Up on the Mountain of Ben Venue, it was said that there was a magical fountain and contained river, guarded by certain villagers, who selected Katrine to "Keep the Watch" over its pristine, crystalline waters that kept the valley lush and fertile.

In a nearby cave, a beastly demon (one of the "uruisg" or "Water Demons") resided.  He often haunted and bedeviled lonely, dark, cavernous places. One day, this Water Demon seeing Katrine, fell madly in love with her, but his love and affections were unceremoniously spurned and rejected by Katrine. His love turned into raging hate.

One summer's eve, with a slight breeze tingling her tender frame. Katrine kept the watch over the time-worn fountain. As she sat there, she heard in the distance, the sounds of footsteps coming towards her. Suddenly, she sees a fine, young and very handsome Highlander, dressed in the great kilt and plaid.  His steps came closer and closer still. As he neared, she could hear him speaking a familiar greeting to her in her native Celtic tongue.

Once before her, he offered to share a small gathering of wild mountain berries he had collected atop Ben Venue. Katrine was very cautious and shy, but remained courteous. She sensed no obvious danger, so she gratefully accepted his kind offering, not realizing that this was the dreaded "uruisg" (Water Demon) that she had earlier spurned. He had cleverly devised a disguise for himself and had drugged the berries.

Katrine felt flushed after eating the berries, and then suddenly she slipped into a very deep slumber. While she lay sleeping, the Water Demon cut deep grooves into the sides of the dam, which caused the magical waters to cascade swiftly down into the unsuspecting sleeping village, where all the villagers were drowned in their beds!

The Water Demon watched from afar and was gleeful as he saw poor Katrine jump helplessly into the dark waters and drown. "Now, no one can have her!", he proclaimed.  He continued to live on the wilds of the mountains above the Loch, and it is said that the night screeches heard by the villagers are not eagles, but the malevolent-one yelling in ecstasy at his evil deed being played out, over and over again, through the rising and the falling of the mesmerizing laps of water from the Loch upon the shores, reminding him that Katrine's spirit is "Keeping the Watch" evermore over Loch Celteirein (Loch of the Furies-in Scots Gaelic).

So, Gregarach, kith and kin, join me as "Keepers of the Watch" over Loch Katrine (and Glengyle and Portnellan). It is an honorable thing to do as a caring family, as there is much work still to do, and we need everyone to give a care and not be taken in by the "Water Demons" of today. 

Remember the "Fiery Cross" has been lit, sent clear around the world, and the "Watchers" are now in place. Join us!

Gather together Gregors and Keep the Watch!!

Resources and Other Notes:
Ben Venue is the mystic meeting place of the "uruisgean" and the place name given to this spot is "Cire-nan-Uruisgean" (Gaelic) or "Corrie of the Goblins". In a nearby Water Authority town I visited, located alongside the loch and named STRONACHLACHAR, a hotel was built in 1911 to cater to the many visitors who came to visit in the wake of Sir Walter Scott's great epic poems "Rob Roy" and "The Lady of the Lake". Sir Walter Scott mentioned the Mystic "Maiden of the Loch" twice in his poem, "The Lady of the Lake."

"A sharp and shrieking echo gave,
Coir Ursikin thy goblin cave!
And by any bard
in Gaelic tongue
A softer name the Saxon's gave,
and called the grot
the "Goblin Cave!"