How to Train Your Dragon: Scotland’s Mythological Legacy

From a young age, Cressida Cowell and her family would spend their summer on an uninhabited island near Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. Her father, a keen birdwatcher, was ultimately inspired by Scotland’s wild and natural beauty and his admiration for island life led him to build a holiday home. Although the exact island location remains a mystery, the family would eventually spend their entire summer here. Growing up in the 1970s, the house had no electricity which meant that Cowell’s main source of entertainment would be to play outside with her siblings, which she loved. In the evenings, her father would tell tales of Vikings who once invaded the island Archipelago over twelve hundred years ago, with tribes who fought against each other and mythical dragons who resided in clifftop caves. Cowell’s time playing outdoors as a child and mythological tales told by her father played a key part in the initial concept of the How to Train Your Dragon series, often wondering what it would be like to live like a Viking or see them sail on the horizon. This sparked Cowell’s wild and creative imagination and put pen to paper when it came to writing stories about Vikings and dragons. The rest as they say is history. 

Set on the island of Berk (inspired by the island off the west coast of Scotland), How to Train Your Dragon follows the story of a young Viking named Hiccup who forms an unlikely friendship with a dragon named Toothless. Home to the Hairy Hooligan tribe and a haven for various dragons, Hiccup has garnered an unfavourable reputation amongst the other Vikings especially towards his father Chief Stoick (voiced by Gerard Butler) due to his inconsistency and clumsiness when it comes to defending the village from dragon pests causing mass destruction. However, when danger strikes for both species, the pair must navigate through growing difficulties between Vikings and dragons whilst creating their own incredible bond.

Watch the trailer for the live action film 

Scotland’s relationship with the Vikings began as early as the 8th century where violent raids would take place on our coastlines and islands. With Scotland just sitting over the North Sea from Scandinavia, this made it a prime location for Vikings entering the British Isles. They would rob precious resources from locals before establishing their own settlements which led to Norse rule from the 9th and 12th centuries.  

In 1098, the Scottish islands were signed over to Magnus III of Norway by King Edgar which were best known as the ‘Kingdom of the Isles’ where Norse influence was at its strongest and long lasting. This was made up of the Northern Isles of Shetland, Orkney and the Southern Isles which included the Hebrides and the Isle of Man in England. Vikings settled in Scotland for around 300 years but thankfully not all of them came to strike fear on the local people. Most of them became farmers who took care of cattle, sheep and pigs, while growing crops like oats and barley and other plants for medicinal purposes.  

The Battle of Largs in 1263 led to the ‘end of Viking influence’ in Scotland. King Haakon of Norway launched an expedition to assert control over the Western Isles (the Hebrides) and parts of the Scottish mainland which was under heavy Norse influence. A violent storm washed ashore many of Haakon’s ships near the town of Largs in North Ayrshire. It is here  they encountered a Scottish army led by King Alexander III. Although the battle was indecisive with both sides suffering casualties, the Norse were ultimately forced to withdraw due to the harsh winter weather. King Haakon retreated to Orkney and vowed to return the next year to finish what he had started but passed away that winter. Three years later, the Treaty of Perth recognised Scottish sovereignty over the Hebrides and the Isle of Man with Shetland and Orkney annexed by Scotland from Denmark-Norway in 1472.  

The Viking’s presence here in Scotland can still be felt today which is clear in our language, place names and surnames. Many Scottish clan names are associated with Viking heritage including Clan MacDonald who held the title ‘Lord of the Isles' or Clan MacDougall considered to be descended from Norse-Gaelic families who dominated the UK. 

The Viking boat burial at Kiloran Bay, Colonsay 

Colonsay has one of Scotland’s greatest concentrations of Viking graves. Back in 1882, an exciting discovery was made of a high-status Viking boat burial at Kiloran Bay. Due to its steep, rocky cliffs and sandy beach with grass covered sand dunes, it was the perfect landing spot for Viking longships. Excavations soon revealed the remains of a man with a horse and a selection of weapons. The evidence revealed that the boat was overturned and washed ashore with the Viking also of high status too, possibly a chieftain who was prepared for fighting and trading with his weapons kit including a sword, axe, spear and arrows. 

If you’re planning to visit the burial, remember that this is an archaeological site and should be treated with respect. 

Discover the Viking boat burial at Kiloran Bay 

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The Lewis Chessmen, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh 

Discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis, the chess pieces provided a fascinating insight into the popularity of the game during the medieval period. Carved from walrus ivory and whale teeth, the original 93-piece set included kings, queens, bishops, knights, warders, pawns, along with 14 other gaming pieces and a buckle. It is believed that they were made in Trondheim in Norway and were often used as evidence on both sides of the debate whether the Vikings were primarily raiders or traders. Today, you can see 11 of the pieces on permanent display at the National Museum of Scotland where you’ll find out more about their strong presence here. 

See the Lewis Chessmen on full display 

Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement 

Located in Shetland, Jarlshof is one of the most well-known prehistoric archaeological sites in the UK. Open all year round, this historical gem contains remains dating from 2500 BC through to the 17th century AD and offers a fascinating glimpse into Shetland life. Originally discovered after severe storms in the late 19th century, the site reveals existence of the ancient buildings during excavation work in 1925 where Bronze Age relics were discovered. Today, visitors can step back in time and visit the Iron Age broch and wheelhouses, oval-shaped Bronze Age houses and the visitor centre which contains a rich collection of artefacts spanning different eras. 

Experience Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement 

The Beithir 

Known as a ‘beithir’ in Scottish Gaelic, this large snake-like dragon is the deadliest of its kind. Although a stark comparison to your typical dragon with its lack of wings or fiery breath, its lethal and venomous sting would strike fear amongst locals. The Beithir would make a grand appearance during summer nights and is considered as a ‘lightning serpent’ representing summer storms in folklore. They lived in mountainous caves and corries that were within easy reach to any rivers or lochs. Those who were struck by its sting had to reach the nearest body of water before the Beithir, otherwise their fate would lead to unfortunate circumstances. It is also part of the fuath family, a general term for various monsters and spirits associated with water.

Stoor Worm

Hailing from Orcadian folklore, this gigantic evil sea serpent contaminated plants and destroyed animals and humans with its rotting breath everywhere it went. ‘Stoor Worm’ comes from the Old Norse word, ‘storðar-gand’ which originates from ‘jörmungandr’, a serpent from Norse mythology with ‘stoor’ a Scots word that translates to ‘dust’ or ‘to pour or flood’. Awakening from its slumber every Saturday at sunrise, it would yawn nine times before demanding a meal of seven young maidens.  

The locals were upset that this kept happening with the loss of so many daughters that the King came up with a cunning plan to slay the sea serpent. If anyone could fight and kill the monster, they would receive his daughter's hand in marriage, half the Kingdom and his mighty Sikkersnapper sword. In total, thirty-six warriors tried to slay the dragon all of whom were unsuccessful before an unlikely hero came to the rescue, Assipattle. The name which translates to ‘ashboy’ spent his days lying beside an open fire in his family’s kitchen where he became covered in the thick ashes from the peat.  

On a quest to win over the heart of the King’s daughter, he set sail by boat, armed with a bucket containing a smouldering peat from his hearth. Sneaking up on the sleeping beast, the Stoor Worm woke up from his slumber and with every yawn it brought a vast tide of water into the dragon’s mouth that drew Assipattle and his small boat into the creature’s cavernous mouth.  

Upon discovery, he found the dragon’s liver and pierced it with a knife, stuffing it with the smouldering peat into the wound. The liver soon began to burn and Assipattle ran back to his boat when the Stoor Worm retched him out along with his vessel. Once returning to safety, Assipattle watched from afar and saw dark smoke billowing out from the beast’s nostrils before it perished. Rewarded for his heroic efforts, Assipattle married the King’s daughter, and the kingdom was free from the evil rule of the sea serpent. 

The Loch Ness Monster 

Of course, we can’t forget Scotland’s most famous mythical creature, The Loch Ness Monster. Often shortened to Nessie, it’s been a hot topic of conversation over the years on whether she is real or not. Described as green in colour with a long neck, black humps and a snake-like head, first reported sightings started to emerge of her in 565 AD when St Columba was said to have driven a beast back into the water. However, it wasn’t until 1933 when tourist George Spicer, noticed an unusually large creature swimming in Loch Ness that the phenomena took by storm. It has garnered so much popular interest that there is even an official Loch Ness Monster Sighting Register with over 1,000 sightings recorded by people from around the world. 

Enter the fascinating world of Scotland’s myths and legends