Muc-sheilch

The Muc-sheilch/Muc-sheilche (pron. "Mook Helluch") was an alleged freshwater loch-monster said to have been seen often in Loch Maree.

A local man, Mr. Banks of Letterewe, tried at great expense to drain Loch-na-B?iste (Maree) in the 1850s, but failed. He also tried to poison it with quicklime. I can find no reference as to why exactly he took this course of action. Over the years, there have been unsubstantiated reports of something large in the water being seen by local fishermen, but nothing in the way of photographs or film. One strand of thought has it as a large eel, although this particular viewpoint only seems to have become popular, with regards to Nessie, in the early years of the 21st Century. General opinion seems to be that it is a local legend.

Loch-na-B?iste is Scottish Gaelic for "loch of the beast", 'beast' often being used to describe a perceived loch monster. ?Seilch? may well be cognate with 'selkie' (the seal-people of folklore). ?Muc? generally means a pig, but is also applied to whales, as in 'muc-mhara' (sea pigs), & this has engendered another, more spurious line of thought proclaiming it as a landlocked freshwater whale!

Remote Loch Maree in Wester Ross, near Aultbea, is the largest freshwater loch north of Loch Ness. It has an average depth of 125 feet, is over 12 miles long & 2? miles at its widest point. The loch has 30 islands, 5 of which are large & forested. It was designated a Wetlands Conservation Area in 1994.

The islands of Loch Maree also hold significance in that they?re littered with many items of historical significance, including a chapel, a holy well and other ruins/sites said to be part of the ancient residence of Saint Maol Rubha. There are also ancient trees which were said to be used in druid rituals, & even waters which are said to cure lunacy.


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