17. The Devil at Bennachie Burn

17. The Devil at Bennachie Burn

Author: The Scottish Folklore Podcast March 16, 2025 Duration: 22:48

This terrific Traveller tale follows a young lass named Peggy as a mysterious stranger tries to woo her by the banks of Bennachie Burn, and while Peggy is already betrothed to a long-legged cattle herd named Sammy Smith, their love will soon be given a run for its money!


Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Instagram


Visit the website and view the interactive map


Support Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon


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


Step into the misty glens and ancient castles of Scotland with The Scottish Folklore Podcast. Your guide, Jenny Johnstone, has a knack for finding the heartbeat in old stories, sharing traditional tales gathered from every corner of the country. This isn't just a recitation of myths; it's an invitation to sit by a metaphorical fireside and listen as these narratives are woven anew. You'll hear of cunning fairies from the Orkney shores, restless spirits in Edinburgh's closes, and selkies shedding their skins on Hebridean beaches. Each story is a piece of local lore, a fragment of history and culture preserved through telling. The podcast delves into the societal values and fears embedded in these fictions, exploring why certain tales endure. Listening feels like uncovering a hidden layer of the landscape, where every loch and mountain has a story waiting to be told. It’s for anyone curious about the roots of storytelling, the peculiar creatures that haunt a nation's imagination, or simply for those who love a good yarn told with warmth and authenticity. Through Jenny’s engaging retellings, age-old adventures find a fresh voice, ensuring the strange and wonderful creatures of Scottish folklore are never forgotten.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 56

The Scottish Folklore Podcast
Podcast Episodes
35. Whuppity Stoorie: Scotland’s Cruelest Fairy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:04
Whuppity Stoorie is a classic Scottish folktale from down in the Debatable Lands, the area around what is now Scotland’s border with England. The tale tells of the Goodwife of Kittlerumpit and her run in with a fairy lik…
34. Loch Assynt: Mermaids, Black Magic, and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
Assynt is one of Scotland’s most spectacular spots, but it’s not just the landscape that will take your breath away. The land here is steeped in lore, and the shores of Loch Assynt are not only home to the crumbling ruin…
33. The Shellycoat: Mischievous or Malicious? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:44
As supernatural Scottish creatures go, The Shellycoat is one of the lesser known of the bunch, but don’t let this bothersome Bogle fool you, for although often cited as harmless, as we’ll find out in this episode, The Sh…
32. Deirdire of the Sorrows - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:18
Jenny is back with Part 2 of Deirdire of the Sorrows, an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. This half sees Deirdire, Naoise, and his two brothers living as fugitives…
31. Deirdire of the Sorrows - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:13
This is an ancient Gaelic tale that has been told in both Ireland and Scotland for countless years. In Ireland, the story of Deirdre is part of the Ulster Cycle of mythology, but the version that I am telling comes from…
30. Robert the Bruce: Wee Beasties and Big Battles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
The man, the myth, the legend. Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland’s most iconic figures, and for good reason too. As King, he led Scotland to a monumental victory against the English at The Battle of Bannockburn, paving…
29. St Mungo: Glasgow's Patron Saint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:47
Join Jenny as she dives into the folklore behind Glasgow’s rather odd coat of arms and its remarkable patron saint, St. Mungo. Although a religious figure, the stories of St. Mungo and his mother, St. Thenew, are steeped…
28. Dragon Tales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:28
Scottish dragons aren’t quite like the dragons found in the rest of the world, they don’t breath fire, can’t fly, and don’t even have any limbs, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous or terrifying! (Ok well, mayb…
27. The Well at the World's End [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:15
Fancy kissing a frog? How about marrying one? The Frog Prince is a common theme found in folk tales throughout Europe, and ‘The Well at the World’s End’ is Scotland’s take on this age-old classic.Follow The Scottish Folk…
26. Standing Stone Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:21
Lone standing stones are scattered all over the Scottish landscape, and although we will unfortunately never know why they were originally raised or what their meanings were, in this vacuum of understanding, local folklo…