Strontian's old smithy is where the village blacksmith had had enough of strange nocturnal occurrences. Night after night, the sound of banging and crashing echoed through the smithy, making it impossible for the smith to get a good night's rest. One evening, he'd had enough. The smith decided to take matters into his own hands, hiding with his hammer until night fell. That's when a Glaistig, a type of malevolent spirit from Scottish folklore, appeared with a tame chicken. The Glaistig began using the smith's tools, but was caught out when the smith grabbed the chicken. The spirit only agreed to leave the smithy alone after the smith released the bird.

This account dates back to pre-1860, a time when such supernatural occurrences were often woven into everyday life. The Glaistig, a creature from Scottish folklore, is said to roam the Highlands, often associated with farms and rural areas. In this instance, it seems the Glaistig had taken a liking to the smithy, perhaps drawn by the physical activity and industry of the blacksmith's work. The fact that the smith was able to outsmart the Glaistig by catching its chicken companion suggests a certain level of cunning and resourcefulness on the part of the villagers.