Myths and Legends of the British Isles Quiz

Answer: Robin Hood

The story of the outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men is one of England's most enduring legends. Robin Hood has been the hero of films played by actors like Errol Flynn and Kevin Costner. There is no evidence that Robin Hood really existed, but the stories of him 'robbing the rich to give to the poor' remain popular.

The bird in the photo is a robin, in case you couldn't remember the name.

Answer: Horse

The kelpie is a 'shape-shifter', a mythical spirit which can take on other forms. They usually appear as horses, but some stories tell of them taking on the form of humans, most often becoming handsome young men. Since they live in water, fear of coming across a kelpie would stop children being foolish enough to get too close and risk drowning.

The picture shows a horseshoe, as an extra clue.

Answer: Death

The banshee comes from Celtic myth, and there are similar stories of spirits who foretell death in both Scottish and Welsh mythology, which share Ireland's Celtic history. The wail of a banshee would be a frightening thing to hear, as it meant someone close to you was going to reach the end of their life.

The photo shows some gravestones, including a couple in the shape of Celtic crosses, to point you towards the correct answer.

Answer: Coventry

The legend of Lady Godiva tells the story of a noblewoman who rode naked through the streets of Coventry to protest about the high taxes imposed by her husband. He had agreed to reduce them if she carried out the plan. Before she did so, all the people of Coventry were ordered to stay indoors and not look. One man disobeyed the order, and his name has passed into folk lore as 'Peeping Tom', meaning someone who spies on people without their knowledge.

The photo shows the ruins of the original Coventry Cathedral, which was damaged by bombing during the Second World War.

Answer: Dragon

In the Welsh language, the dragon is called 'Y Ddraig Goch', which means 'the red dragon' and the dragon has been a symbol of Wales for a very long time, as far back as 829 AD. Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII in 1485, used the red dragon as the symbol on his flag, and you will see red dragons everywhere you go in Wales.

The picture shows a red dragon on a Mahjong tile.

Answer: Stonehenge

Not much is known about who built Stonehenge, or when, but the earliest parts are around 5,000 years old. Some of the stones used originated in Wales and were probably brought to the site in Wiltshire by sea. The myth about Merlin building Stonehenge comes from a story written by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who described Merlin bringing the stones from Ireland by magic.

The picture shows some of the large stones which form part of the circle of Stonehenge.

Answer: Scotland

The legend of the Loch Ness monster must be one of the best known stories of Scotland, although the first sighting to reach public attention was only in 1933. A couple of earlier stories have been found to support the legend, one going as far back as the seventh century. Despite many scientific expeditions, no evidence that there is any large creature living in Loch Ness has been found - at least, not yet.

The photo clue looks rather like most descriptions of Nessie.

Answer: Shoes

The leprechaun is a legendary creature from Ireland, and is believed to make and repair shoes. Another legend attached to the leprechaun is that it buries a pot of gold at the foot of a rainbow - if only you could find it. If you are lucky enough to meet a leprechaun, and capture it, he will grant you three wishes, so you could end up with new shoes, a pot of gold and anything you wish for.

The photo shows a typical depiction of a leprechaun, dressed in green and with a beard.

Answer: Cornwall

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon and Ygraine, the Duchess of Cornwall, who lived at Tintagel Castle. The stories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table have endured for centuries, with Tintagel just one of the sites which claim to have links to the mythical king. Tintagel is on the north coast of Cornwall and the remains of the castle can only be reached by crossing a footbridge.

The picture shows a spoonful of cornflakes, which are nothing to do with Cornwall but might have helped you choose the right answer.

Answer: Spider

Robert the Bruce became king of Scotland in 1306 and reigned for twenty-three years. Unlike most of the legendary people and creatures in this quiz, Robert definitely existed and we do know quite a lot about him. What is less sure, though, is the story about how Robert was encouraged not to give up by watching a spider struggling to create a web. Robert was 'on the run', having lost a battle against the English army, but took inspiration from the spider's refusal to accept defeat. Robert the Bruce went on to win the Battle of Bannockburn.

The spider's web, without a spider in sight, inspired you to choose the right answer, I hope.