Smailholm Tower

One of my absolute favourite things to find when out on adventures is a tower or ruin in the middle of absolute nowhere and Smailholm Tower is another perfect example.

Sitting atop the crag of Lady Hill near Kelso this stunning 20m high building is so picturesque in its surroundings that is was too difficult not to take way too many photos!

Built in the late 15th or early 16th century Smailholm Tower has its name derived from old English meaning Small Island. With it being positioned along the border it had its share of attacks from the English with three skirmishes in the 1540s alone, one of which was from a garrison of soldiers from Wark Castle.

The famous Scottish poet, Walter Scott spent some of his youth at Sandyknowe farm next to the tower and Smailholm provides the setting for his ballad The Eve of St John and also Marmion, a historical romance which concludes with the Battle Of Flodden.

Looking at the photographs you can see there the remains of a chapel and some outbuildings including the remains of a barmkin wall. Outside of the wall would have been stables, cattle enclosures and cottages. There was also a mill so site as you can still spy a millpond nearby.

The tower is now a museum for with information and visitor displays about the tower and Walter Scott, although it was closed when we visited. It's even possible to spy Bamburgh Castle from the battlements.

As usual we sent up Red5 to get some aerial footage.

The first day we visited it was really misty, so we had to visit a day or so later for the above photos and video. Here are some of the shots from the first day. Still speculator although a little eerie.