Scotland's Sacred Goddess: Hidden in Plain Sight

by Stuart McHardy

In Scotland's Sacred Hidden in Plain Sight, Stuart McHardy delves into the rich tapestry of pre-Christian Scottish beliefs, uncovering the enduring presence of ancient mythologies in today's landscape. Long before the arrival of Christian monks, the Scots revered a pantheon of deities, with the Cailleach Goddess at its heart.

McHardy skillfully weaves together ancient oral traditions, place names, local folklore and the shapes of the land itself to reveal the lingering echoes of these ancient beliefs. He traces how the stories of witches, the Devil and other supernatural beings are rooted in these early mythologies, highlighting a powerful feminine force central to creation and understanding the world.

This book explores how ancient stories, though transformed over millennia, continue to influence Scotland's cultural and physical landscape, offering a fresh perspective on how ancient myths and the sacred feminine still influence the modern world. McHardy's work is a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Scotland's sacred goddess.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2025

About the author

Stuart McHardy is a Scottish writer, broadcaster and storyteller.

Reviews

[Dakota Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really deep dive into the Cailleach of course but also Scotland and her geography. I'm flabbergasted by the amount of time and research this book must've taken to cover so much- though the author is consise and the whole book is well structured. I knew some of the things in the books but also learnt some new things, significantly more new things than most books about Scotland that I read so I'm impressed! Fyi I heard the author speak on a Lesley Riddoch podcast before buying the book so that is worth checking out as well!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fantastic read; giving it a 4 only because most place names were unfamiliar to me and made it a bit difficult to process