Tradition / Region: Scottish Mythology
Alternative names: Biasd Na Sgrogag, Béist Na Sgrogaig, The Beast of the Lowering Horn
Category: Horse
The Myth
The Biasd Na Srogaig, or “Beast of the Lowering Horn,” is a legendary creature said to inhabit the lochs of the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Although sometimes described as a unicorn, it bears little resemblance to the graceful unicorn of later tradition. The creature is portrayed as tall and ungainly, with long, gangly legs, an awkward gait, and a single large horn projecting from its forehead.
The Biasd Na Srogaig is believed to have originated as a nursery bogey used to frighten children. Over time, however, the creature became an established figure of local folklore as stories about it continued to be told into adulthood.
Its name is derived from the Gaelic sgrogag, meaning “crumpled horn.” In later usage, the name Béist Na Sgrogaig was also applied to the heraldic unicorn.
Sources
Campbell, J. G. (1900). Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland: Collected entirely from oral sources. James MacLehose and Sons. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61728.