The Foul Ford: Dark Riders of Longformacus (Scottish Folklore)

[@jackpayne4658]

Shortcuts have a bad reputation in folktales all over the world. But if they weren't a temptation, we wouldn't need the warnings. There's an old tale about a villager who decides to cut across country after a hard night's drinking. He falls into a swamp, escapes a charging bull, and just manages to avoid a bloodthirsty gang of bandits. Finally arriving home, he tells his wife the whole sorry tale. When she berates him for his foolishness, he says, 'That all happened on the short road. If I'd taken the long road, I'd probably be dead by now'.

[@xdragonx6969]

Absolutely

[@Not-Ap]

Even more true on modern Freeways. Sometimes it's better to take the scenic route despite the risks.

[@moonlightinthegarden6216]

I absolutely love this channel.❤❤❤❤

[@aaronsaunders6974]

hunted this story down on google. it morphed into an inquiry about blacksmiths

[@xdragonx6969]

Thank you sir. Amazing story telling.

[@noname-bk7bc]

Another great story! This story makes me even more curious to know how much Tolkien knew of Scottish folklore. When you talk about the Slough it totally echos of the army of the dead that Aaragorn leads and he even is part Elf!

[@LiathWolf]

There is a lot of great ideas we see in modern fiction that can be directly linked to obscure folklore. Tolkien had a genuine love for history and folklore, especially languages. I definitely think he would have known a lot about the sith. thanks for watching

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

These are such a treat! Still, a shortcut to make more time for drinking sounds like a good way to have an accident or drowning!

[@feralbluee]

Thank you much. not only do you tell your story as a storyteller, but i love that you talk about the history of the tale and other similar ones as they changed while spreading around. it makes so much more meaningful. 🧚🏻🧚🏻🧝🏼‍♀️🧙‍♀️🌷🌱

[@pentegarn1]

Tell me our beloved Mr Tolkien didn't know this tale.....I dare ye!!! ;)

[@LiathWolf]

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul

[@johannadauria6478]

I bet Mr. Tolkien would think this is simply precious😉😅

[@damogranheart5521]

@@LiathWolf Gaelic? Doesn't look like elven.

[@LiathWolf]

​@@damogranheart5521 The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here..😆

[@damogranheart5521]

@LiathWolf Ye've left that a wee bit late, haven't you? 🧙🧚‍♂️📚🐈‍⬛🧝‍♂️🪄

[@tmr4342]

Another fantastic story. Thank you for sharing, Mr. Wolf 🦇

[@connorricketts1323]

a another great story thank you loved it and appreciation the history around the tales you mentioned thank you again for all the hard work you put it it really goes a long way and your a great storyteller I love folklore and mythology so glad you tell the great folklore stories I look forward to everyone once of them

[@LiathWolf]

Thanks for the support

[@TheBorderRyker]

I used to live very near Longformacus when I was growing up around 45 years ago now and I have crossed the foul ford (In daylight hours of course.) and there are many stories from that area. Myths and stories of witches and witchcraft. The older people in our village (Chirnside) used to tell them to us when we were children. Also right up the coastline from Eyemouth to Musselburgh there are some very good tales. Thank you. Not only for keeping these stories alive. But also for keeping our tradition of storytelling alive. It is so important to our culture. Aw the best frae the Borderlands. Slàinte Math, a bhràthair. 😎✊🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Edit. There’s no ford in Foul Ford in Berwick. I don’t know how it got that name but the story definitely didn’t take place there. I think you’re right about the riders on Greenlaw Moor too.

[@frasercoutts1440]

I live in the local area and have never heard this story before I found it so interesting thank you so much for telling us it.

[@LiathWolf]

Thanks for watching, don't take any short cuts home.

[@comraderaichu6940]

I enjoy your videos very much.

[@RissaFirecat]

Ahhh, Gray Wolf, you tell an amazing tale! Thank you!

[@lpronovost84]

Thank you for another wonderful tale.

[@connorricketts1323]

love this channel its a gem

[@LiathWolf]

Thanks for watching

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

My question is… where is the foul Ford? Does anyone go there today?❤️🤗🐝

[@chloecockburn-d2q]

just outside of greenlaw anyone can go in its just massive fields of heather

[@noreenclark2568]

Great story as always, but one tends to find that throughout all tales from wherever they come from there is a repeat of a story with just different names

[@LiathWolf]

True, I have found many repeated tales as well as retellings of other mythological stories, most commonly Norse or Greek.

[@leonardsmith6724]

When looking at stories, it would be recommended to see if Longformacus had a rival city. Also Check Reverend Kirk's work on fae folk. When a person is dying and invisible shroud would begin wrapping at the feet and if I remember correctly it would have completely engulfed them on the time of death. The fair folk got a nasty deal. There was an old story I got to read as a small child. Something akin to a tragedy. In it the fair folk had beaten the fomorrians out of the emerald isles. When the humans caught word that the formorrians were gone from the areas that would constitute modern Ireland and Scotland today the fae were eventually besieged by the early pic and Celtic ancestors. A long series of battles ensued but over time the humans got the upper hand, and instead of complete destruction the fair folk surrendered. After the surrender, the fair folk asked for a kingdom to call their own seeing as their recently acquired land was now forfeit. The Celtic and Pictish leaders forced them underground. To live below the ground only given the most basic of rights to above ground activities. It was noted in this story that once forced under ground the fae spilt into two courts the Sealy and Unsealy courts. The first being those without a grudge towards humans and the second being those who were not too fond of humans after the fighting was over along with the consequences which ensued. Anyhow, the army of the dead is found in so many different mythologies it is startling. There is even a story about Hella queen of the underworld (from Norse Mythology), kicking Shaitan, or Satan from her realm politely and they obliged her without qualms. I hope all of you folks have a great day, be safe and please be kind to one another. One last fun fact before I depart, when considering shapeshifters there is ample narrations that show them with either bright blue( think neon or glow in the dark blue) or an orange to red hue range with the same glowing quality. I hope you all get a good night's rest heaven knows I could use it.

[@audiblenugz]

Hey any more recent stuff on this??? Have u been there? I would be game to test this evil!

[@LiathWolf]

not been there myself, but I would be willing to go there and see what is there haha