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THE BORDERS COUNTRY, SCOTLAND
The Borders, 'Land of the Rivers'. Is one of Scotland's unsung regions. People tend to simply drive through it on their way to Glasgow or Edinburgh. They know not what they miss! It is a fantastic area, rich in historical association. Inevitably, as a region long fought over by everyone from the ancient Picts, Romans, Vikings, and to the latter day English and Scots, it is a landscape dominated by fortified houses, castles and by Roman ruins.
But there are also the romantic remains of majestic abbeys, there are great and stately houses and fine museums. It is the land of Robbie Burns, of Walter Scott, of Robert the Bruce, and genealogically of anyone called Armstrong! It is a region of austere beauty and our three-day tour captures some of the best of the region!
Tentative Itinerary
Day One
We depart from our central Glasgow meeting point. Our first visit is at the World Heritage site of New Lanark.
New Lanark World Heritage Site is a beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village in Southern Scotland, close to the Falls of Clyde. The fascinating history of the village is brought back to life in an award-winning Visitor Centre. The village first rose to fame when Robert Owen was mill manager from 1800-1825. Owen transformed life in New Lanark with ideas and opportunities that were at least a hundred years ahead of their time. Child labour and corporal punishment were abolished, and villagers were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care, and affordable food.
Next, through the town of Peebles and a beautiful scenic run down the Tweed Valley to Walter Scott's home at Abbotsford. Scott's romantic historical novels such as 'Rob Roy' and 'Ivanhoe' were sufficiently popular in his lifetime to enable him to build this magnificent property. Anyone joining this tour would definitely find reading a 'Waverly' novel great pre-tour reading.
If we've time, and there's group interest, our next stop will be to see an exhibition on the life of the great Victorian explorer, the Mungo Park at Selkirk.
We continue south through the astounding, wild Borders scenery. The castle and fortified houses bear testament to the wild history of this region; wars, local feuding, cattle rustling and downright brigandry were daily events (read the novel, 'The Candlemass Road' by George MacDonald Frazer for an superb introduction to the area).
Nightstop: our accommodation is at a lovely working farmhouse in Catlowdy. The farm is particularly noted for its home cooking! All rooms are en-suite.
Day Two
The lawlessness of this area was too hot even for the Romans! This marked virtually the northernmost point of its Empire and, finding it impossible to subdue the wild Picts and Scots, the Governor Hadrian built his 70 mile long wall from coast to coast to keep out the painted horde. Our day today see us exploring this 2nd century marvel, its forts, nearby settlements and local country towns. Most tours only make a cursory stop at the wall but we will be following its course concluding at the market town of Hexham.
http://www.hadrians-wall.org
We next dip south to the great moorland expanses of the North Pennnies. This is part of what is known as ‘the backbone of England’ and it’s a truly stunning region. Amongst our tour highlights will be a visit to England highest town, Alston. Depending on time and group interests, we may also fine the time to visit the local lead-mining heritage centre. Our run back to our farmhouse accommodation takes us past the prehistoric stones of ‘Long Meg and her daughters’, the third largest prehistoric stone circle in Britain after Stonehenge and Avebury and Lanercost Priory.
NIGHTSTOP: Catlowdy, as above
Day Three
We begin our day with what can only be described as a breathtaking drive up Liddlesdale to one of the most important border towns, Royal Burgh of Jedburgh. Most tours fly through the town en route to Edinburgh. What do they miss! Discover a wealth of historical and architectural jewels - where Bonnie Prince Charlie resided in 1745, where the geologist James Hutton observed the Jedburgh Angular Unconformity and confirmed his theory of the formation of the Earth. You can sample 'Jedburgh snails', the local delicacy, a brown mint flavoured boiled sweet in the shape of a snail, said to have been introduced to the town by Napoleonic prisoners of war.
Most notably, though, there's the 900 year old Jedburgh Abbey. Ravaged by time and warfare, Jedburgh Abbey remains one of the country's most spectacular ancient monuments. Founded as a priory in 1138 by King David I to Scots and English alike that he could create buildings on a magnificent scale even on the fringes of his realm.
We continue our drive north the short distance to Edinburgh where you'll enjoy a panoramic of the city. On the outskirts, however, we'll discover Rosslyn Chapel. This fantastic church has achieved renewed prominence through Dan Brown 'Da Vinci Code' and whether you've read the book or not, its architecture and links to the Knights Templar will interest everyone.
http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/htm/famous_visitors.htm
Our tour is designed to begin in Glasgow and can conclude in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, as you wish.
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