…a blog written by Buglife Scotland Guardians of Our Rivers: Next Steps Conservation Officer, Caroline Howarth for World Wetlands Day 2026
Kelpies in Scottish folklore
One of the most famous and perhaps feared creatures in Scottish folklore comes in the malevolent and shape-shifting form of the Kelpie. Taking the form of a sleek, black horse or a handsome man, these terrifying water spirits haunt the rivers, burns and lochs of Scotland, luring the unwary to a watery grave.
Like most myths, the story of the Kelpies serves the purpose of conveying an important lesson to those listening. In this case, to be aware of the dangerous power of Scottish waterways, where the incautious could drown, and to be wary of lone strangers you may meet out in the wilds.
Reinterpreting the Kelpie myth
But another common feature of myths is how with different cultures and over time they shift, develop and are reinterpreted to meet the changing needs and circumstances of the people telling, and hearing them. This is why there is rarely a single, undisputed version of any myth, even the most famous ones. So, with that in mind, perhaps we can look for a different interpretation of the traditional Kelpie myth that can reflect our 21st century circumstances.
In more rare versions of the myth, the Kelpies act as guardians of their watery homes. With the sound of their tails entering the water sending a thunderous noise echoing through the glens, or with their eerie cries on a dark, lonely night, the Kelpies send us warnings of danger.
And today, there is much for the Kelpies to warn us about. Our watery environments face many pressures taking the form of acute and chronic pollution, abstraction to meet our water supply demands, drought and the impacts of climate change, to name just a few.
Answering the Kelpies’ call
So, how can we answer the call of the Kelpies to protect our waterways? One way is through the work of citizen science which helps connect communities with nature whilst collecting invaluable information on the natural environment.
One such project is Guardians of Our Rivers: Next Steps. In this citizen science project, we work with volunteers across Scotland to monitor the health of their local rivers. Volunteers use the riverfly monitoring method to survey the invertebrates living there.
What these volunteers quickly find out is that you don’t need to turn to folklore to find a diverse and fascinating community of creatures living beneath the surface of this watery environment. The invertebrates living in our rivers range from insects like mayflies, stoneflies and beetles, to snails, leeches, worms and a whole load of other amazing organisms dwelling beneath the surface. These charismatic little creatures are not only wonderfully interesting in their own right, but are also excellent indicators of river health and the different pressures affecting the ecological community found there.
What will you hear?
So, next time you’re on the riverbank or on the loch side and think you hear the call of the Kelpie, rather than turning to flee in fear, perhaps, instead, recognize it as a call to action. A call encouraging you to understand, care for and protect the wonderful water environment that the Kelpies (and lots of other aquatic creatures) call home.
About World Wetlands Day
World Wetlands Day takes place on the 2 February each year, raising global awareness about the high importance of wetlands for people and our planet. Each year has a different theme, with “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage”, being the theme for this year, spotlighting the timeless role of traditional knowledge in sustaining wetland ecosystems and preserving cultural identity.
To find out more about Caroline’s work across Scotland as part of our Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps project project and how you can get involved, please visit our dedicated web page.