A figure dressed in moss and leaves, hiding among the trees. Easy enough to miss in a Scottish forest, although I’d probably be too busy photographing the moss to notice him anyway.
The Ghillie Dhu belongs to Scottish folklore: a solitary woodland spirit who blends into the forest around him. The sort of story that makes a walk through the trees a little more interesting, especially as the light starts to go.
A fairly quiet neighbour.
In the tales, he looks after the woodland and sometimes helps people who have lost their way. He’s generally described as shy rather than frightening. Leave him and his home alone, and you should get on just fine.
There’s another side to the story, of course. Damage the forest or treat it badly and you might find him considerably less welcoming. Fair enough, really.
Something to think about on a walk.
I like how these stories give you a reason to look a little closer. A patch of lichen, a branch catching the light, a shape you hadn’t noticed between the trees. You don’t have to believe there’s anyone hiding there to enjoy the idea.
And if you do hear something moving behind you, it’s probably a deer. Probably.