him. Intrigued rather than afraid Peter went to investigate thinking of the ‘Grey Man and the paranoia of others encounters. However, the same happened to even Peter. The closer he got to the top of the Plateau he too was suddenly accosted by a sense of foreboding and his desire to flee the mountain was getting intense. It began to get more and more intense the closer he got to the Plateau. Finally, Peter too could not fight the feeling either and his desire to flee the mountain overcame him. Without even thinking Peter’s instinct took over him. He was soon running like everyone else had done (Running without thinking where you’re going). Just thinking in fear that you have to get the hell out off this mountain! You must remember the mountain is a very, very steep, over a 1000+ on the pass where you get down. It’s really not meant for running at All! Mind you Peter is a very experience climber too…So as he was running he was barely missing the steep cliffs of Lurcher’s Crag of 1000+feet down to his death. Peter Den Sham was left utterly convinced that something unnatural was stalking him on top of that mountain!

The stories above are legion in Scotland! I guest most only hear the noises. However, there are some that actually see strange figures.

I have read many accounts of folks living in the area of the Mountain in Scotland. Many have had different experiences. Some, have just heard the sounds, others seen the Creature. And other have been unfortunate to see both and been scared out of their minds. Of, course many theories have been thought of what might be up on that mountain. I myself believe it is a mythical creature. I have always believed that both Scotland and Ireland have had many mythical creatures both good and bad. Both countries are Magical Places to me! There is so many area’s in both countries that have still lots of remote areas for this kinda phenomenon. All I can figure for this is how can two men sitting right by each other see the same enormous creature walking towards them.

And the unexplained noises plus the creepy cold mist the always rolls in when the creature comes to call! The Liath Mor’; The Big Gray Man’; Some see him as an old figure in robes; a giant or even a demon. He also has a Gaelic name in a part of the world where Gaelic hasn’t been spoken for over 150years! Suggesting a long standing with tradition. Indeed, locals have and still do, take the apparition for granted.

It would seem that the ancient times of the Gaelic tradition are still alive in the haunted mountains of Scotland, even if some to the people have forgotten those old days…But the Creature on Ben Mac Dhui is still isolated and a very lonely mountain deep in its granite kingdom in the otherworld. Yet I believe he comes out when people come up to the top of his mountain to protect the ancient times of the Gaelic Traditions. So, he can be either a good/evil entity. In the folklore of the Gaelic Traditions I have done a few. There are a few that range for the hideous like the Nuckelavee which I have done if you want to check out on my blog to the Goddess Morgan too…who is a great one too.

As for the Marvelous Mountain of Scotland’s Highlands. I hope that they remain untouched and keep it a wild area in Scotland. It is a stunning and prestigious place, just the fact that it’s untouched by man. Whether its haunted or not the mountain will hopefully be remained unspoiled for Scotland into the future. Me Personally, I believe in the Grey Man as I believe in the Big Foot & Yeti too. I believe that people are getting to involved with the computer world and forgetting the past and the wonder of old legends and to belief! In them…

I hope that you Enjoyed my first post of 2017 I have always love the legends of Scotland and Ireland could be that I have Scot and Ireland blood... I love you all so very much.

Your friend Wendy always and forever...