The Scottish Folklore Podcast

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.

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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 register

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Visit the website and view this episode’s Interactive Map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Isle of Skye is home to not only some of the most enchanting views in the world, but also a whole host of fairies!

In this episode Jenny visits some of these fairies in their homes, first at the fairy knoll of An Sidhean just south of Broadford and then at the ancient iron age brochs of Dun Borve, Dun Garsin and Dun Taimh - each one with its own tale of the little people and their run ins with us pesky humans!

From ancient forts to mighty castles, she then travels to Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the MacLeods, and tells the tale of one of the clan’s most prized possessions: the fairy flag of Dunvegan!

Curses, blessings, and a whole herd of coos await!

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Visit the website and view this episode’s Interactive Map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

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There are many tales, and indeed tails, of dogs in Scottish folklore, and in this episode Jenny tells as many as she can in half an hour - which is a surprising amount!

From the ominous black dogs of The Bridge of Quholmslee and Loch Ordain, to the gold guarding dogs in Helmsdale and Loch Stack, to the cu-sith, fairy dogs, of The Maidens near Loch Leven and the snowy hills of Kingussie, if you’re a fan of our furry four legged friends, there’s a story here for you!

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Visit the website and view this episode’s Interactive Map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

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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 meet the Nuckelavee on a dark, winter night.

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Visit the website and view this episode’s interactive map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

Support Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.