📌 Jedburgh, Scottish Borders
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What do The Capon Tree, The Birnam Oak and the Fortinghall Yew all have in common? They’re all ancient survivors from a different era. The Capon Tree is almost all which remains of the old Jedforest: a vast region of woodland cut down for fuel and grazing land several centuries ago. Estimates over this oak tree’s longevity range from 500 to over 2,000 years old, and it has a colossal girth of 17 feet. The elderly specimen seemed to be thriving on our 2018 visit, but the trunk had split down the middle and wooden props supported several tottering limbs, indicating that all was not well. Fast forward to 2023 and only a single limb is reported to still be alive, on (literal) life support. Have a look if you’re visiting nearby Jedburgh.
🌍 Location
📌 By the A68 1 mi south of Jedburgh
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 651189
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.462264,-2.553860
🚌 Bus to Jedburgh (1 mi)
🚗 Very limited space at track entrance, 🧭 NT 651189 / 🛰️ 55.462963,-2.552886 – don’t block access
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 From the parking spot, follow the main road pavement south across the bridge. The tree is signposted on the right just around the next bend.
