A mystical all-white deer has been spotted roaming a Scottish beauty spot – sparking excitement among folklore fans.
The pure white fallow buck was seen lounging beside a lake at Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld in Perthshire.
The striking creature, which has long been linked to legends including King Arthur, is often said to symbolise spiritual quests and the call to adventure.
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Folklore claims the white stag can never be caught, representing mankind’s eternal pursuit of the unattainable.
Dutch tourist José van Hell was stunned to come across the deer while travelling through the Highlands, as reported by What’s The Jam.
She said: “On our way to Pitlochry we stopped at Loch of the Lowes.
“We had a nice talk to one of the volunteers and she told us about the white deer.
“To us it was magical.
“Lucky for us it got up and walked around a bit, otherwise I would have believed it to be a statue.
“So for us it was also one of the highlights of our trip and a memory to never forget.”
White deer have held a special place in cultures for centuries.
The Celts believed the stag appeared when a person was breaking a taboo, while English folklore associates the white hart with Herne the Hunter.
It was also the personal emblem of King Richard II, who often had the crowned stag painted into art and jewels to symbolise his divine right to rule.
The most famous example appears in the Wilton Diptych, thought to be the earliest authentic portrait of an English monarch.
