The Glaistig, also known as Maighdean Uaine. She may appear as a woman of beauty, but disguised under the bottom half of her green dress are the legs of a goat. more in the upcoming "Folklore of Scotland" by Stephen G. Rae folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #scotland #booksky art: Johan Egerkrans

walking in Torridon my only companion distant barking dog ~ Haiku; 1998 in Scots Gealic lore, 'cu sìth' is the faerie dog; the size of a Highland Cow with a shaggy green coat. It will let out three barks, only three, as an ill omen bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #bookwormsat #poetry

I've been fascinated by the golden dragon, especially since watching The Witcher. So I thought I'd add one to my ongoing collection of mythological animals. art: Golden Dragon by Stephen G. Rae

Sleeping under Blencathra, a red dragon guarding the final resting place of King Arthur and his most loyal knights from my: "Folklore of the Lake District" art by me

The unicorn was first used on the Scottish royal coat of arms by William I in the 12th century; a symbol of purity, innocence, masculinity and power Then there's the curious folk tale of the Isle of Skye unicorn. More of that in my upcoming "Folklore of Scotland" folklorepress.co.uk art by me

'Oak, Man' by Stephen G. Rae twig, leaf, acorn; chlorophyll flows root, branch twig, leaf, acorn; hardened skin cracked, misshapen twig, leaf, acorn; cellulose heart oak, man art: 'Tree Beard' by Stephen G. Rae

📚 Why not come on a magical journey in folklore through the Lake District and its surrounding counties "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #lakedistrict #book #ebook

“yance gane, ae gane, and niver saw mair o’ them” the 'last faeries in Cumbria' were witnessed dancing on Sandwick Rigg; thereafter climbing a ladder into a cloud, and vanishing more: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Florence Susan Harrison

"Red is the colour of lust. But green is what lust leaves behind, in heart, in womb" In local legend, the Green Knight and Sir Gawain lived in the Forest of Inglewood Read more in: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Julek Heller

The February issue of "Cumbria and Lakeland Walker' magazine is out now It includes my regular article on Cumbrian folklore, and this month I explore the more unusual folk remedies, including rusty nails, slugs and nettles

Working at a client's property in south Lakes yesterday and got a shout from the local farmer. Nice young chap, he bought my "Folklore of the Lake District" book and wanted to thank me for the 'nature dialect' section, words he remembers hearing as a kid but had forgotten. Made my day.

And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring. Its wild bark thrill'd around: And a fiendish glow flash'd forth I trow, From the eyes of the Specral Hound ~ Barguest, the spirit of the barn from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ art: P.E. Travers

In Cumbrian dialects, rabbet is rabbit; borran is rabbit warren in lore rabbit is a clever trickster, eventually outwitting its adversary from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #folklore #nature #booksky 📷 Julian Rad

In Cumbrian dialects, 'leemers' is hazel nut Hazel is the Druid's tree because of it's position at the heart of The Otherworld - nine magic hazel trees hang over the Well of Wisdom, their nuts feeding the Salmon of Wisdom art: Will Worthington

In Cumbrian dialects, dandelion is dog-posy or pissibed The floating seeds are called 'faeries' and it's lucky to catch one more nature lore and dialect in my "Folklore of the Lake District" #nature #folklore #booksky art: Adam Oehlers

In Cumbrian dialects, 'tod' is fox Fox is a spirit guide and trickster, and it carries a magical pearl that brings good fortune to whomever finds it more in my "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Fox Spirits by Stephanie Bayles

📚 Why not come on a magical journey in folklore through the Lake District and its surrounding counties Folklore of the Lake District by Stephen G. Rae more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #lakedistrict #books

📚 Tales of over 200 goblin and goblin-like characters from world folklore Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; a encyclopedia of world folklore by Stephen G. Rae more: folklorepress.co.uk #goblins #folklore #books

In Cumbrian dialects, 'bull-tree' is the elder tree. If your bath your eyes in the green juice of the elder wood, you might see faeries and witches! art: Arthur Rackham

"we are all in agreement!" daffodils nodding on spring breeze from: "often I stop and look back" bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #bookwormsat #haiku #poetry

In Cumbrian dialects, 'pyat' is magpie: One is for sorrow, but two for mirth, three's for a wedding, four for a death, five for heaven, six for hell, but seven's the divil's oan sel more in my: 'Folklore of the Lake District" #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky art: Christian Schmidt-Ramussen

In Cumbrian dialects, 'watter-moose' is water vole the water vole is famously known as 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale 'The Wind in the Willows' from: 'Folklore of Lake District' bardofcumberland.com/folklore #nature #folklore #booksky art: Ratty by Chris Dunn

In Cumbrian dialects, mooas or mause is mouse Don't set out on a perilous journey if you see a mouse. Just stay inside and read my "Folklore of the Lake District" 🐭 bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky art: Anna Matveeva

20 top selling books @samreadbookseller.bsky.social Top 5 were: 1. Rory Stewart, Middleland 2. Polly Atkin, The Company of Owls HB 3. Esther Rutter, All Before Me 4. David Nicholls, You Are Here 5. Stephen G Rae, Folklore of the Lake District #bookologythursday #booksky

"For just across the Lune's broad stream, A man once lived could solve a dream" local wizard, William Fairer's 'Book of Black Art' was too dangerous to open and went missing after his death more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #bookologythursday #booksky

In Cumbrian dialects, 'mowdiwarp' is mole In lore, if you hold a dying mole in your hands until it passes, your hands will acquire the power of healing from: Folklore of the Lake District bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky art: Fern Forest Fables

Drake is a household spirit that keeps the hearth burning. Only trouble is, he smells of rotten eggs; but who wouldn't want a dragon living in their home? more: 'Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; an encyclopedia of world folklore' by Stephen G. Rae #dragons #folklore #booksky

What a year, and many thanks to all who have supported my writing endeavours Especially @samreadbookseller.bsky.social and @bookendscarlisle.bsky.social 💚 #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

Our 20 top selling books at Sam Read's for 2025 look like this! Top 5 were: 1. Rory Stewart, Middleland 2. Polly Atkin, The Company of Owls HB 3. Esther Rutter, All Before Me 4. David Nicholls, You Are Here 5. Stephen G Rae, Folklore of the Lake District

In Cumbrian dialects, 'thimble-flower' is foxglove, 'bummel' is bee, and 'tod' is fox in lore, fox carries a magical pearl, that brings good luck to whomever finds it more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #booksky 📷 Alan McFadyen

In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweetmart' is pine marten in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Robert E. Fuller

Boggarts, Brownies, Hobs and their Goblin Kin; a encyclopedia of world folklore" by Stephen G. Rae tales of over 200 goblin and goblin-like characters from world folklore more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #goblins #booksky

Why not come on a magical journey in folklore through the Lake District and its surrounding counties Folklore of the Lake District by Stephen G. Rae more: folklorepress.co.uk #folklore #lakedistrict #booksky

Fairy Rock is associated with a Fairie Queen who falls in love with a human. The Fairies would dance in the moonlight to entice handsome young men into their grotto more in my: "Folklore of the Lake District" art: The Fairy Dance by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach

The lonely road between Bardsea and Rampside is haunted by a 'Dobbie' and his companion a white hair Read more in: "Folklore of the Lake District" by Stephen G. Rae #bookwormsat #folklore 📷 Land of Lore Films

Delighted to announce that Stephen G. Rae will be joining the likes of Simon Armitage, Lee Child, Penny Mordaunt, Val McDermid at "Words by the Water" in March 2026 to give a talk on his book, "Folklore of the Lake District"

"Stop! Look what I'm offering you. Your dreams" ~ Jareth; David Bowie Labyrinth, 1986 dir. Jim Henson

The Green Lady of Ladyland is a glaistig, a malevolent spirit, also known as The Green Maiden. She appears as a woman of beauty but is half-woman, half-goat similar to a Faun, her lower goat half disguised by a green robe. #folkyfriday #ayrshire

The Hound Of The Baskervilles, 1939 dir. Sidney Lanfield and based on the 1902 Sherlock Holmes novel of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; starring Basil Rathbone #botd

In the folklore of the Anglo Scottish Borders, the "Broon Man of the Moors and Mountains" is solitary dwarf who serves as the guardian of wild animals. He is often seen with his companion, a red fox. #BookologyThursday #Scotland art: Stephen G. Rae

Cernunnos, the Horned God: "Chieftain of the forest spirits; Guardian of wild animals; the Tree Shepherd; Master of the House, underneath; He comforts souls, on their journey to The Otherworld" bardofcumberland.com/poetry/ #bookologythursday #poetry 🖼 Luke Hillestad

The Icelandic medieval fantasy drama based on the fairytale 'The Juniper Tree' collected by the Brothers Grimm, and starring #Björk #fairytales #fantasy #film The Juniper Tree, 1990 Dir. Nietzchka Keene

The Kraken is a creature from Norse mythology, but is similar to the Scylla, a genuine Greek ocean monster. So... "release the Scylla" #folklorethursday #fantasy #film Clash of the Titans, 1981 Dir. Desmond Davis

For fans of British folk horror #folklore #horror #film Penda's Fen, 1974 dir. Alan Clarke

Dark and sinister forces invade an archaeologist's home as he investigates a folk tale about an ancient oak tree on his land #folklore #horror #film Starve Acre, 2023 Dir. Daniel Kokotajlo

Owl is a guide to and from The Otherworld; the place we travel to when we die, but we can visit it now: in dreams or when in trance. A bird of keen sight in the darkness of ignorance, helping unmask those who would deceive you. #owls #folklore #druidry (artist unknown)

"In their previous lives, poets were bats, and thinkers were owls" ~ Michael Bassey Johnson #owlishmonday art: Jaco Putker

"The Legend of Pendragon Castle" folklore on film; narrated by @stephengrae.bsky.social #folklore #indiefilm #Cumbria

In Cumbrian folklore, the Green Knight and Sir Gawain lived in the Forest of Inglewood #folklore #fantasy #film The Green Knight, 2021 dir. David Lowery

#WorldPenguinDay 🐧 a devious penguin plans a grand theft; it involves putting Wallace in danger. Will Gromit stop the feathered fiend? #animation #comedy #film The Wrong Trousers, 1993 dir. Nick Park