Whitby Myth and Folklore: Barguest - Whitby Online

The legend of the Barguest has connection with Whitby not only within the pages of novel's such as Dracula and the Whitby Witches, although it's inspiration here is evident. The name most usually refers to a massive and monstrous black dog or lupine like creature with big sharp teeth and huge haunting eyes that prowls the local countryside and prays upon those which hear it's howls. Local folklore tells us that such a beast roams the North York Moors surrounding Whitby and that any poor soul that should hear the beast's chilling howl in the night will certainly be dead by dawn.