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Tour the Central Lothian Lowlands |
Crossing the Border into Scotland at Carter Bar from Northumberland on the
A68 Highway from Newcastle upon Tyne, we pass through Edgerston where
overnight or Walking Holiday Accommodation is available at the
Rink Smithy
Guest House.
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Only a few miles on we enter Jedburgh, acknowledged as the central point of
Scotland's continuous feud with the English Throne and a favorite residence
of the Scottish Monarchs.
Malcolm IV died here in 1195 and Mary Queen of Scots had an extended visit
when she was stuck with fever. |
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Jedburgh Abbey was founded in 1118 and is now
in ruins and maintained by the
National Trust for Scotland and worth a tour along
with the centre of town. Candlemas Ba' a medieval tradition is continued
each year on Shrove Tuesday, when a game of handball is played through the
streets between the Uppies & Downies who were born on either side Mercat
Cross in the town |
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Leaving Jedburgh in an easterly direction to Cessford where the castle was built
after the Scots were defeated at Flodden in 1513, when all land owners in
the Borders were instructed to build 'barmkyn' fortifications for the protection
of there tenants and stock. |
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Being 60 feet square of stone ,these mini castles were the scene of bloody
sieges throughout the Border regions, likewise the English built Pele Towers
along similar lines in the Cheviot Hills and Northern Pennines.
Smailholm Tower > |
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After a few miles at Morebattle we turn north to Kelso where
the Abbey founded in 1128 was for a time the wealthiest and most powerful in
Scotland.
In the 17th Century the Scots Covenanters
joined the Presbyterians in the English Civil War and Kelso became a staging
post for troops traveling south to join Cromwell, after which with the
Royalist's defeated the entire Scottish Army was disbanded in 1647.
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The Rennie Bridge built in 1803 over the Tweed was unique
design upon which the Waterloo Bridge over the Thames in London was based, from
it the gardens of Floors Castle can be seen where James II of Scotland was
killed by an exploding cannon.
Continuing on passing on through Nenthorn on the Lauder road
we bear left to Mellerstain House one of Scotland's elegant Country Houses of
the 18th century, built by William Adams and his son Robert it displays the
architecture and luxurious furnishings of the period.
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Turning left again to Smailholm where we take the minor road
to Smailholm Tower which stands
60 ft high on a craggy outcrop overlooking the village, in the past it was
used by ships as an aid to locate Berwick-upon-Tweed.
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Sir Walter Scott lived nearby as a boy at Sandyknowe Farm and mentions the
tower in his poem "Marmion."
On the way to Melrose our next stop is at
Dryburgh Abbey a place of
worship since Celtic times although the existing remains are from the mid
12th century, Sir Walter Scott is buried here. |
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As you approach Melrose be sure to stop at the car park at Scotts View and
admire the view he loved so much, across the Tweed river to the Three
Sisters peaks in the Eildon Hills. There is also a massive statue nearby of
William Wallace the Scottish Freedom fighter. |
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At Melrose in the 7th century a shepherd named Cuthbert was
received by the Monks and later became their Prior before moving to
Lindisfarne off the Northumberland
coast and became their most prominent Saint. |
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The well preserved remains which
stand today are 12th Century having been rebuilt after being plundered by
the English in the 13th, 14th & 15th Centuries.
St Cuthberts Way is a long distance footpath through the
Borders along the route he would have taken on his journey from Melrose th
Lindisfarne Abbey on Holy Island a distance of 62.5 miles. |
Leaving towards Selkirk we pass Abbotsford near Galashiels where Sir Walter
Scott bought Cartley Hall farm by the river Tweed in 1811, by 1820 his
literary fame had also brought him wealth and he demolished the farm and
built Abbottsford House.Scott was a passionate collector of historic
armour and weapons including Rob Roy's gun and Montrose's sword, which are
on display with over 9,000 rare books in the library.
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We conclude the tour at Galashiels where the Braw Lads Gathering in June
each year commemorates the Marriage of James
IV to Margaret Tudor in 1887 and slaying of an English Raiding Party some fifty
years previous.
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The highlight of a weeks festivities is crowned with the Border Riding
Parade ceremoniously through the neighboring countryside ending in the
streets of Galashiels. |
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The tour up the Tweed Valley can be continued through Pebbles to Biggar -
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