King David and the White Stag This story goes right back almost 900 years to 1127 during the reign of King David I. Back then, what we know as the spacious, grassy Holyrood Park at the foot of Arthur’s Seat was actually a royal hunting forest. Words by Graeme JohncockIllustration…
Whuppity Stoorie “Pitter patter, Haly Watter.” Then from her pocket she drew a small bottle with something oily inside it and daubed the liquid around the sow’s snout, behind her ears, and on the tip of her tail. Words by Rosie YoungIllustration by Linley Barba In the borderlands village of…
Assipattle and the Mester Stoor worm One day, a terrible evil reached the shores of the kingdom: The Mester Stoor Worm, king of all sea monsters. Words by Rosie Young Illustration by Linley Barba Long ago in an ancient kingdom lived a farm boy named Assipattle. His six brothers spent…
The Baobhan Sith Before long, the women were singing an enchanting song and the hunters needed no more invitation to dance. They all seemed completely enchanted by the mysterious visitors. By Graeme Johncock In the Scottish Highlands lurks the most sinister of all the fairy folk, the blood thirsty Baobhan…
Samhain While the supermarket shelves are stocked with plastic scythes and witches hats, this time of year meant something much different to our ancestors. By Rebecca Brown For one night every year, witches and spooks of all kinds are allowed to wander the streets. This night is 31st October -…
The Gorbals Vampire After school, hundreds of children of all ages armed themselves with blades and crosses, stakes and dogs and descended upon the city's Southern Necropolis to hunt the Gorbals Vampire. By Rebecca Brown In September 1954 in Gorbals, Glasgow, rumours had spread among the school children of a…
The White Lady of Balgay Bridge Never cross Balgay Bridge at night, lest you meet the same fate as the White Lady... By Rebecca Brown The story of the White Lady that haunts Balgay Bridge on the picturesque Balgay Hill in Dundee is one that is often told to children…
The Story of Crail's Bluestane If you visit Crail, take a walk along South Marketgate, past The Golf Hotel along to the Parish Kirk where you’ll find a devilish tale… By Rebecca Brown Crail is just one of many picturesque seaside towns along the Fife Coastal Route in the East…