The Borders

The Border Abbeys

Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh Abbey suffered four savage attacks, the most famous in 1322 when Edward II’s soldiers turned back to set fire to Dryburgh having heard its bells ringing out as the English army retreated.

Dryburgh is the final resting place of Sir Walter Scott.

Melrose Abbey

As we had time we stopped at Melrose Abbey on our way back to Symington.

Two notable facts about Melrose Abbey for your trivia collection –

1: Melrose Abbey is the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart

2: Melrose Abbey is home of Scotland’s most famous gargoyle, a bagpipe playing pig.

Dryburgh Abbey

Melrose Abbey

Scotland’s most famous gargoyle

The bagpipe playing pig

Melrose Abbey

Hyndford Bridge

C 1766

This bridge over the Clyde River is still in use

Cornhill Castle

Biggar

Eildon Hill

Leaderfoot Viaduct

Trail to the Sir William Wallace Memorial

Bemersyde

Sir William Wallace Memorial

Bemersyde

Sir William Wallace Memorial

Bemersyde

Along the Border Roads

Things we saw from our travels in The Borders

In 2019, on the way to Dryburgh we got sidetracked. We saw a magnificent Victorian Rail bridge – Leaderfoot Viaduct, a parking place with a view - the Eildon hills (where Sir Walter Scott would sit and contemplate) and again when we saw signs to a memorial to Sir William Wallace in a small forest on the grounds of the Bemersyde.

Hiking Symington

& Tinto

– morning walks around the village

– a hike up Tinto Hill

The view from Iain’s front window is something called Tinto Hill. At 707 metres it is the highest point in central Scotland.

Elaine and I did the hike to the summit. When we finally got there we found an Iron Age cairn with a modern addition pointing out the landmarks in the Lanarkshire countryside. It is not a difficult climb, but it took from lunch time until supper time to complete, some hill!

The view was incredible, well worth the hike.

I found these on one of my morning walks through

Symington

I found these on another of my morning walks through

Symington

Planting trees for Eileen in Iain’s backyard

Symington

Tinto Hill

Viewed from Iain’s house

Symington

Tinto Hill

The cairn at the summit

Tinto Hill

New Lanark

The Clyde river provided the main power source for the mills

New Lanark

Auxiliary steam power

New Lanark

The school

New Lanark

Enlightened ideas during the Industrial Revolution

Another day trip was spent at New Lanark, a monument to forward thinkers.

The founders of the mill here had many enlightened ideas – they built a School for the mill workers children, set up a savings bank for their employees, started a grocery store to ensure quality food was available. This was the prototype for co-ops. The employees were charged with a “health tax” to pay for a community doctor. The mill workers had full medical coverage.

A fair wage and quality housing were also part of the package. All in the name of making a buck of course, but they knew a healthy, well fed, well housed employees were more profitable than those who were not.

Scotland

The Borders

“The Celtic Muse is in the mist of the secret and solitary hill, and her voice in the murmur of the mountain stream.”

— Sir Walter Scott —