Cryptid Vault
Each-Uisge

Each-Uisge

Also known as: Aughisky, Water Horse

This shape-shifting water horse of Scottish lochs lures riders onto its back, then drags them to a watery death.

First Reported

Pre-medieval oral tradition

Origin Area

Scottish Highlands and Islands

Size

Horse-sized when in equine form

Temperament

Predatory, deliberately lures victims

Status

Folklore tradition, no modern sightings

Folklore onlyHigh DangerEuropeLakeOcean

The Lore

The Each-Uisge is a creature from Scottish Gaelic folklore considered far more dangerous than its cousin, the kelpie. It appears as a beautiful horse grazing near lochs and the sea. Anyone who mounts it finds their skin fused to its hide as it gallops into the deepest water. According to tradition, only the liver of the victim washes ashore. Stories of the Each-Uisge are recorded across the Highlands and Islands, and some researchers connect these tales to early Loch Ness sightings.

Body Type

Shapeshifter

Folklore Origin

Indigenous tradition

Media Appearances

  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (book reference)