18/12/2025
SCOTLAND’S FAMOUS PURPLE REINDEER: McPRINCE
High among the misty mountains of Glencoe, roaming freely between heather, lochs and dramatic Highland weather, lives one of Scotland’s most unique and celebrated animals, the "Purple Reindeer" known as McPrince.
First recorded in "1999", McPrince has since become a global curiosity, with tourists flocking to the area in the hope of catching a glimpse of "the stag formerly known as elusive." His reputation only grew recently after being voted “the most beautiful deer in the world”, a title locals insist he’s been quietly aware of for years.
McPrince’s striking purple coat has long baffled wildlife experts. Early theories blamed rare minerals in Highland springs, ancient magic, or prolonged exposure to Highland mist, but modern researchers now believe it may simply be a rare genetic condition.
Approaching McPrince requires care. He will only allow visitors to come close if offered "raspberry berries", locally known as "Little Red Corvettes." Those who arrive without berries are warned that McPrince may "feel so blue", despite still being as purple as ever. Rangers also note that berries served with a little "cream" earn bonus approval and dramatically improve your chances of a successful encounter.
In recent years, some devoted visitors have gone further, leaving behind "diamonds and pearls" as offerings. This has sparked mild controversy, with rumours circulating that the gems mysteriously vanish overnight and that the rangers themselves may be keeping them. Officials have denied this repeatedly, though lead ranger "Mr Nelson" declined to comment while wearing what witnesses described as “a suspiciously new necklace.”
Visitors are also cautioned not to overfeed McPrince. After consuming too many Little Red Corvettes, he is known to become "delirious", entering a trance like state in which he gathers other deer and prances dramatically, as if to say, “baby, I’m a star.” These episodes often end with McPrince standing alone, motionless, while the others slowly back away.
In the height of the Scottish summer, despite it only lasting around two days, McPrince can often be seen to "play in the sunshine", fully aware that, as we know in Scotland, "sometimes it snows in April" and nothing should be taken for granted.
Despite repeated suggestions that he relocate to Edinburgh Zoo, McPrince has shown no interest in fences, feeding schedules or gift shops. He simply loves his "days of wild", roaming the Glencoe mountains freely, answering to no one, and remaining, as ever, Scotland’s most elusive purple icon.
Locals say that on still evenings, if you listen carefully, you may hear the soft echo of hooves across the mountains, carried on the wind like a distant tune.
This is what it sounds like…
"when deer prance".
