As you read this book you will step through a lovely and varied landscape - traversing the forested and mountainous terrain of the River Dee, then across to the rolling, gentler land surrounding the meandering River Don to reach the beautiful but sometimes forbidding Aberdeenshire coastline and so to the silver city of Aberdeen.
The rich folklore of the Northeast has given rise to tales and ballads of despicable rogues, selkies, smugglers, witches, fairies, monsters and heroes.
Many of the stories included in this medley are embedded in historical fact, while others emerge from the dim, dark time where only myth and legend remain.
This book is a patchwork o tales of tragic events, clever minds, humour and romance sewn together by two well-established storytellers living and working in the city and shire of Aberdeen.
For those who like a challenge, riddles are strewn throughout the book, mostly created by Grace and inspired by her love of nature.
Over the centuries, stories have been spun to explain a strange phenomenon or an unusual object. One familiar sight locally is the Pictish standing stone, situated at the foot of Bennachie. The carvings upon it have inspired the tale of the Maidenstone, which has been told in countless different ways over the generations and one version is included in this collection.
Aberdeenshire is well known for its wonderful castles and the murderous, scandalous tales associated with them - many of which you can read in this book, retold by Sheena, who heard them as a child as she travelled on her auntie’s tourist bus up an doon Deeside!
Sheena and Grace would both like to acknowledge the support and encouragement they received from the traveler, raconteur and balladeer, Stanley Robertson. He gave generously of his wealth of folklore to any, and both the authors have included some of the tales and songs Stanley told within this book.
Book: Aberdeenshire Folk Tales