Stories of Scotland

Join Jenny and Annie as they don their waders and explore the kelp forests that surround Scottish shores. These astounding seaweed ecosystems are home to countless species. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the demand for kelp soared and the landowners of Scotland had an answer. Thousands of families were moved from their ancestral lands to the coastlines in order to burn kelp seaweed in...

Join Annie and Jenny in their short in-between epsiodes, Fireside Folklore: a celebration of Scottish traditional storytelling. Annie brings to life the classic legend of the Great Forests of Badenoch, narrating the tale of a Norwegian King whose envy of the Caledonian Forest led him to unleash a terrifying beast upon Scotland. Meanwhile, Jenny dives into the enthralling adventure of Mionchag and...

In this thrilling episode, Annie and Jenny delve into the captivating world of the Scottish Highland Games - a cultural spectacle that showcases both the strength and skill of its competitors and the enduring tradition of Scotland. Prepare to be transported to the Highlands, where kilt-clad athletes participate in time-honoured competitions such as caber toss, hammer throw, and Highland dancing, i...

Join Annie and Jenny on an adventure to one of the most iconic islands in all of Scotland: Fingal’s Cave, or known in Gaelic as An Uaimh Bhinn. Jenny flexes her geology skills as she explains the complex deep time story of how this incredible island came to form on the earth through volcanic activity. We explore the massive mythology that connects Fingal’s Cave to the Giant’s Causeway in County An...

Annie and Jenny delve into the rich tapestry of Scottish folklore, unearthing the legends of Godred Crovan and the Dragon and the remarkable tale of Assipattle and the Stoor Worm. Join us as we traverse the windswept shores of ancient Scotland, where the lines between myth and history blur like the misty Highland glens. First, Annie recounts the legendary tale of Godred Crovan, a Norse-Gaelic warr...

Discover the enchanting world of Scottish folklore, history, and culture through Stories of Scotland. Journey with our passionate hosts, archivist Annie and environmental scientist Jenny, as they unravel the secrets of Scotland, weaving tales of ancient battles, mystical creatures, and breathtaking landscapes. This immersive podcast transcends time, taking you on a voyage to the heart of Scotland'...

Join Annie and Jenny as they dive into the mystical world of Scottish folklore with an American flavour. Journey across the Atlantic as we explore spellbinding traditional tales inspired by Scottish immigration to America. This enchanting episode of Stories of Scotland is guaranteed to transport you to a world of wonder and mystique, as Annie and Jenny shed light on the strange stories connecting...

Content warning: this episode contains references to sex in the context of witch trials accusations, torture, execution, and suicide. Join Annie and Jenny as they explore the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597 and the characteristics of this hunt within Aberdeenshire itself. We focus on the power of Slains Castle by looking at cases undertaken within the castle grounds and accusations made by the i...

Join Annie and Jenny on a trip to the Aberdeenshire Coast, revisiting Old and New Slains Castles. We discover how Bram Stoker took extensive inspiration from Cruden Bay in his writing of his books: Watter’s Mou, Mystery of the Sea and Dracula. We revisit the Hays of Errol as their power in the North East of Scotland surges and wanes. Together, we unpick why 19th Century vampires were wearing kilts...

Join Annie and Jenny as they explore the history of Old Slains Castle. The ruins, which stand atop cliffs looking out into the cold North Sea, are the remnants of ancient power. Old Slain’s castle fell into the Hands of the Hays of Erroll after the Scottish Wars of Independence, but how the Hays of Errol had power fall into their hands is a tale of Danish invasion, battle, and falcons. The Hay’s w...

Welcome to the battle betwixt tatties and turnips. Who will win? Tune in to this special episode of Stories of Scotland as we celebrate Burns Night! Enjoy a night of delicious Scottish history and folklore as we explore the traditional accompaniments to haggis: turnips and potatoes. Learn all about these classic Scottish vegetables and the international journeys that they took to get to Scotland's...

In despair over the death of the 800-year-old Beauly Wych Elm tree, Annie and Jenny learn about the history of this amazing tree. Jenny sensibly explores the Valliscaulian Order and the monks who would have planted this tree. Annie puts 800 years of monarchs into rhyming couplets. Jenny examines the science of Dutch Elm Disease and what it means for the future of elm in Britain. You can support St...

Jenny and Annie from Stories of Scotland apologise greatly for this miserable Hogmanay episode, which commemorates New Year’s Eve with some tragic and spooky stories. You have been fairly warned, so we hope you enjoy these Hogmanay hauntings! We learn about the mythology of the Wheebin Standing Stone in Orkney (aka the Stane o Quoybone), and a creepy, dreadful unexplained ghost in South Uist! We w...

Annie and Jenny explore the Shetlandic legends of the trows, wee fairy folks who become especially active during the season of Yule. We explore how Shetlanders have interacted with the trow folk over the past few centuries, and question ‘are there any trows left?’ What happens when people stop believing in trows, and where do the trows go? Why are trows so interested in drinking and merriment over...

Join Annie as she travels to Linlithgow Palace, the jewel of Scotland’s Early Modern crown. Annie speaks to Nicki Scott, Senior Cultural Significance Advisor at Historic Environment Scotland, who describes what Linlithgow Palace would have been like several centuries past. We learn about the monarchs who lived in this spectacular palace. From the Great Hall to the chamber where Mary Queen of Scots...

In this episode, Annie and Jenny go squelching out into the marvelous Flow Country. This area, in the northern Highlands of Scotland, is often overlooked in favour of the mountainous west coast, but there is so much great stuff to be discovered here! The deep peat has taken thousands of years to form and the ecology of this Blanket Bog is wonderfully diverse. From hundreds of species of moss to ra...

In this episode, Annie and Jenny tell one more tale from Greyfriars Kirkyard. It’s a story of a very good boy, Greyfriars Bobby. Perhaps one of the most famous dogs in the world, the story of Greyfriars Bobby took Victorian Scotland by storm. But despite his story carrying through the decades, inspiring many books, and even a Disney film, what do we really know about the little Skye Terrier? For t...

Jenny and Annie visit Edinburgh for this Samhain special, in search of a haunted Halloween. We explore the life and legend of Bloody George MacKenzie, a notorious figure in Scottish history. What was the Covenanter’s Prison, and why do people say that spirits could still haunt it to this day? What draws so many people to this famous Scottish graveyard, and what scares so many away? We learn about...

In this episode, Annie and Jenny investigate some of the unexplained phenomena seen in the skies above Scotland. Since the 1990s the town of Bonnybridge has been the centre of Scotland’s UFO activity, with thousands of reported sightings leading to it being crowned ‘The Roswell of Scotland’. It is a hotspot in the greater area known as The Falkirk Triangle, in which many strange and unexplained en...

We’re delighted to bring you a sample episode from one of our friends who makes the tremendously splendid Scotland: A Scottish History Podcast. The episode featured is called Milngavie vs the Monorail - The George Bennie Railplane System. Listen here:http://link.chtbl.com/scotlandWhen we heard the Milngavie vs the Monorail episode, we were entranced by the big emotions around this intriguing entre...

In this episode, Jenny and Annie explore the curious phenomenon in Scottish folklore of the spirits of women being captured by stone. From the glorious mountains of the Five Sisters of Kintail to the Maiden Stone of Drumdurno in Aberdeenshire, we investigate why there are so many stories of women turned to stone. Also, we revisit Smoo cave to hear a tremendous tale of a loch-protecting Cailleach....

Jenny and Annie explore some folklore around a couple of the most common plants of the Scottish landscape. We go out into the wilds of Scotland and have a think about the plants we’re treading on along the way. This episode is sponsored by WeeBox - go to www.weebox.co.uk and enter the code ‘Story10’ for an exclusive discount! You can support Stories of Scotland on Patreon! www.patreon.com/storieso...

Annie and Jenny look at the beautiful environment of Loch Fyne, and explore the folklore that has developed around it. We have some lighthearted fairy stories and a spooky ghost tale around the areas of Inveraray Castle and Stonefield Castle. This episode is sponsored by WeeBox - go to www.weebox.co.uk and enter the code ‘Story10’ for an exclusive discount! You can support Stories of Scotland on P...

Join Annie and Jenny on a trip around the world. The year is 1852, the Potato Famine and Highland Clearances are causing devastation, and hundreds of Scots board The Hercules, a ship destined for Adelaide, but struck by horrific disaster. As they leave their home in Scotland to start a new life halfway around the world, storms, disease, and sharks all plague the voyage. This episode looks at why t...

We’re sharing the first episode of a new podcast series we’ve just released called Weight of Sand. This is an audio drama exploring the life and lore of Isobel Gowdie. Isobel was accused of witchcraft in 1662. She lived in Auldearn in the Highlands of Scotland and her witchcraft confessions were detailed and vivid. 30 years after her trial, a nearby village of the Culbin was destroyed in a storm a...