Helen Torrence and Jean Waldie are names often overshadowed by the notorious Burke and Hare, yet their crimes predated that duo by nearly eighty years. It is a pitiful tale. On 18 March 1752, these two women were hanged in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, marking a grim...
General Information: Fatlips is a name that emerged from the turbulent years following the 1745 Jacobite rising, representing a mysterious spectral helper in the Scottish Borders. This figure is primarily associated with the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. Fatlips centres...
Ancient Scottish folk magic was never a distant myth; it was a living, breathing system of survival that eventually became a death sentence for many. During the witch trials of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the testimony of the accused—most famously Isobel...
Habetrot is a benevolent yet physically distorted figure from the folklore of the Scottish Borders and Northern England. Although she is often associated with the "Three Old Spinning Women" tale type, she remains a distinct character in Lowland tradition. She serves...
Auchindoun Castle is a stark, lonely ruin nestled in the foothills of the Cairngorms, overlooking the spectacular views of Fiddichside. In the late summer, the hills immediately behind the castle turn purple as the ling heather bursts into bloom. This adds to the...
Mythical creatures and spirits were used to explain Scotland’s landscape. Scottish folklore contains remnants of belief systems, glimpses of long forgotten deities and guardian spirits, and ecological blueprints that were vital for survival in a land that was often...