The Scottish Folklore Podcast

The Sea Mither is the Orcadian sea deity who brings the calm waters, warm weather, and bounty of spring and summer. But this is no easy feat, for first she must battle Teran, the fearsome winter god of the sea, for control of the waves. 

Teran is not her only foe, however, as the dreaded Nuckelavee, surely Scotland’s most nightmarish creature, must also be banished.

Join Jenny to hear all about the Orcadian (and Shetlandic) lore of the Sea Mither, Teran, and a poor fellow named Tammie who was unlucky enough to mee...

Sometimes called Spunkies, other times Will o’ the Wisps, whatever the name, these fiery spirits are always up to no good. And by no good I mean straight up bog-induced murder! Will o’ the Wisps are fiery orbs that lure lost and weary travellers away from the path and out into the vast swampy moors, and in this episode Jenny tells a tale where the poor unsuspecting victim is none other than the moon herself!

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This episode sees Jenny exploring the mysterious and often malicious dark magic of Corp Creadha, or Clay Bodies. These are Scotland’s version of voodoo dolls, and although less well known than their famous counterparts, as the three tales in this episode tell, they are by no means any less powerful!

These stories are of a heartbroken man out on a Hebridean Island, a vengeful witch from Inverness and her vendetta against the Provost, and of Mac Ian Ghiorr, a notorious cattle thief from Ardnamurchan, who causes all sorts of trouble for the Maclean’s of Duar...

The folktales are cascading in this episode as Jenny gets drenched under the waterfall lore of Scotland!

First she explores the strange and sad folklore of the wailing Caoineag, a water spirit that lives by waterfalls, and its ties to the Glen Coe Massacre of 1692. Next she looks into the healing powers of waterfalls and Saint Fillan's easing of suffering using magical stones near the village of Killin. Then it’s onto some very odd divination rituals in Trotternish, Skye, that have ancient roots in Irish culture, before ending with the tale of ‘The Silver Whistle’ which...

It’s Burns Night! On the 25th of January Scots all over the world come together to celebrate the life and works of the Bard himself, Rabbie Burns, and so in this episode Jenny recites his epic poem Tam o’ Shanter. This wild tale takes place in Alloway, Ayrshire, where Burns was from, and follows a farmer Tam, as he drinks late into the night before heading home on his trusty steed, Meg. Unfortunately a storm is raging all around him, but the weather is the least of his concerns, for when he reaches Auld Alloway Kirk he stumbles upon...

Learn how to tell the future the old fashioned way! The natural world is teeming with messages about things to come; from bats, to boats, to just about every bird there is, omens can be found throughout Scottish folklore. In this episode Jenny explores a whole host of different omens, what they mean, and in some cases, how you can avoid the grim fate they predict. 

Amongst these harbingers of doom she tells two tales of terrible omens, one of Glengorm Castle on the Isle of Mull, and one from Closeburn Castle in Dumfries. You can v...

Yuletide is for feasting, festivities, and fireside stories! In this episode Jenny tells two traditional Christmas time tales, ‘Dancing in the Fairy Knoll’ from Glen Etive and Duncan Williamson’s ‘The Hare and The Scarecrow’. 

Fairies flit in and out of both stories, but in very different ways, showing just how fickle and friendly they can be!

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Join Jenny as she explores some of the many Yuletide and Hogmanay traditions, customs, rituals, and rites that have been practised in Scotland over the millennia. From ancient burial cairns being aligned with the setting winter solstice sun, to different types of divination, cow-hides and clubs, and of course, first-footing, these traditions are part of the celebration of the darkest days of the year, and the rebirth into a new cycle of life. 

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This is one of Scotland’s greatest wonder tales - it is a story of gargantuan proportions, tremendous sacrifice, and unlikely heroes. It comes from Orkney in the far north and tells of Assipattle, a lazy layabout farm lad, and the arrival of the dreaded Mester Stoorworm, a ginormous sea-serpent that can wrap its body around the entire earth and kill everything on land with its terrible breath. But that’s all info you’re getting, as it’s best to just dive right in and enjoy! 

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Seals under the waves, humans upon the shore, selkies are some of Scotland’s most well loved folkloric beings, and for good reason too, for their beautiful eyes and gentle nature have captured our imaginations, and hearts, for centuries. 

In this episode Jenny dives into the world of the seal-folk, their lives both above the surface and below, their many origin stories, and the story of MacCodrum of the Seals. 

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Mountain builder, bone singer, bringer of winter, the Cailleach Beira is a Hag unto her own. Join Jenny in this episode as she tells many tales of the giant blue-faced deity who rules over the cruel, harsh winters of Scotland. From her shaping of the land, to her protective peace, to her bitter rage-filled jealousy of the beautiful maiden of spring, Bride, the Cailleach Beira rules over not just winter, but also our hearts. 

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The veil is thinning and soon Samhain, the scariest night of the year, will be upon us. But what is it that makes this night, the 31st of October, just so spooky? In this episode Jenny explores the ancient Celtic roots of Samhain, traditional protective rituals, divination games, and tells the tale of a lass who decided to peek behind the veil to find out who her future husband would be. 

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What happens when death is not final? In Scottish folklore people returning from the dead is not only rare, but also, as we find out in this episode, absolutely terrifying. 

The three tales Jenny tells make up a spooky sandwich of scary stories: the first, ‘A Dead Wife Among the Fairies’ comes from North Ronaldsay on Orkney, the second, 

‘The Water or Life’ comes from the shores of Loch Fyne, and the third, 

‘Wizard Rising After Death’ comes from the remote hills of Ross-shire. 

But beware, these tales are not for the fain...

In Scotland, to see your doppelganger is not good news. First off, it probably means you have the second sight, or, as the Gaelic puts it, dà shealladh, ‘the two sights’, which is no easy burden to bear. Secondly, it means you’re most likely gonna die soon.

In Scottish folklore, these uncanny supernatural doubles are called fetches, or taibhse, and eerie tales that swirl around their appearances can be found all over the country. In this episode, Jenny tells of fetches in Skye, Lewis, and Galloway, as well as the Aberdeenshire tale 'Thrummy Cap: A Legend...

Let’s tie the knot! In this episode Jenny explores some old customs and superstitions surrounding the big day, and tells two tales all about wild weddings in Scottish folklore: The Shepherd Fiddler and The Earl of Mar’s Daughter.

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Treasure is said to lie in the depths of many a Scottish cave, and so in this episode Jenny goes in search of gold! On her journey under the earth she visits Shetland, Skye, Thurso, and Arran uncovering tales of viking kings, brave bagpipers, betrayed mermaids, and fickle fairies.

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Ye-olde gender roles don’t stand a chance in this age-old tale! The Goodwife of Auchtermuchty is a poem that was first written down in the 16th century, but is likely much older, and it tells of a husband and wife mixing things up for a day!

Read the original poem in old Scots as well as translation into English here

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Bannocks are a traditional type of bread that was a staple of the Scottish diet for centuries, and because of this they roll right on through Scottish culture and folklore. In this episode Jenny explores some of the lore and tradition around ritual bannocks, which were baked on important days of the year, as well as their use in divination, healing, and protecting those udders!

She also tells two traditional tales that have mischievous wee bannocks: ‘The Fox and the Little Bannock’, and ‘The Good Housewife and her Night Helpers’.

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Harvest time was an incredibly important time of year for the hardworking folk of Scotland, it started on the 1st of August with Lughnasadh or Lammas celebrations, and ran through to Samhain at the end of October.

Although a time of back-breaking work, the folk were rewarded with the bounty of the fertile earth, and so naturally there are many folktales all about, or around, the harvest! 

In this episode Jenny tells two of these harvest time tales, ‘The Lady’s Loaf Field’ and ‘The Spòg Bhuidhe’.

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Whuppity Stoorie is a classic Scottish folktale from down in the Debatable Lands, the area around what is now Scotland’s border with England. The tale tells of the Goodwife of Kittlerumpit and her run in with a fairy like no other.

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Assynt is one of Scotland’s most spectacular spots, but it’s not just the landscape that will take your breath away. The land here is steeped in lore, and the shores of Loch Assynt are not only home to the crumbling ruins of Ardvreck Castle and Calda House, but also many ancient stories filled with fire, betrayal, murder and the devil himself. 

Listen in to hear Jenny tell the tales of The Mermaid of Assynt and The Lady of Ardvreck Castle, as well as covering some clan history of the MacLeods and Mackenzies.

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As supernatural Scottish creatures go, The Shellycoat is one of the lesser known of the bunch, but don’t let this bothersome Bogle fool you, for although often cited as harmless, as we’ll find out in this episode, The Shellycoat is anything but!

In this episode Jenny explores the lore of The Shellycoat and tells two tales of Shellycoats, one from The Borders and one from Leith in Edinburgh. 

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Jenny is back with Part 2 of Deirdire of the Sorrows, an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. This half sees Deirdire, Naoise, and his two brothers living as fugitives in Scotland. But all good things must come to an end, and all prophecies must be fulfilled…

In Ireland, the story of Deirdre is part of the Ulster Cycle of mythology, but the version that I am telling comes from a fellow named John Macneil, who told it from his home on the Isle of Barra in 1867. The st...

This is an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. In Ireland, the story of Deirdre is part of the Ulster Cycle of mythology, but the version that I am telling comes from a fellow named John Macneil, who told it from his home on the Isle of Barra in 1867. The story of Deirdire was told in Gaelic and taken down by Alexander Carmichael, who later translated it into English and published both versions in 1905. This is the most comprehensive Scottish version of this story on record, and while it differs...

The man, the myth, the legend. Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland’s most iconic figures, and for good reason too. As King, he led Scotland to a monumental victory against the English at The Battle of Bannockburn, paving the way for independence. 

From itsy-bitsy spiders to superhuman feats of endurance and skill, the stories that survive about Bruce paint a picture of a tenacious hero. But behind the legends lie a ruthless leader who took chances when they appeared and used force when they didn’t, but above all, he never ever gave up.

Join Jenny as she dives into the folklore behind Glasgow’s rather odd coat of arms and its remarkable patron saint, St. Mungo. Although a religious figure, the stories of St. Mungo and his mother, St. Thenew, are steeped in folklore, mythology, and magical happenings - much of which is handily condensed into this little rhyme:

The tree that never grew, 

The bird that never flew, 

The fish that never swam, 

The bell that never rang

Every school child in Glasgow learnt this rhyme and the stories behin...

Scottish dragons aren’t quite like the dragons found in the rest of the world, they don’t breath fire, can’t fly, and don’t even have any limbs, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous or terrifying! (Ok well, maybe a tad).

In this episode Jenny tells two tales of dragons found in Scotland, the first is of Martin’s Stane just north of Dundee, and the second is called Eilean Fraoch, which is the name of a small island in Loch Awe, which was once home to a dastardly dragon.

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Fancy kissing a frog? How about marrying one? The Frog Prince is a common theme found in folk tales throughout Europe, and ‘The Well at the World’s End’ is Scotland’s take on this age-old classic.

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Lone standing stones are scattered all over the Scottish landscape, and although we will unfortunately never know why they were originally raised or what their meanings were, in this vacuum of understanding, local folklore arises and new stories are wrapped around these ancient stones.

Listen in to hear the lore swirling around Granny Kempock in Gourock, The Brahan seer’s links to the Clach an t-Seasaidh near Muir of Ord, the tragic story of the Clachan Ceann Ile on Islay, and the angry Njugal and the Asta Standing Stone in Shetland. 

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There’s no escaping the wind in Scotland, especially if you live on an island or high up in the mountains. In this episode Jenny tells three tales all about the wind that take place in these places. The first two, The Boy Who Climbed The Snap and How a witch saved the Papa Stour come from Shetland and have both wind and witches, while the third, The Wind and the Dying Woman, comes from Angus and tells a very different tale about the West Wind. 

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The majestic unicorn’s reputation has been somewhat sparkle-ified over the last few decades, but this hasn’t always been the case! There was once a time when the unicorn symbolised far more than a whimsical horse with a horn, and in this episode we find out how it came to be, what it truly represents, and why it’s the perfect pick for Scotland’s national animal.

So listen in and enjoy as Jenny tells the tale of ‘The Coming of the Unicorn’ to Scotland, as well as exploring Skye’s very own take on the Unicorn, t...

An incredible number of Scottish Castles are haunted by the ghost of a Green Lady. These spooky spectres of women dressed in green robes linger on long after death in the tower rooms, gloomy passageways, and great halls of these castles. But who were these women when alive, and what has tied their souls to this earthly plane for all eternity?

In this episode Jenny tells the stories of four Green Lady ghosts that haunt four different castles: Rothesay Castle, The Castle of Mey, Crathes Castle, and Skipness Castle. 

But beware, this is n...

Pirates were a very real threat to the many communities that lived on the Scottish islands and coastlines, and so naturally there are plenty of folktales about them!

In this episode Jenny tells three of these tales: The Drowned Bells of the Abbey, Deaf John, and the tale of Mac Ean Yeer.

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This is a tale of broken promises, broken hearts, bitter curses, and a whole lot of harvesting. It comes from the south end of the Isle of Mull, and will have you questioning whether spilling the tea is worth it in the long run!

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Storytelling was at the heart of Traveller life, and this traditional Traveller tale was a favourite of Duncan Williamson, a masterful storyteller whose voice has kept countless old stories alive. And no doubt, once you hear it too, you’ll understand why.

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Changelings are some of Scotland’s most unsettling folklore, for what could be more disturbing than an innocent bairn being stolen by a malicious fairy and a changeling, a wrinkled and wailing fairy baby, left in its place.

In this episode Jenny explores the lore surrounding these strange replacements for stolen bairns, and tells two tales of changelings: A Fairy Changeling, and Wee Johnny in the Cradle. 

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In this episode, Jenny explores the origin stories of three families that come from Braemar in the Cairngorms: the Wolf McDonalds, the McHardys, and the Farquharsons

These tales, which are of both the Cairngorms and the whole world alike, are packed with wolves, monsters, kings, elopements, fairies and a terrible French accent, so saddle up and enjoy the ride!

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This terrific Traveller tale follows a young lass named Peggy as a mysterious stranger tries to woo her by the banks of Bennachie Burn, and while Peggy is already betrothed to a long-legged cattle herd named Sammy Smith, their love will soon be given a run for its money!

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The Devil can be found in every nook and cranny of Scotland and in this episode Jenny crawls into these nooks and squeezes through the crannies in search of the stories that ‘Ol Sandy has left behind. 

From The Devil’s Pulpit and The Whangie north of Glasgow to out past Arbroath where the Devil’s head and eyes haunt the ragged coastline, this is a journey of terrifying tales, and not quite so terrifying geology!

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In this episode Jenny tells the classic Scottish folk tale of Rashiecoat. This is Scotland’s version of Cinderella, and while there are similarities, it is no Disney fairytale! 

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