Smailholm Tower

Notwithstanding the current fuel prices, a long-held intention to visit Smailholm Tower was realised today, having for several years noted it in the Historic Scotland handbook.

The history goes way back to the 1400's. Built as a typical tower house with a single room at each floor,  it stands on an outcrop of volcanic dolerite close to the English border and was subject to the Border Reivers - those C16 cross-border raiders who stole each others stock. Later owners were the ancestors of Walter Scott, who was inspired by the many ballads of the area.

 We had a good look at the exhibits on each floor including the roof, where views on a clear day can be as far as Bamburgh then walked round the rocky outcrop enjoying the many flowers - yellow, pink and white stonecrop, wild thyme, lady's bedstraw, harebell (in extra) besides mallow, yarrow, greater bird's foot trefoil and many others, trying to photograph elusive butterflies - meadow brown, small skipper, small copper and common blue (extra) in blowy but warm sunshine.

We then drove to Kelso for a wander round the shops before pottering home.