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Newcastleton

Newcastleton, in Liddesdale, is a planned village, founded by the third Duke of Buccleuch in 1793 as a handloom-weaving centre. The Liddesdale Heritage Centre Museum is in the old Townfoot Kirk in South Hermitage Street, and has attractive displays about the history of the area and its people.

Every year, in July, the village holds the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival, one of the oldest such festivals in Scotland. It was founded in 1970, and has concerts, ceilidhs and competitions. There are many informal music sessions held throughout the village. On the last day of the festival is the “Grand Winners Concert”.

A mile from the village, off the Canonbie road, is the Millholm Cross, It has the initials AA and MA carved on it. The AA is thought to be Alexander Armstrong, a reiver from nearby Mangerton Tower.

The Dykescroft Information Centre and Newcastleton Historic Forest Walk lie to the south of the village, off a minor road. It is closed in February and March each year. Within the forest can be seen one of the 7stanes, seven mountain biking centres spanning the south of Scotland, from the heart of the Scottish Borders to Dumfries and Galloway. ‘Stane’ is the Scots word for stone, and at each of the 7stanes locations, you’ll find a stone sculpture reflecting a local myth or legend. The sculpture at Newcastleton resembles the tail fin of an aircraft and faces north - south. On the north side, representing Scotland, Auld Lang Syne is inscribed and on the south side, representing England, the words of Jerusalem.

The highlight of this particular stane is that it stands right on the border between Scotland and England. The hole in the middle allows people to stand on either side of the border and shake hands through the stane.

Five miles north of Newcastleton is the massive bulk of Hermitage Castle (Historic Scotland). It dates from the 1300s and its imposing walls and stout defences reflect the bloody warfare that was common in this area before the union of Scotland and England. It belonged to the de Soulis family, who built the original castle of wood in the mid-13th century. However, in 1320 William de Soulis was found guilty of plotting against Robert the Bruce, and his lands and property were confiscated by the crown. The castle later became a Douglas stronghold.

While staying in Jedburgh, Mary Stuart covered the 50 miles between there and Hermitage and back again in one day to visit the Earl of Bothwell, whom she later married. During her journey, she lost a watch, which was recovered in the 19th century.