Hundy Mundy Tower

First of all can we take a moment to appreciate what a great name Hundy Mundy is. It reminds me of a TV character from the 80s!

Second of all, and this may creep you out a bit, this tower lives in the Hundy Mundy natural woodland burial ground. So it's basically a natural graveyard with bodies just under the surface. The wood aims to remain a natural environment, no benches, vases of flowers or mementos which would change its special qualities.

Back to the tower which was designed by the architect William Adam and its construction began in 1726.

It used stone from an old tower house and a princess called Hunimundias lived there, but the local children of Mellerstain preferred to call her Hundy Mundy.

After a bit of a wander around, I must admit that it no longer felt creepy. It was a tranquil place set in a beautiful woodland overlooking the Eildon Hills in the distance. Lots of amazing stories about the hills including Thomas the Rhymer who entered the hollow hill. Once inside he had to make a choice between a sword and a horn, eventually choosing the horn to wake up King Arthur and his knights who were asleep under the hills. He was then ejected from the hill, then after telling his tale, he died from exhaustion!

He could have been buried at Hundy Mundy!