Video | Scotland

Assipattle and the Stoorworm: An Orcadian Folktale

Cozy up with a warm drink and some popcorn to settle in for this engaging video presentation. Tom Muir—storyteller, historian, archaeologist, and author—tells us the captivating folktale of Assipattle and the Stoorworm, brought to the Orkney Islands with the Vikings long ago.

By Tom Muir | September 02, 2020

Related expedition: Scotland, The Faroe Islands, & Iceland: North Atlantic Saga and Scotland Slowly

“Orkney lies at a cultural crossroads between Scandinavia and the Celtic worlds, and the folktales reflect that,” shares Orcadian storyteller Tom Muir.

In this video he recounts the story of Assipattle, the lazy youngest son of a hard-working farmer, and his battle with a gigantic sea serpent known as the Stoorworm to win the hand of a beautiful princess.

About the Author

Tom Muir

Tom Muir

Storyteller, Historian, Archaeologist, and Author

Tom Muir has a love for the lore of his native Orkney Islands, and for the Nordic lands of his Viking ancestors. He has published and contributed to many books of Orkney history, Nordic tales, and the Icelandic Sagas.

As a storyteller, Tom has traveled from Nunavut to Hong Kong and across Scotland, Scandinavia and Europe. He also runs the annual Orkney Storytelling Festival.

He and his wife, Rhonda Muir, are developing a website about all things Orkney.