The folklore of the Scottish Highlands is unique and very much alive. Dr Anne Ross was a Gaelic-speaking scholar and archaeologist who lived and worked in crofting communities. This enabled her to collect information first hand and to assess the veracity of material already published.

In this revised new edition of a modern classic work, Ross portrays the beliefs and customs of Scottish Gaelic society, including seasonal customs deriving from Celtic festivals; the famous waulking songs; the Highland tradition of seers and second sight; omens and taboos, both good and bad; chilling experiences of witchcraft and the Evil Eye; and rituals associated with birth and death.