The Scottish Folklore Podcast

Feb 02 2025 13 ep. 25 mins 135
The Scottish Folklore Podcast artwork

In each episode of The Scottish Folklore Podcast host Jenny Johnstone retells traditional Scottish folk tales from around the country, bringing age-old adventures, local lore, and strange creatures to life.
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12. Fin Folk: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous

Feb 02 2025 27 mins  
The Fin Folk are a strange race of sea-people that live off the coasts of Orkney and Shetland. They are tall, dark, mysterious… and covered in big flappy fins. In this episode Jenny explores how the Fin Folk live, the vanishing island they call home, and their (very much unreciprocated) desire to marry humans. She also tells the tale of ‘The Farmer of Evie’, a traditiona

11. To a Mouse: Superstitions and Folklore Surrounding Mice

Jan 26 2025 29 mins  
Inspired by Robert Burns’ Poem ‘To a Mouse’ Jenny dives into the superstitions and folklore surrounding mice in Scotland. Read ‘To a Mouse’ hereRead ‘Drumming Tunes’, an article on Mice and Rat Satires hereFollow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on InstagramVisit the website and view the interactive mapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hoste

10. Tip to Toe: Stories from Scotland’s Farthest Reaches

Jan 19 2025 26 mins  
Travel the length of Scotland with these folk tales from the very tippy-toppy of the country to the very tippy-toey.In the far north, Jenny tells the tale of two giants on Unst and how the tiny island of Out Stack, the most northerly point in all of Scotland, came to be.And in the far south, on The Mull of Galloway, a coven of witches don’t realise their own power at Carrickcarli

9. Folk Tales from the Forest

Jan 12 2025 26 mins  
The forests of Scotland are filled with folklore and in this episode Jenny tells two tales from amongst the trees. The first is of the lonesome Ghillie Dhu, a gentle forest fairy and master of disguise. The second story is called The Lass who Couldn’t be Frightened, and funnily enough, is about a lass that couldn’t be frightened!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Instagram

8. Kelpies & Water Horses

Jan 05 2025 27 mins  
Kelpies are some of the most dangerous creatures in all of Scottish folklore, and in this episode Jenny tells two tales that show just how malevolent they can be. The first, Tarbh na Leòid, is about a handsome and cunning Water Horse on Heisker, also known as the Monach Islands. The second, The Bride and the Water Kelpie, tells the tale of a Kelpie taking revenge upon a young lass

7. Wee Ghosties

Dec 29 2024 24 mins  
Scotland is steeped in ghost stories, and in this episode Jenny tells two of these tales, The Searching Woman of Lewis and The Weeping Lass at the Dancing Place. Both have very sad women, but the ghosts could not be more different, be sure to listen with the lights on!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Instagram Visit the website and view the interactive mapSupport Jenny as sh

6. Scottish Yuletide & Hogmanay Traditions

Dec 22 2024 24 mins  
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 darke

5. The Land of Green Mountains - Part 2

Dec 15 2024 33 mins  
The epic adventure continues in this episode as Ian must now serve his new master, the King of The Land of Green Mountains, and fulfil his increasingly outrageous demands else he be put to death! This episode is part two of The Land of Green Mountains, listen to part one before diving into this!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Instagram Visit the website to view the int

4. The Land of Green Mountains - Part 1

Dec 08 2024 31 mins  
After rebelling against The Lord of the Isles, Ronald Boo’e and his wife Morag flee to the legendary Land of Green Mountains, out by the edge of the world. This episode is part one of the epic adventure that follows!Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Instagram Visit the website and view the interactive mapSupport Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon Hosted on A

3. Weird Witchcraft

Dec 01 2024 23 mins  
The bubbling cauldron of Scottish folklore is brimming with tales of witches and witchcraft, and while all these stories are filled with strange supernatural happenings, some are more strange than others. Listen in and join Jenny as she wades into some of the weirder tales of witchcraft that she’s found, including folklore of Macleans of Duart, bearded babies, and some real