Hermitage Castle

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Hermitage, Liddesdale

The Hermitage Trail

Follow the Border Reivers to Teviothead, Hermitage Castle and Liddesdale, "the bloodiest valley in Britain". Then to Newcastleton, Canonbie and Gilnockie Tower, seat of the Armstrongs.

Along the trail we see beautiful Border scenery and Border strongholds, as we follow in the footsteps of Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodheid, your virtual tour guide and hero of a classic Border ballad, telling of cattle reiving and revenge. The ballads were meant to be sung unaccompanied and we hear a few verses, beautifully sung in traditional style. We also hear a bit about life in the 16th century from Jamie himself.

First stop is Teviothead and the story of Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie, hung there by his king, James V.

Grim Hermitage Castle is full of stories - and a grisly ballad.

We are in the heart of Armstrong country, and Armstrong stories, now. But this is also the scene of Sir Walter Scott's great poem, 'Lochinvar'.

Before the end of the trail at Langholm there is a real treat, Gilnockie Tower, a classic Border tower, restored to show how life was in the 16th century.

From £12.50 per adult


Departure days

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

January — December

Contact details

The Reivers Road

Clear View
Jedburgh
Scottish Borders
UK
TD8 6PJ

Tour information

Starting

  • Hawick

Length

1 Day

Transport

  • Self drive

Type

  • Private

Languages

  • English

Themes

  • Ancestry
  • Castles
  • History
  • Landscapes
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Walking
  • Wildlife

Tour prices


From £12.50 Per Adult

Prices are subject to change depending on season

The Reivers Road

Tour company information

The Reivers Road

Your virtual tour guide to the Scottish Borders. Self drive audio tours that bring the history and landscape to life as you drive along. With Stories, commentary, poetry and music automatically triggered via our GPS activated app, our trails guide you through the borderlands, highlighting points of interest as well as providing commentary and entertainment. The trails stretch from Berwick-upon-Tweed across to Langholm and they all celebrate the distinct culture of the Scottish Borders - Reivers, Common Ridings, Rugby, legends, folk tales, ballads, Sir Walter Scott and the River Tweed.

Opening times

Open all year 24/7

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