Stories of Scotland

Jenny and Annie head to sea to explore the legends of the Blue Men of the Minch: supernatural men who are said to inhabit the strip of sea from the Outer Hebrides to the west coast of mainland Scotland. Jenny and Annie look at different tales taken from oral tradition and think about what these strange wee creatures from folklore tell us about the nautical culture of the Hebrides. Celebrating Scotland’s coasts and waters in a lighthearted look at mythology. Get bonus content on Patreon

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In this episode we explore deep time in an investigation into the geology and history of the Grey Mare’s Tail, a spectacular waterfall and nature reserve in Dumfries. Jenny looks into how creatures from 500 million years ago, found at the Grey Mare’s Tail, sent seismic waves through the geologic community. Annie uncovers a surreal tale of 17th century Covenanters seeking refuge and hiding at the Grey Mare’s Tail only to confront their worst nightmares. Also, a place of feral goats. Get bonus content on Patreon

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Jenny and Annie find stories of Gruinard Island, a small island just off the West Coast of the Scottish. From this one little piece of land, they uncover harrowing and painful stories of the Highland Clearances. They discuss the kelp processing industry on the Western Isles and the impact it had on crofting communities. They learn about an unsympathetic landlord and the strife of tenants. Next, they go into the dark history of Second World War biological weapon testing on the island. They ask how could an island be left with deadly anthrax for decades in the midst of idyllic scenery. Jenny looks into Dark Harvest Commandos who fought for the British Government to decontaminate Gruinard. This episode ties together controversial land management decisions, past and present. Please be advised this episode discusses government testing of biological weapons on livestock. Get bonus content on Patreon

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Jenny and Annie explore the everlasting legend of mermaids to celebrate coastlines, seas and lochs. They share incredible mermaid folklore curated by a traditional storyteller from Caithness to learn about the significance of mermaids to Scotland’s culture. Jenny reads poetry inspired by the lands-under-the-sea written by a fisherman’s son from Shetland. Annie examines mermaid artefacts from the Scottish Fisheries Museum and National Museums Scotland.They also discuss selkies, the mythological half-seal half-human creatures. Kyle returns to sing a couple of verses from the traditional Scots ballad Lady Odivere. Get bonus content on Patreon

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In this episode, Annie and Jenny take a deep dive into some of the many mystical wells dotted all over Scotland. They visit the Munlochy Clootie Well, one of the largest of its kind in Scotland and unpick it’s pagan and Christian past, while also looking at the continuation of age-old traditions in the modern-day. Many wells are believed to have magical properties and what better way to explore these than with a witch trial! A fairy well on Arthurs’s seat in Edinburgh healed many but ended in the death of one unfortunate woman accused of witchcraft. Annie and Jenny explore what wells can tell us about Scottish culture throughout time. Listen in to find out more about both these wells and as well as Annie’s favorite well, The Burghead Well, and Jenny’s favourite well, The Cheese Well. Get bonus content on Patreon

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