Hailes Castle

On a weekend trip to East Lothian, I decided we should climb Trapain Law, however, as a lover of a good walk, I hatched a plan to walk from East Linton. Having spotted Hailes Castle on the OS Map, I knew we would have to visit it.

Hailes Castle sits on a beautiful spot next to the River Tyne which would have been strategically placed on the main route to Edinburgh.

It was originally built by the Gourlay family in the early 13th century as a fortified tower house. However, what we can see today is predominantly the remains of what was built in the 14th century by the Hepburn family.

The Gourlay family occupied the fortified tower house until the mid 14th century. The tower house was made of red sandstone and would have contained a central hall block, a chamber (bedroom) tower and a kitchen tower.

The Gourlays were a Northumbrian family that moved into East Lothian sometime between 1165 and 1214, during the reign of William the Lion.

They supported the English in the Wars of Independence, and as a result, they had their land forfeited by the Scottish Crown.

Once Hailes Castle was taken from the Gourlays family, it was placed in the hands of another Northumbrian, Sir Adam de Hepburn.

The Hepburns rebuilt the castle, both repairing and upgrading the accommodation. They worked predominantly on the stone curtain wall, the tower, the hall and the chapel.

From the 14th to the 16th centuries, the Hepburn family endured many attacks on the castle.

They only succumbed once, to the English Army in the mid 16th century, but this was short lived, and the castle soon returned to the hands of the Hepburn's.

James Hepburn (Lord Bothwell) was most probably born at Hailes Castle in 1535. He became the third husband of Mary Queen of Scots in 1567 and the couple stayed here on their way to their wedding in Edinburgh.

Unfortunately, two months after the wedding, Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate the throne to her infant son (James VI).

By December 1567, all his land, including Hailes Castle, was forfeited to the Scottish Crown. Lord Bothwell (now Duke of Orkney), fled to Denmark but was intercepted and eventually imprisoned in Copenhagen where he died in 1578.

After Lord Bothwell forfeited Hailes Castle in late 1567, the castle passed through different families, including the Stewart and Seton families.

In 1650, the forces of Oliver Cromwell, destroyed part of the castle.

Then in the 18th Century, the castle was bought by Sir David Dalrymple, an Edinburgh born Scottish advocate, judge and historian.

The remains of the East Tower, which would have loomed over the River Tyne, is now finger stonework.

The vaulted cellar bakehouse and brewhouse from 15th century also remains today.

The square keep of the West Tower remains and rises above the remains of the central tower. The tower was used as a dovecot once the castle was no longer occupied.

Parts of the thick curtain wall still stand, attaching the keep to the other parts of the castle ranges. A roofless chamber remains, which is thought to be that of the chapel, rather than the hall.

Hailes Castle has been inaccessible since January 2022 due to unstable masonry, although access to the grounds is still possible. Work is ongoing, and hopefully, it will soon be open again, so that we can all visit this lovely little castle and I get the opportunity to update my photographs.

Well, after a great hour investigating the castle, we did eventually make it up Trapain Law. The views were great, but it was so windy I could barely hold the camera!

Hailes Castle is now cared for by Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled Monument.