We're diving into the wild, misty hills of the Scottish Highlands to meet the Bauchan, a creature who's like your best mate and the flatmate from hell all rolled into one. Picture this: a hairy little dude who can crash at your place uninvited, eat your food, and maybe even rearrange your furniture when you’re not looking. But don’t let that fool you—Bauchan aren't evil; they just love to mess around! We’ve got a hilarious tale about a shepherd who learned the hard way what happens when you offer an oat cake to the wrong kind of wild man. So, grab your cuppa and settle in as we uncover the charm and chaos of these mischievous mountain dwellers—trust me, you’ll want to keep some extra bread handy!
Takeaways:
In this episode of Bitesized Folklore, we dive into the mystical world of Scottish legends.
We meet the Bauchan, a mischievous creature that’s both a buddy and a nuisance.
The Bauchan is like that friend who crashes at your place and eats your snacks.
Folklorist J.F. Campbell recorded the tales of the Bauchan back in the 1860s, keeping the legend alive.
The shepherd learns the hard way that the Bauchan, though irritating, is also a loyal protector.
Stories like this remind us of the rich tapestry of oral tradition and folklore in Scotland.
Transcripts
Speaker A:
Hello and welcome back to Bitesized Folklore, the show that crams old legends into small, snackable stories. Perfect for when you've got the kettle on or you're waiting for the toast to pop.
I'm Jodie and today we're heading into the wild mist covered hills of the Scottish Highlands in search of a creature who's equal parts best mate and worst flatmate. It's the Bauchan. If you've never heard of a Bauchan, picture this.
A short, stocky figure, completely covered in tangled hair, with eyes that twinkle with mischief clothes. Well, they're usually in tatters. And they smell. Well, let's just say if Pete smoked damp wool and wet dog had a baby, you would be pretty close.
Bauchans are like a wild cousin to the brownie or the hobgoblin. They live alone in the hills, roaming from glen to glen until they find a human they like and like.
In Bauchan terms, it doesn't mean a friendly wave now and then. It means moving in, uninvited forever. There is a story from the Isle of Mull about a shepherd who learned this the hard way.
One cold winter night, he was trudging home when he met a strange hairy man on the road. Being a decent sort, the shepherd offered him an oat cake. The Bauchan, though the shepherd didn't know it yet, accepted with a big toothy grin.
From that moment on, the creature was always there. Every night, the Bauchan would walk the shepherd home, talking non stop in a voice like gravel tumbling in a barrel.
At first the shepherd thought it was a one off.
But then the Bauchan started sitting by his fire, draining his ale and helping himself to bread and cheese, and occasionally, somehow, moving the furniture around when no one was looking. Now, it shouldn't be confused. Bauchans are not evil, but they are pranksters.
They'll hide your tools, swap the salt and sugar, or move your sheep just to see the look on your face. The shepherd tried hints and then outright requests, but the Bauchan just shrugged and said, ah, but you'd miss me if I went.
One night a storm rolled in, the kind that makes the wind sound like bagpipes gone mad. The shepherd slipped in a deep ditch and twisted his ankle badly.
Before he could panic, the Bauchan reached down with surprising strength, hauled him out and said, if I hadn't been here, you'd be a frozen corpse, my friend. Best not wish away what you can't replace. And that was that. The shepherd still grumbled about missing food and sleepless nights.
But deep down, he knew that the hairy pest was also his protector. That's the trouble and the charm of the Bauchan. They're loyal to the point of smothering, irritating to the point of madness.
But once they've decided you're theirs, they'll guard you against anything. Storms, danger, loneliness. Even. Before we finish, I thought I would just add in a little folklore note for this episode.
ull was first recorded in the:
Campbell gathered it directly from local storytellers, capturing the Bauchan exactly as it was told in Gaelic or oral tradition. Chatty, troublesome and unexpectedly heroic.
Later, folklorists like John Gregerson Campbell repeated the story, but the Mull version remains the best known. So the next time you hear this tale, remember that you're hearing a thread of a story that's been wandering the Highlands for well over 150 years.
That's all for this episode of Bitesized Folklore. I'm Jodie. Thank you for listening, and until next time, keep your bread safe, your hearth warm, and an extra chair by the fire.
