The Scottish coastline, measuring 11,600 miles (including all the islands,) is described as a liminal space, rich with the stories of those who live by, and on, the sea. This Book review: Scottish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea coincides with the launch of Shetland Text & Texture March 2027 bookart workshop.

Divided into four areas of the country, a few are set in Shetland, where it’s hard to avoid references to selkies (seals who may or may not transform into human form) and trows (trolls) who live in the hills and cause mischief.

As Muir points out, Scotland is a place of invaders and settlers, from Vikings to Picts and Anglo-Saxons, who brought their culture and stories with them. He warns us never to underestimate the power of the sea.

Sea monsters, brave warriors, unlikely heroes, beautiful (and clever) maidens, devils, mermaids, pirates and innocent fishermen all feature in these tales, which can transport you in an instant to different times and places. Each story is only a few pages long, yet they straddle vast themes of life, love and loss which continue to preoccupy us now.

Scottish Folk Tales of Coast and Sea, by Tom Muir, is published by The History Press, with a stamp of approval from The Scottish Storytelling Centre, whose director has provided the foreword.

Tom Muir was awarded an MBE last year, for ‘services to Orkney Fairy Tales.’ When you get to the final tale in the book, you’ll find out how the storytelling began…

Dive into your own copy of Scottish Folk Tales of Cast and Sea by ordering it from Golden Hare Books – get a 10% discount with the code bookbinderbookreview60 valid until the end of September 2026.