The Wizard of Loch Skene
In the late 16th and early 17th Century the local laird of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Seaton, was also known as the ‘Wizard of Skene’. It is said that he had travelled to Italy to learn dark magic which would enable him to summon the deceased to gain knowledge of the future. The local people of Aberdeenshire were very fearful of the laird. Legend supposed that whilst in Italy the laird had summoned Auld Nick (the Devil) and formed a partnership with him. Reputedly the laird had no shadow, would be followed by ravens and had the power to reest people – gluing their feet to the floor and making them do evil deeds.
It is said that on one cold winters night the laird had instructed the coachman, Kilgour, to meet him at the edge of the Loch of Skene. The coachman was told that there would be another passenger, but under no circumstances should he look at his face. When the laird arrived at dark with the passenger he was dressed in an Auld Cloven Hoodie. As they journeyed over the frozen loch the coachman listened as the passenger and laird whispered in the back of the coach. Eventually, out of curiosity he turned to look at the mysterious hooded passenger. However, to his dismay as he looked into the passengers face he saw the face of the Devil looking back at him. In horror Kilgour dropped the reigns and lost control of the coach, which crashed through the icy waters killing the coachman. The laird and the passenger mysteriously survived.
Alexander Seaton passed away in the 1700s. His grave can be found in the Skene Church. It is rumoured that if you walk around the grave 100 times that the laird will return from the dead. It is also said that when the Loch of Skene freezes over strange markings can be seen on the ice which seem to resemble the tracks of carriage…
It is said that on one cold winters night the laird had instructed the coachman, Kilgour, to meet him at the edge of the Loch of Skene. The coachman was told that there would be another passenger, but under no circumstances should he look at his face. When the laird arrived at dark with the passenger he was dressed in an Auld Cloven Hoodie. As they journeyed over the frozen loch the coachman listened as the passenger and laird whispered in the back of the coach. Eventually, out of curiosity he turned to look at the mysterious hooded passenger. However, to his dismay as he looked into the passengers face he saw the face of the Devil looking back at him. In horror Kilgour dropped the reigns and lost control of the coach, which crashed through the icy waters killing the coachman. The laird and the passenger mysteriously survived.
Alexander Seaton passed away in the 1700s. His grave can be found in the Skene Church. It is rumoured that if you walk around the grave 100 times that the laird will return from the dead. It is also said that when the Loch of Skene freezes over strange markings can be seen on the ice which seem to resemble the tracks of carriage…