Selkies are mythical creatures who are half seal and half woman (although they can also take on male form). They have the ability to leave the sea and cast off their sealskin to take on human form in order to attract unsuspecting young men or women. However, if their seal skins were lost or stolen they were doomed to spend the rest of their lives on land.
Local legend tells of three brothers, all fishermen, who lived along the shore of Loch Duich. They became enchanted by three such seal maidens and soon fell under their charms. In an attempt to claim these maidens as their wives, the three brothers stole their seal skins. This caused such enormous distress to the women that the youngest brother, overcome with remorse, returned the seal skin to his love. As a reward for his kindness she continued to visit him every nine days. The second maiden found her seal skin and escaped back in to the loch. Unfortunately the oldest brother, in an attempt to stop his love returning, tried to burn her seal skin – but in doing so also burned her.
Seals are commonly seen round the Castle. These are mainly the larger grey seal, although common seals are present in this area.