📌 Smailholm, Scottish Borders
★★★
Smailholm Tower is one of Historic Scotland’s smallest but most characterful staffed properties, standing proud atop an interestingly rocky outcrop surrounded by otherwise gentle Borders scenery. The tower was built for the Pringle family in the 15th century with defence obviously in mind: the walls are nearly three metres thick in places. Inside, 4 storeys survive intact, although the rooms are given over to a slightly incongruous exhibition about Sir Walter Scott’s ballads (though his family did have links to the castle). A better reason to explore all the way to the top is the perfect panorama from the exposed battlements. The Eildon Hills, Cheviots and (apparently) Bamburgh Castle are all visible on a clear day – the latter 33 miles away across the English border.
🌍 Location
📌 By minor road end 1 mi south of Smailholm
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 638347
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.604328,-2.576158
❌ No public transport within 1 mi – there is an infrequent bus to Smailholm village (1.5 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
📌 Sunday to Thursday, 31 March to September
🎫 £7.50 adult / £4.50 child / free for Historic Environment Scotland members
