Border Reivers at Tosson Tower

Smailholm is probably the classic Scottish pele tower. Made famous as an inspiration to the novelist Sir Walter Scott, the former Pringle stronghold is perched on a rocky outcrop five miles west of Kelso and now belongs to Historic Scotland. The Pringles (originally Hoppringle) were one of the clans of East Teviotdale that signed a bond of manrent to serve Archibald Douglas, 8 th Earl of Angus, in 1576 along with the Taits, Davisons, Youngs, Burns and a Dalgliesh. In the same year they raided a man called Rugley with Sir John Kerr and in 1597 the Pringles were raiding the Ords – including John Ord, the mayor of Berwick – and lifting four score sheep among other plunder. The family were also implicated in the notorious murder of Sir Walter Scott of Branxholme on Edinburgh High Street in 1552 as accomplices of the Kerrs and Humes. Smailholm is open from the 1 st of April to the 30 th of September, from Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 5.30pm with last entry at 5pm, wh...

You can see the Turnbull stronghold of Fatlips for miles around as it occupies a strong defensive position on the wooded top of Minto crags high above the river Teviot. Fatlips has been recently had a £200,000 renovation to preserve it for the public and can be visited by obtaining the key from Thomas Oliver’s garage in Denholm for a £10 deposit - £5 of which is returnable, the other fiver going towards the upkeep of the tower, which was built in the 16 th century by the reiving family the Turnbulls of Barnhills. The Turnbull name is said to have come about when a William Rule saved the King Robert the Bruce by wrestling a bull that was charging him to the ground with his bare hands. That not only earned him the name ‘Turnebull’ but also gained him lands at Philliphaugh in Selkirk, which may or may not be true. But it’s a cracking story. What is indisputable is that the Turnbulls (or Trumbles, as they often occur in the records) were a real handful and powerful en...

The iconic round towers and stepped gables of Ferniehirst castle sit high above the picturesque river Jed just outside Jedburgh and was another Kerr stronghold, with its families often jostling for position and sometimes engaging in feuds with their near relatives at the neighbouring Cessford. Ferniehirst has been lovingly restored and is open to the public during the month of July on Tuesdays to Sundays (closed Monday) from 2pm to 5pm for guided tours that give a unique glimpse into the past. The original peel tower was built by Sir Thomas Kerr in 1476 and is now available as a majestic wedding venue while the Great Hall can be booked for functions. Visit http://www.ferniehirst.com/home.htm for further details.