What do you think?
Rate this book
The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales
This enchanting collection of stories gathers together legends from across Scotland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers.From the Spaeman’s peculiar advice and a laird who is transformed into a frog, to a fugitive hiding in a dark cave and the stoor worm battling with Assipattle, this book celebrates the distinct character of Scotland's different customs, beliefs and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2019
313 people are currently reading
1826 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 2, 2022
It’s Halloween so I sought out a Scottish horror-like story, naturally. The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales instead caught my eye and it was filled with an enriching collection of Scottish flavour.
This enchanting collection of stories gathers together legends from across Scotland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers. From the Spaeman’s peculiar advice and a laird who is transformed into a frog, to a fugitive hiding in a dark cave and the stoor worm battling with Assipattle, this book celebrates the distinct character of Scotland's different customs, beliefs, and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.
These tales are organised by region and are told by local writers. I liked the short biography that we got before as I get to check out more of their stories. This book features a lot of Scots writing and felt like a familiar atmosphere that was completely accessible in it’s writing. The selection that was given showed a sequence of tones, these, morals and all sorts of magic. There are tales of trows, water sprites, witches and shapeshifters that are witty and mephitical. There are stories that have changed through time as they’ve passed from one mouth to the next and it’s truly exceptional how each bear a resemblance to another.
This was eclectic, familiar and filled with amazing writing. If anything, I wish it was accompanied with illustrations to enhance the experience. A brilliant Scottish read that hit the nail on the head with its intent.
This enchanting collection of stories gathers together legends from across Scotland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers. From the Spaeman’s peculiar advice and a laird who is transformed into a frog, to a fugitive hiding in a dark cave and the stoor worm battling with Assipattle, this book celebrates the distinct character of Scotland's different customs, beliefs, and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.
These tales are organised by region and are told by local writers. I liked the short biography that we got before as I get to check out more of their stories. This book features a lot of Scots writing and felt like a familiar atmosphere that was completely accessible in it’s writing. The selection that was given showed a sequence of tones, these, morals and all sorts of magic. There are tales of trows, water sprites, witches and shapeshifters that are witty and mephitical. There are stories that have changed through time as they’ve passed from one mouth to the next and it’s truly exceptional how each bear a resemblance to another.
This was eclectic, familiar and filled with amazing writing. If anything, I wish it was accompanied with illustrations to enhance the experience. A brilliant Scottish read that hit the nail on the head with its intent.
February 14, 2025
I'm truly kind of baffled by the reviews of this book that claim there's something wrong with the stories all being "too similar" because they're all set in Scottish history. Anyway--
It's hard to generalize the whole book because, of course, it has fifteen or so authors, but I will say that I really especially appreciated the storytellers who included informal sources, who added context, and who went out for things a little off the beaten path. There was a good variety, from (alleged) prehistory (we'll get to that) to pushing the 1800's, some stuff with faerie folk, some stuff with strong Christian influence, and some stuff that isn't fantastical at all. Overall, a really great sampler of oral traditions from the region, which really benefits from the fact that it's organized geographically and storytellers were selected from the regions represented.
I also really enjoyed learning just a little about each storyteller, and was pleasantly surprised how many were involved in natural heritage conservation and education! I am a heritage interpreter myself and love including folklore to draw an audience into a subject!
The reason this is a 4.5 star review and not a 5 is for two reasons. One, while I adore the way sources and authors notes were given in some areas, I would to see some more consistency in it. Two, very heavily related, one of these folk stories contains a straight up lie about its source! It was taken whole cloth by the storyteller and put in a geographically specific book to which it doesn't belong, AND with a given context which erases the oral tradition it comes from. The Song of the Wind by Bob Pegg states that it takes place in Kilmartin Glen in pre-history, but it is an amalgamation of two Native American/First Nations stories, one which is maybe Lakota? (Googling folklore if often a mixed bag of helpfulness) and one of which is definitely Iroquois. Huge lack of respect for Pegg for this, to be honest.
It's hard to generalize the whole book because, of course, it has fifteen or so authors, but I will say that I really especially appreciated the storytellers who included informal sources, who added context, and who went out for things a little off the beaten path. There was a good variety, from (alleged) prehistory (we'll get to that) to pushing the 1800's, some stuff with faerie folk, some stuff with strong Christian influence, and some stuff that isn't fantastical at all. Overall, a really great sampler of oral traditions from the region, which really benefits from the fact that it's organized geographically and storytellers were selected from the regions represented.
I also really enjoyed learning just a little about each storyteller, and was pleasantly surprised how many were involved in natural heritage conservation and education! I am a heritage interpreter myself and love including folklore to draw an audience into a subject!
The reason this is a 4.5 star review and not a 5 is for two reasons. One, while I adore the way sources and authors notes were given in some areas, I would to see some more consistency in it. Two, very heavily related, one of these folk stories contains a straight up lie about its source! It was taken whole cloth by the storyteller and put in a geographically specific book to which it doesn't belong, AND with a given context which erases the oral tradition it comes from. The Song of the Wind by Bob Pegg states that it takes place in Kilmartin Glen in pre-history, but it is an amalgamation of two Native American/First Nations stories, one which is maybe Lakota? (Googling folklore if often a mixed bag of helpfulness) and one of which is definitely Iroquois. Huge lack of respect for Pegg for this, to be honest.
August 15, 2020
This collection draws together folklore and legends from all over Scotland, ranging from magical to downright gruesome!
At the beginning of the collection, all of the tales are represented on a map of Scotland which shows where exactly the tales originate from, which I found incredibly useful.
Personally, I loved the tales explaining the creation of Scotland and the many Nordic influences on Scottish beliefs.
I also appreciated how many of the stories are written in Scots. It was challenging to read at points, but it greatly enriched the storytelling aspect and helps celebrate diverse Scottish dialects.
However, none of the tales are illustrated. For me, this is a missed opportunity as I would’ve loved to have seen the characters and legendary creatures depicted on the page.
If you are interested in Scottish folklore or folklore in general, then this collection is a great introduction.
At the beginning of the collection, all of the tales are represented on a map of Scotland which shows where exactly the tales originate from, which I found incredibly useful.
Personally, I loved the tales explaining the creation of Scotland and the many Nordic influences on Scottish beliefs.
I also appreciated how many of the stories are written in Scots. It was challenging to read at points, but it greatly enriched the storytelling aspect and helps celebrate diverse Scottish dialects.
However, none of the tales are illustrated. For me, this is a missed opportunity as I would’ve loved to have seen the characters and legendary creatures depicted on the page.
If you are interested in Scottish folklore or folklore in general, then this collection is a great introduction.
February 23, 2024
Got this beautiful little book as a gift from a dear friend :)
A broad collection of stories, interesting to read. In some, a Christian influence is very apparent, in others, the focus goes more towards magic and the wee folk. The male-female relationship often plays a part. Where some of the stories felt a bit superficial, there were certainly some that felt more profound, more layered. My favourites were by Bob Pegg, James S. Spencer and Tony Bonning.
I liked encountering the different ways in which local language is incorporated in the stories and the different storytelling styles.
There were some small errors in the book, but these stories are part of an oral tradition anyway, so I guess those kind of details are of less importance.
So yes, definitely liked it. A great book to read from by a fire or in some other place, under the stars.
A broad collection of stories, interesting to read. In some, a Christian influence is very apparent, in others, the focus goes more towards magic and the wee folk. The male-female relationship often plays a part. Where some of the stories felt a bit superficial, there were certainly some that felt more profound, more layered. My favourites were by Bob Pegg, James S. Spencer and Tony Bonning.
I liked encountering the different ways in which local language is incorporated in the stories and the different storytelling styles.
There were some small errors in the book, but these stories are part of an oral tradition anyway, so I guess those kind of details are of less importance.
So yes, definitely liked it. A great book to read from by a fire or in some other place, under the stars.
June 6, 2020
Good to see shared tradition.
March 14, 2025
" It was the sort o kiss that makes the lips fizz with wonderful possibilities never realised before. It was the sort o kiss that leaves yin feeling drunk an in need o mair, an yet at the same time more powerful an alive than ye've ever felt. Such a kiss is like nae other an has been said tae have the merest hint o peppermint aboot its taste, if such an elusive taste can ever be described at aw. Such a kiss has the power tae haunt ye for a lifetime, if ye dinnae watch yersel"
This is a small book that gathers a collection of enchanting tales from all regions of Scotland. I bought it while I was there on vacations because I felt the need to found something that could explain to me the mystical feelings I felt in so many of the places that I visited. And I found out that these tales and the monsters that surround them are as much of a cultural essential of Scotland as the Kilts and the Whisky.
It is not an easy reading due to all the dialects included, which, at times, make it hard to understand what is being said, and some stories are not unique to Scotland since I've heard some version of them from other child stories. Nonetheless, some were really original and this description of a kiss, a kiss we would spend a lifetime searching for, make it, if nothing else, a worth read.
This is a small book that gathers a collection of enchanting tales from all regions of Scotland. I bought it while I was there on vacations because I felt the need to found something that could explain to me the mystical feelings I felt in so many of the places that I visited. And I found out that these tales and the monsters that surround them are as much of a cultural essential of Scotland as the Kilts and the Whisky.
It is not an easy reading due to all the dialects included, which, at times, make it hard to understand what is being said, and some stories are not unique to Scotland since I've heard some version of them from other child stories. Nonetheless, some were really original and this description of a kiss, a kiss we would spend a lifetime searching for, make it, if nothing else, a worth read.
March 5, 2025
An excellent anthology. I've read a few books of Scottish folktales and fairytales by now, having lived in this dear green place for 2.5 years now, but most of the stories contained here were fresh to my eyes.
It's arranged by location of origin, and my particular section was the stories from Fife (penned by local storyteller Sheila Kinninmonth) - the first story, "Buff Barefoot," and the second "The Witch of Fife," were both excellent.
However, without a doubt, the overall best story is in the Highlands section, written by Bob Pegg: "A Highland Origin Myth." I truly had no idea where this was leading and I laughed out loud with delight when I got to the ending. Really lovely work!
It's arranged by location of origin, and my particular section was the stories from Fife (penned by local storyteller Sheila Kinninmonth) - the first story, "Buff Barefoot," and the second "The Witch of Fife," were both excellent.
However, without a doubt, the overall best story is in the Highlands section, written by Bob Pegg: "A Highland Origin Myth." I truly had no idea where this was leading and I laughed out loud with delight when I got to the ending. Really lovely work!
June 21, 2025
read this on a bus (then train) from perth to edinburgh to feel like the main character in an indie film. it worked.
February 22, 2023
What I liked:
-Despite the narrative structure of a folktale being relatively rigid, this was circumvented by having different authors for every story so the voice still felt fresh
-A decent 50% of the stories were really good, highlights were The Witch of Fife, The Milk-White Doo, and The Puddock
-Was nice to see Scottish oral culture revived, especially cos I hadn’t heard of a lot of these stories. It was cool that they grouped it by region (though West Lothian didn’t get one..)
-So much originality, humour, and direct morals that feels like it could inspire countless new retellings
What I Didn’t Like:
-Despite it being an anthology that should be easy to batter through or pick up as you want, I actually found it took ages to read cos every new story has a new voice and has to re-establish the setting and it’s a lot of mental work
-Some of the stories were just total duds, which is a shame cos some of them had good premises and outlines but the writer had no flair
-I found the medieval setting so boring and repetitive to be the backdrop for every single story
-I’m such an advocate for Scots but a few times it was used for the entire prose which was just the writer’s narration rather than any sort of tasteful description or within dialogue, it was both performative and shite
-There are so many cool cryptids in Scottish lore yet pretty much none of the well-known ones were featured. Might be cool to read if you’re not a native to Scotland but I also don’t think it’s the most accurate or impressive representation of actual Scottish folklore
-Despite the narrative structure of a folktale being relatively rigid, this was circumvented by having different authors for every story so the voice still felt fresh
-A decent 50% of the stories were really good, highlights were The Witch of Fife, The Milk-White Doo, and The Puddock
-Was nice to see Scottish oral culture revived, especially cos I hadn’t heard of a lot of these stories. It was cool that they grouped it by region (though West Lothian didn’t get one..)
-So much originality, humour, and direct morals that feels like it could inspire countless new retellings
What I Didn’t Like:
-Despite it being an anthology that should be easy to batter through or pick up as you want, I actually found it took ages to read cos every new story has a new voice and has to re-establish the setting and it’s a lot of mental work
-Some of the stories were just total duds, which is a shame cos some of them had good premises and outlines but the writer had no flair
-I found the medieval setting so boring and repetitive to be the backdrop for every single story
-I’m such an advocate for Scots but a few times it was used for the entire prose which was just the writer’s narration rather than any sort of tasteful description or within dialogue, it was both performative and shite
-There are so many cool cryptids in Scottish lore yet pretty much none of the well-known ones were featured. Might be cool to read if you’re not a native to Scotland but I also don’t think it’s the most accurate or impressive representation of actual Scottish folklore
May 3, 2020
Apart from a few proofreading errors this is a great collection of stories, which I also found fascinating from a linguistic and historical point of view. You can see the influence of Norse mythology in a fair few of these, and others will be familiar to those who have read any Grimm fairytales. I loved the little flashes of humour and asides to the audience/reader.
I think the only way you could improve this if if you made it into an audiobook read by David Tennant - these are stories which beg to be read aloud, ideally in a proper Scottish accent.
I think the only way you could improve this if if you made it into an audiobook read by David Tennant - these are stories which beg to be read aloud, ideally in a proper Scottish accent.
October 5, 2023
A collection of fun folk stories sectioned into different areas of Scotland. Some gems in there, and all new to me.
The stories are often 'don't be mean, and things will turn out alright', a good lesson. Though, one you can only read so many times in one sitting.
The stories are often 'don't be mean, and things will turn out alright', a good lesson. Though, one you can only read so many times in one sitting.
February 21, 2021
Very disappointed with this book. Majority of the stories are written in a basic manner and lacked those touches of magic you’d expect from such rich historical contexts.
November 8, 2023
If you like fairy tales, you’ll enjoy this book. The audio is read by a Scots woman with a lovely lilting voice that really makes you feel immersed in the tales.
December 3, 2025
3,5 tärni!
Väga armas ja ülevaatlik kogumik šoti rahvalugudest.
Iga piirkonda esindab 1-2 folkloristi või jutuvestjat, kes "jutustavad" kokku 2 lugu vastavast kandist. Seetõttu on stiil ja kvaliteet tsipa kõikuv - mõni jutustaja on väga väljendusrikas ja kaasahaarav, mõni veidi kuivem ja segasem. Samas võimaldab säärane formaat tutvuda erinevate jutuvestjate ja lugude edastamise stiiliga, ning pakub päris hea ülevaate erisugustest rahvajuttudest. Mõni neist on täitsa võõras, kuid mõni sarnaneb juba tuttavale temaatikale kas eesti või mõne muu rahva lugude seast.
Teemade ja märksõnade poolest leidub müütilisi olendeid nagu lohed, haldjad, hiiglased või uriskid (nummid!), rahvajuttudele omaseid tegelasi nagu kuningad ja talupojad, šoti ilma ja maastikku metsade, kiviste mererandade ja uluva tuule näol, ning igapäevase eluolu raskusi nagu vaesus, nälg, õnneotsingud ja peredraamad. Selle kõige keskelt annab pea igast loost noppida kaasa ka mingisuguse moraali, kuidas ellu suhtuda, raskustega toime tulla ja olla korralik inimene.
Mõni lugu on jutustatud kas osaliselt või üleni šoti keeles; see vajas veidi harjumist ja guugeldamist. Aga väga lahe! Kuulu järgi pidi ka audioversioon vahva olema, täitsa võiks kõrva harjutamiseks ja unne suikumiseks taustale panna.
Üpris värskendav ja rikastav lugemine. Tekitas huvi ka mõne teise riigi/rahva lugudega tutvuda.
Väga armas ja ülevaatlik kogumik šoti rahvalugudest.
Iga piirkonda esindab 1-2 folkloristi või jutuvestjat, kes "jutustavad" kokku 2 lugu vastavast kandist. Seetõttu on stiil ja kvaliteet tsipa kõikuv - mõni jutustaja on väga väljendusrikas ja kaasahaarav, mõni veidi kuivem ja segasem. Samas võimaldab säärane formaat tutvuda erinevate jutuvestjate ja lugude edastamise stiiliga, ning pakub päris hea ülevaate erisugustest rahvajuttudest. Mõni neist on täitsa võõras, kuid mõni sarnaneb juba tuttavale temaatikale kas eesti või mõne muu rahva lugude seast.
Teemade ja märksõnade poolest leidub müütilisi olendeid nagu lohed, haldjad, hiiglased või uriskid (nummid!), rahvajuttudele omaseid tegelasi nagu kuningad ja talupojad, šoti ilma ja maastikku metsade, kiviste mererandade ja uluva tuule näol, ning igapäevase eluolu raskusi nagu vaesus, nälg, õnneotsingud ja peredraamad. Selle kõige keskelt annab pea igast loost noppida kaasa ka mingisuguse moraali, kuidas ellu suhtuda, raskustega toime tulla ja olla korralik inimene.
Mõni lugu on jutustatud kas osaliselt või üleni šoti keeles; see vajas veidi harjumist ja guugeldamist. Aga väga lahe! Kuulu järgi pidi ka audioversioon vahva olema, täitsa võiks kõrva harjutamiseks ja unne suikumiseks taustale panna.
Üpris värskendav ja rikastav lugemine. Tekitas huvi ka mõne teise riigi/rahva lugudega tutvuda.
September 10, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed the book on Scottish folktales.
However, I initially expected to find more well-known tales, such as the story of the Loch Ness Monster or the legend of the kelpies.
Nevertheless, I found the other stories in the book equally captivating. It was a delightful experience to explore these lesser-known folktales and gain a deeper understanding of Scotland's mystical history.
However, I initially expected to find more well-known tales, such as the story of the Loch Ness Monster or the legend of the kelpies.
Nevertheless, I found the other stories in the book equally captivating. It was a delightful experience to explore these lesser-known folktales and gain a deeper understanding of Scotland's mystical history.
March 15, 2021
A cute collection of stories and tales from all over Scotland. It shows how things differ in all the different areas. Some are very near to Grimm tales. But I enjoy that some are written in Scots so you have to read them with a Scottish accent in your head.
November 6, 2023
Verhalen zijn goed volgbaar, wat oprecht best knap is vergeleken met andere folklore. Beste folklore die ik heb gelezen, ook al heb ik er niet veel gelezen. Ook leuk om te zien hoe thema’s en monsters steeds terugkeren. Verhalen zijn ook goed geïntroduceerd.
September 12, 2020
A fun collection of folktales. It was nice to see which stories are prevalent in the different areas of the country.
March 1, 2025
Nice anthology of scottish folktales organised by regions.
October 26, 2025
i want to be back in Scotland rn
June 27, 2024
An excellent (and cute) little book.
December 30, 2022
I really loved this (bc obvi i didn’t know many Scottish folk tales before) There is also a map to see the origin (really nice!)
August 15, 2024
Magic, Fairies, and Oats of Scotland. A collection of handpicked Scottish fairy tales with interesting Scottish accent dialects.
July 4, 2023
Herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers. From the Spaeman's peculiar advice and a laird who is transformed into a frog to a fugitive hiding in a dark cave and the stoor worm battling with Assipattle, this book celebrates the distinct character of Scotland's different customs, beliefs and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.
This was exactly what it advertised - an anthology of Scottish Folk Tales! There were tales from Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles, The Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, Argyll, Fife, Midlothian, East Lothian, Scottish Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway. Each of the different areas had stories that were told by different storytellers. And each story had a moral or some kind of wisdom behind it. There was a lot of Norse influence throughout, which I found interesting. And I especially enjoyed the tales that were about the creation of different parts of Scotland.
Some of the tales were told in Scots (Scottish slang), which I found quite difficult to read. I had to really concentrate at times and re-read several sentences to understand what was happening, and even then sometimes I didn’t have a clue! I know this was supposed to make it more authentic, but I didn’t understand a lot of it.
Overall, I enjoyed the stories in this book, but there were a few that I couldn’t decipher because of the language used. Therefore, I give The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales 4 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys short stories, Scottish folklore, legends and mythology, fairytales, anthologies, or just Scotland in general.
This was exactly what it advertised - an anthology of Scottish Folk Tales! There were tales from Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles, The Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, Argyll, Fife, Midlothian, East Lothian, Scottish Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway. Each of the different areas had stories that were told by different storytellers. And each story had a moral or some kind of wisdom behind it. There was a lot of Norse influence throughout, which I found interesting. And I especially enjoyed the tales that were about the creation of different parts of Scotland.
Some of the tales were told in Scots (Scottish slang), which I found quite difficult to read. I had to really concentrate at times and re-read several sentences to understand what was happening, and even then sometimes I didn’t have a clue! I know this was supposed to make it more authentic, but I didn’t understand a lot of it.
Overall, I enjoyed the stories in this book, but there were a few that I couldn’t decipher because of the language used. Therefore, I give The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales 4 out of 5 stars.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys short stories, Scottish folklore, legends and mythology, fairytales, anthologies, or just Scotland in general.
November 23, 2023
Scotland is a beautiful land proud of its culture and history. From the days of old, tales have been passed down from generations, sparking a revival of these charming and original stories as time goes by.
In this beautifully bound collection organised by region are some of the most talented local Scottish storytellers.
Combining mythology, legend and folklore with the geography and history of Scotland, this book is a celebration of Scottish culture. I was particularly pleased with the emphasis of the Scots language and dialect featured within some of these tales.
With a vast range from the magical and humorous to the moralistic and outright horrific, there is a story for everyone within this eclectic collection of Scottish Tales.
In this beautifully bound collection organised by region are some of the most talented local Scottish storytellers.
Combining mythology, legend and folklore with the geography and history of Scotland, this book is a celebration of Scottish culture. I was particularly pleased with the emphasis of the Scots language and dialect featured within some of these tales.
With a vast range from the magical and humorous to the moralistic and outright horrific, there is a story for everyone within this eclectic collection of Scottish Tales.
November 3, 2025
Impressive compilation of tales by contemporary folk tellers (I didn’t even know such profession still exists—and is much popular in Scotland). Tales are written by different authors, which is refreshing in the style of narrative, and geographically situated. They cover different subjects, sometimes on witches and unicorns, but mostly on common folks, hares, doves and cows. Some of them are very bloody. I enjoyed very much that some authors write in Scottish, it’s a very new orthography for me.
I liked the most stories written by Grace Banks & Sheena Blackhall, Sheila Kinninmonth, Lea Taylor, James P. Spence and Tony Bonning.
I liked the most stories written by Grace Banks & Sheena Blackhall, Sheila Kinninmonth, Lea Taylor, James P. Spence and Tony Bonning.
March 2, 2023
A very wide ranging and electric collection, from the heartwarming and magical to the Grimm-esque and gruesome. I really enjoyed a handful of them, but honestly most were either too odd or poorly written. Some are probably best told in person and don’t translate well to written form. But overall, an interesting look into Scottish folklore.
December 30, 2020
Sadly this really wasn’t the best folktale book. Some of the stories where uninteresting and other a bit fucked up (in a bad way). Not for me.
October 18, 2021
A wonderful read full of magic and myth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews