The Vaugh or Fuath (plural fuathan, meaning “hate” in Scottish Gaelic) refers to a class of malevolent water spirits in Highland Gaelic mythology. These spirits are said to inhabit the sea, rivers, lakes, and sea lochs of Scotland and Ireland.
In Gaelic folklore, any being that frequently changes its shape is of evil origin. The case of the Fuath confirms such thinking. A Fuath can sometimes be seen, if it chooses to take on a physical appearance. Most fuathan have the power of transforming themselves in many things. They use this power to trick their victims but they are generally found out in the long run. Most often, they present themselves as humanoid creatures, with green skin and the mane and tail of a yellow horse.
Fuaths have no noses, but they have very keen eyes, which they use to find humans when they dare to enter their watery homes. If angry, they will pull unsuspecting swimmers underwater to their deaths using their webbed hands and feet.
Fuathan are most resentful against those who damage or take advantage of their surroundings. It is believed among the people, that a curse follows the killing of fish in spawning time, and that those who are not careful are apt to encounter a fuath and feel its temper.
The famous legend near Loch Migdale involves the Kelpies Mill (Moulinna Vaugha), a haunted site where a banshee, described as a beautiful woman with yellow hair but no nose, was seen by a miller's wife, embodying Highland folklore of water spirits and ominous warnings connected to the loch and its water source for the Spinningdale Mill.
Key Details of the Legend:
- The Setting: Near Loch Migdale, where a burn (stream) flows out, past a spot known as "Moulinna Vaugha" or the "Kelpie's Mill".
- The Specter: A banshee, a female spirit, appeared to the miller's wife.
- Description: The banshee was elegantly dressed in green silk with puffed sleeves, had long, corn-yellow hair, but lacked a nose, adding to her eerie appearance.
- Connection to Spinningdale Mill: This folklore is tied to the historic Spinningdale Cotton Mill, built by George Dempster and David Dale to improve local conditions, which drew water from the loch.
The Mill's Story:
- Spinningdale Mill, a large stone structure, operated using water from the loch but faced difficulties, including worker absenteeism and financial struggles, leading to its closure.
- The folklore of the Kelpie's Mill and the banshee adds a layer of local myth to this significant industrial site in Sutherland's history.
So, the legend centres on supernatural encounters at a haunted water source for the now-defunct Spinningdale Mill, a landmark near Loch Migdale.