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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In Scottish folklore mist swirls in the liminal space between this world and the parallel Otherworld, where fairies, spirits, and monsters exist just beyond our boundaries of perception. But when the mist descends, for better or worse, we humans can pass through the veil and into the otherworld.

In this episode Jenny tells two eerie tales of those who passed through the mist, and what they found on the other side…

The first is called ‘Baking in Creag Hàstain’ and comes from Balemore on the island of North Uist.

The second is called ‘The Blue Cap’ and comes from Kintyre. 

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Thieves play many roles in Scottish folklore, and while for the most part they are the worst of the worst, this isn’t always the case!

In this episode Jenny tells the tales of two thieves, firstly, ‘The Troublesome Son’, from Glenluce in the Borders, and secondly, ‘An Gille Dubh’ from Argyll. 

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