Dunnett Related Places to Visit
in Southern & Eastern Scotland and the Borders
South
St. Mary's Loch
This attractive loch nestling in the hills is associated with the
meetings of the writers James Hogg and Sir Walter Scott as well as
being the setting chosen by Dorothy to base the St. Marys band of
mercenaries led by Lymond. Just to the east are the valleys of Yarrow
and Ettrick where the 500 men of Lord Grey of Wilton were routed by
20 men of Crawford and 800 sheep in steel helmets at the beginning
of Disorderly Knights.
Biggar
This is the town nearest to which both Boghall - the now ruined and
almost disappeared home of the Flemings - and the ficticious Midculter
are situated. Nearby is the village of Coulter with Coulter Motte
- a 12th century castle mound. There is virtually nothing visible
of Boghall now - just a few mounds - but I've seen photographs of
it taken in the early 20th century which still had walls of about
10 feet high. One interesting if non-Dunnett item in Biggar is the
Gasworks Museum which is apparently unique.
Traquair House
Reputed to be the oldest inhabited building in the country, the first
documented evidence of its existence is in Alexander's reign in 1107.
It has played host to many of the kings and queens of Scotland, and
contains the crib of James VI. It is entered by the side gate as the
main entrance - the Bear Gates - are shut. Tradition says they were
closed behind Charles Edward Stuart and were not to be opened until
a Stuart was back on the throne. Amongst its other attractions is
the range of traditional beers brewed on the premises in the old brewery
which was reopened in the 1960s.
Map of Southern
Scotland
Tantallon Castle
Coveted by Margaret Lennox in Checkmate, Tantallon is a massive and impressive ruin overlooking the 30 metre high cliffs between North
Berwick and Dunbar. It was built by the 1st Earl of Douglas in the
14th century and was the scene of sieges by James V and later by General
Monk in the English Civil War.
 Haddington
A Royal Burgh and the main town of East Lothian, Haddington has strong
religious connections and contains a variety of ruins and the restored
14th/15th century St Mary's Church - the largest parish church in
Scotland and second only to St Giles in the Lothians. Mary of Guise
climbed the tower of St Mary's to view the English positions during
a seige at the time of the 'Rough Wooing', and was fired on by them.
It was the Treaty of Haddington that committed Scotland and France
to closer ties and betrothed the infant Mary to the Dauphin. The town
is twinned with Aubigny-sur-Nere which is still known as La Cite
des Stuarts.
 Dirleton
Castle
This was rumoured to be the place where Gemini would finish
but in the end this turned out not quite to be the case by just a
few miles - however it's still well worth visiting especially since
it is so close to the area where much of the action occurred. Dirleton
is situated in a tranquil village due north of Haddington, about a
mile and a half from the coast (and the famous Muirfield golf course)
and about three miles west of North Berwick. It is well preserved
in parts and has an attractive walled garden.
Dunbar
Scene of the seige of Albany and his supporters before they fled to
France. The ruined castle overlooks the harbours and has a long and
eventful history. Black Agnes, Countess of Dunbar, held the castle
against a large English force in 1338. It was destroyed by order of
Parliament in 1488 but rebuilt by James IV. John of Albany had a blockhouse
built after James died at Flodden, and that is what is mostly remaining
now. The French added more construction but that was removed after
the Treaty of Leith. The Earl of Bothwell took Mary there after he
abducted her and after she relinquished the crown the castle was again
ordered to be destroyed.
Dunbar is also of more modern interest, particularly to Americans,
as the birthplace of John Muir - acknowledged as the father of environmentalism
and responsible for preserving many important natural areas in the
USA. Just west of Dunbar is the John Muir Country Park.
North Berwick
The climax of Gemini occurs in the Priory of North Berwick.
An attractive little town with good beaches and harbour from where
you can walk out over the black basaltic rock promentory to get lovely
views of the coast and the Bass Rock out in the Forth. Above the town
is the conical hill of Berwick Law, with a whalebone arch on its summit.
From here the whole area can be seen as it is the highest point for
miles around. The remains of the Priory itself are within the grounds
of an Old People's Home on the south-western side of the town.
Whitekirk
Where the intended meeting between Adorne and Albany was to have taken
place. As well as the reconstructed church there is a teind barn,
one of only two remaining in Scotland, where the church stored the
produce it collected each year as teinds or tithes. The western end
of this one was a 16th century tower house which was built using stones
from the hostels used by pilgrims to the nearby healing well. It was
extended in the 17th century into a three story barn.
 Lauder
Situated half-way between Edinburgh and the Borders, Lauder is where
the hangings took place from the bridge following the rebellion against
James III's decision to go into battle against a larger English force.
Described as a classic medieaval burgh it contains a 17th century kirk.
 Melrose
With its beautiful ruined abbey where Will Scott's marriage took place.
The abbey was originally founded as a Cistercian settlement by David
I for the monks from Rievaulx in Yorkshire. That structure was mostly
destroyed in the 14th century Wars of Independence and was rebuilt
as a much more lavish structure with considerable ornamentation. This
was made possible by the wealth generated by the very large flocks
of sheep which were kept on the abbey's 5000 acres of land and a further
17000 acres which they leased in the surrounding hills. The heart
of Robert the Bruce, which was taken to the crusades, is buried in
the abbey grounds and was recently unearthed and then reinterred during
work in the grounds.
Jedburgh
Again with an impressive ruined abbey.
Kelso
Another fine abbey, and also midway between these two towns and slightly
to the east lies Cessford Castle - owned by the Kerrs. Nearby is the
village of Crailing where Hough Isa's house was situated.
Floors Castle
A magnificent country house, home of the Dukes of Roxburgh, originally
the Kerrs of Cessford. You can also see from the windows the place
where the cannon exploded, killing James II.
Branxholme Castle
Home of the Scotts of Buccleuch. Not open to the public but apparently
can be viewed from quite close range.
   Coldingham Priory
Situated in a pretty village hidden in the folds of the coastal area
near the cliffs of St Abbs not far north of Berwick-on-Tweed, the
Priory was subject to a number of disputes between Scots and English.
A religious house is mentioned by Bede in the 7th century and was
destroyed by Danes in 870. A charter was granted in 1098 to monks
of St Cuthbert in Durham - a link that wouldn't be finally broken
until the 15th century. Curiously the monks were subject to the English
King whilst the priors were subject to the Scottish. Sadly the priory
was sacked frequently and much of it's structure destroyed. What remains
is just the choir and sanctuary and from the outside is rather plain,
although the inside is much more interesting and attractive.
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Once the most strategically important town on the border and a very
important port, it changed hands many times. It now has some of its
services run from England and some from Scotland, while the local
football team is the only English team playing in the Scottish League.
There are extensive and remarkably complete remains of the old fortifications
and you can take the delightful walk round the top of the old town
walls and visit the military museum. There is also a pleasant riverside
walk by the Tweed and you will often see a large flock of swans down
by the old harbour near the high railway viaduct crossing the river.
Hexham
An attractive little market town containing Hexham Abbey - site of
the shooting incident where Lymond is almost killed ensuring the secret
of Mary's whereabouts doesn't fall into English hands.
 Threave Castle
A forbidding tower built on an island in the River Dee, it was long
a stronghold of the Douglases after having been built by Archibald
Douglas in the 14th century. After their conflicts with James II the
castle eventually passed to the Maxwells - the family that Agnes Herries
married into - in 1526. The castle has been extensively preserved
and its archaeology investigated, including the medieval riverside
harbour.
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