Women Turned to Stone

In this episode, Jenny and Annie explore the curious phenomenon in Scottish folklore of the spirits of women being captured by stone. From the glorious mountains of the Five Sisters of Kintail to the Maiden Stone of Drumdurno in Aberdeenshire, we investigate why there are so many stories of women turned to stone.

Also, we revisit Smoo cave to hear a tremendous tale of a loch-protecting Cailleach.

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This is part of the Radical Mountain Women, funded by the Royal Society of Literature. Some of the music you heard in this episode was beautifully played by Nicky Murray and Chloe Rodgers.

Sources:

Canmore.org.uk and historicenvironment.scot on the Maiden Stone and Persephone.

Kingshill, S., Westwood, J. B., The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends, London, Random House, 2011.

McConnochie, A. I., Bennachie, Aberdeen, D Wyllie & Son, 1890.

Newspapers from the Aberdeen Evening Express and Highland News.