Borders Castles: Historic Fortresses and Hidden Ruins in Scotland's Southern Region

When you think of Scotland’s castles, you might picture Edinburgh Castle or Stirling—but the Borders castles, medieval fortresses built along the volatile border between Scotland and England. Also known as border reiver strongholds, these structures were never just symbols of power—they were survival tools in a land where raids, revenge, and rebellion were part of daily life. Unlike the grand royal palaces up north, these castles were built by families who lived in constant danger. They didn’t need fancy gardens or ballrooms. They needed thick walls, narrow windows, and hidden passages.

These castles weren’t built by kings—they were built by clans. The Scotts, the Maxwells, the Elliots, the Armstrongs—they all had their own towers, each one a statement: I own this land, and I’ll defend it. You’ll find them scattered along the River Tweed, perched on rocky outcrops near Hawick, or tucked into quiet valleys just outside Kelso. Some, like Roxburgh Castle, a once-mighty royal fortress now reduced to grassy ruins near Kelso, were destroyed in wars and never rebuilt. Others, like Hermitage Castle, a dark, brooding fortress near Liddesdale once held kings and traitors alike, still stand as grim reminders of how brutal life could be. And then there’s Mertoun House, a later, more refined estate built on the bones of an older stronghold, showing how these places evolved from war zones to homes.

These aren’t just ruins to snap photos of. They’re places where history still feels alive. Walk the same stones where reivers planned raids. Stand in the same courtyard where prisoners were held. Look up at the same battlements where guards watched for smoke signals from enemy lands. The Scottish Borders didn’t have peace for centuries—so its castles were designed for war, not wonder. And that’s what makes them different. They’re raw. Real. Unpolished. You won’t find guided tours in fancy uniforms here. You’ll find quiet paths, weathered stone, and the wind whispering through broken arches.

What you’ll find in the posts below are stories tied to these places—not just their walls, but the people who lived, fought, and died inside them. From the Battle of Stirling Bridge that sent shockwaves through the Borders, to the hidden gardens behind castle ruins, to how modern visitors can walk these grounds without crowds—you’ll see how these castles still shape the land, the stories, and the people who live near them today.