The Scottish Folklore Podcast

The mighty auld hag is back! Simultaneously the most fearsome and fantastic figure in all of Scottish Folklore, the Cailleach Bheur is the ancient personification of the elemental forces of nature at their most powerful, and in this episode Jenny tells some more tales of her from across the country. Because while the Cailleach rules over winter with her brutal storms and freezing snows, she also enjoys a good side quest. From building bridges to fighting with the sun, we follow our favourite hag from Mull, to Ben Cruachan, to Skye, with many stops, and accidents, in between!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 peak behind the veil to find out who her future husband would be. Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scottish lore is filled with spooky spectres of all sorts, and in this episode Jenny tells some tales of those with messages to convey to the living. Sometimes these messages are meant to help those left behind, other times they’re to alleviate guilt, or even finger the person who sent them to their grave, but no matter the message, the ghost has to get it off their chest before they can pass on to the Other World! Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scottish folklore can be very dark and in this episode Jenny uncovers some of the bloodier folktales that lurk in the lore. From grim tales for children, to cold blooded murder and ghostly guilt, these tales remind us that sometimes, rather than some supernatural beast, it is us humans who are the real monsters. But be warned, these tales may not be suitable for little bairns or the faint of heart, pease do listen with care. Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Autumn Equinox has just passed and harvest in Scotland is well underway. This was an incredibly important time of year, where no risk was taken that might compromise the harvest, and every tradition and superstition was followed to the T!In this episode Jenny explores some of these traditions and superstitions, namely the Harvest Maiden and the Harvest Cailleach, before telling some tales of supernatural harvest helpers… and hinderers: fairies, the Devil, and a wizard called Auld Scary.Listen to Bryce Whyte tell the tale of Auld ScaryFollow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brownies are odd little folkloric spirits who help out around the house purely because they like to. But be warned, they are as easy to please as they are to lose, and tales of their touchiness can be found in every nook and cranny of Scotland!In this episode Jenny explores some of the many tales of Brownies that can be found in Scotland, as well as what happens when Brownies go bad, before ending on the wonderful tale of The Brownie o’ Ferne-Den.Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s Interactive MapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rannoch is a thin place, an area where the veil between our world and the Other World is said to be rather raggedy, and all sorts of strange things can pass between.Lying in the heart of Scotland, Rannoch stretches from Schiehallion in the east to Glen Coe in the west. In this episode, Jenny explores some of the many tales that take place in the fairy mountains, ancient forests and eerie moors here. From fairy changelings and wolf hunts to encounters with the Devil himself and tales of the second sight, this is a place steeped in folklore, superstition and strange happenings.Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapFollow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The poetry-slinging, storm-bringing Blue Men of The Minch are only found in one place in Scotland, the strait of water between the Outer Hebrides in the west and the mainland & Skye in the east. The turbulent and ever changing waters here have wrecked countless ships over the centuries, and while some may blame poor weather, or even poor captains, those in the know, understand the real culprits to be The Blue Men of The Minch. In this episode Jenny tells three stories of encounters with these rhyming ship wreckers, and by the end you’ll understand just why the waters of The Minch are regarded as some of the most dangerous in all of the British Isles.Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s Interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The blasted, buzzing, biting midge is the most vicious predator in all of Scotland. One alone is not much to worry about, but they rarely come alone! In this episode Jenny looks at some of the lore around the minuscule midge, including some truly awful punishments, so listeners beware!She also tells the tale of the bloodthirsty giant Thrim, and how the midge came to Scotland, which takes us all the way from Norway to Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, and finally to the little peninsula of Applecross. Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s interactive mapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for a monster hunt! The Loch Ness Monster is perhaps the most famous Scot in the world, yet despite her renown she’s a very shy girl. The vast majority of sightings come from after the 1933 boom, when Nessie went global, yet the very first ever recorded sighting of her is in 565 CE, when St Columba stumbled across a group of terrified Picts on the shore of Loch Ness.In this episode Jenny tells the tale of Columba, his mission to convert the Picts to christianity, the very first ever sighting of The Loch Ness Monster, and a lovely little kelpie tale at the end!Visit the official Loch Ness Monster sightings registerFollow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view this episode’s Interactive MapExplore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore MapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.