Historic Sites & Attractions To Visit Near Peebles
Neidpath is steeped in history. The early castle was originally founded by Sir Gilbert Fraser around 1190, and was burnt to the ground by the English around 1310. Sir William Hay built the present castle in the late 14th century.
Neidpath has been home to generations of the Fraser, Hay, and Douglas families. And has been privately owned by the Wemyss family for over 200 years. Their stories are very much part of life at the castle today.
So for the first in a new series of articles on local attractions and places of interest to visit around Peebles it seems appropriate to take a look at a selection of other places of historic interest within 10 miles or so of Peebles and Neidpath.
Cross Kirk, Peebles
Cross Kirk is situated within a tranquil grassy glade and includes the ruin of a once-grand monastic church long associated with miracles and the grave of a saint.
The church was founded in 1261. The legend of its foundation is that on 9 May 1241 a fine cross was found on the site, and soon afterwards a stone urn which was hailed as containing the cremated remains of St Nicholas.
The site was soon associated with miracles, and King Alexander III paid for the first church on the site, founding a priory here. The church was built to house the cross and the shrine of the saint, and it remained a pilgrimage centre until the Reformation.
Distance from Neidpath: 0.8 miles
The Coninie Stone & Gordian Cross
Coninie may have been a Christian martyr around in the 6th century, and the stone commemorating her was found in Manor Valley and is now in the Tweedale Museum in Peebles.
The Gordian Cross and Font Stone were on the site of a very early Christian church, in Manor Valley and can now be found nearby.
Distance from Neidpath: 2.7 miles
https://www.ancient-stones.co.uk/borders/021/028/details.htm
https://senchus.wordpress.com/2020/02/29/the-coninie-stone
Stobo Parish Church
Stobo Parish Church is one of the oldest churches in Scotland. Originally founded in the 6th century, and reputedly where Merlin the Magician was converted to Christianity. The present church was founded in 1320 and has stood for almost 700 years. It is located in Stobo, a small village near Peebles.
Distance from Neidpath: 3.8 miles
More information
Dawyck Botanic Garden
Dawyck Botanic Garden is home to a five star garden that includes some of the oldest and tallest trees in Britain. It features woodland, burnside walks, and seasonal displays of snowdrops, bluebells, Himalayan poppies, rhododendrons, azaleas and autumn colour.
There is an award-winning cafe for refreshments or lunch and a shop where you can purchase plants and souvenirs.
Distance from Neidpath: 5.7 miles
More information
Robert Smail's Printing Works
Robert Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen is a fully functional Victorian era letterpress printing works. It is the oldest working commercial letterpress printer in the UK. It is preserved by The National Trust for Scotland as an Industrial Heritage museum showing visitors the operation of a local printer around 1900 while still carrying out orders for printing and stationery.
Distance from Neidpath: 6.3 miles
Manor Valley
Manor Valley has a collection of Ancient Stones, the history of which is mysterious and only partially known. The whole valley is a beautiful place to walk and is steeped in history.
David Ritchie, ’The Black Dwarf' 1740-1811, lived in nearby Manor Valley and was renowned for his strength. He reputedly moved a massive stone from the River Tweed to its present location along the road from Manor Bridge to Kirkton Manor, a pleasant half an hour’s walk from Neidpath.
Distance from Neidpath: 6.5 miles
More information
Map & Directions
Traquair House
Traquair House is a country house located in the village of Innerleithen, Scotland. It was built in the late 15th century by the Stuart family, who have lived there ever since. Traquair House has undergone many renovations over the years to improve its appearance, but it still retains much of its original character today, with many original artefacts as well as a brewery and a maze.
Distance from Neidpath: 6.6 miles
Yarrow Stone
The Yarrow Stone (sometimes known as the Liberalis Stone) stands in a wooden enclosure beside the track leading to Whitefield which leaves the north side of the A708 just over half a mile west of the tiny settlement of Yarrow - around 9 miles West of Selkirk.
The stone has a Latin inscription which translates as: “This memorial marks the fatal battle of Prince Nudd of the Damnoni (Alt Clut). In this grave lie the two sons of Liberalis”. The two princes belonged to the royal family of Southern Strathclyde who shared the epithet “liberalis”, meaning generous. When the stone was turned up by a plough in 1807/08, it was then lying flat covering the princes’ bones.
Distance from Neidpath: 10.6 miles
Glebe Stone
Just along the road from the Yarrow Stone is the Glebe Stone - an ancient standing stone that is 1.5 metres tall. Around the stone there was formerly a large cairn covering a quantity of decomposed bones.
Distance from Neidpath: 10.7 miles
Websites used for researching this article: