Evening light on Eildon Hill North. The cornfield, just near Scott's view, is at Bemersyde Hill and the monolith is modern
Near the centre of The Borders, the triple peaks of the Eildons, although not high hills, still offer a striking presence. Eildon Hill North is tight up against Melrose and forms a backdrop to that town's abbey, photos of which are lower down this page. At the top of Hill North is a large area of 40 acres which archaeologists have found to be enclosed by three miles of ramparts and offering sites for some 300 houses which were occupied in the centuries before the Roman invasion. The Romans used the hilltop as a signalling station. The middle hill, to the south-west is slightly higher at nearly 1400 feet (422 metres). At the bottom of this page are photographs taken from the Wooplaw Community Woodland, Britain's oldest community woodland which is about five miles north-west of the Eildons.
The Eildons seen from the north-west, near the Wooplaw Community Woodland
Here seen from the north-east...
...and here from the south-east
Evening light on the Eildons, from just above Scott's view, which is about two miles to their east
Late summer view of the Hill North from the south-east
From Hill North, the spire of Bowden and Melrose church
Looking down into Melrose High street
From Mid Hill looking across the town of Galashiels
Nestling below Eildon Hill North, amongst the trees...
...is Melrose Abbey
St. Mary's Abbey, Melrose, was built in the 1100s and functioned as an abbey till the Reformation. Thereafter, part of the building served as the parish church for Melrose
The abbey seen against Gattonside, to the north of Melrose
The churchyard by the abbey
This is the mansion that Sir Walter Scott had built soon after the Napoleonic Wars. He had become famous during those wars, reaching superstardom in 1806, he has been described as the first international best seller
Scott's house, Abbotsford, seen from across the
River Tweed
The reconstruction of a pre-historic round house at the Whooplaw Community Woodland
The introductory information board to the Community Woodland
Money, for the first British Community Woodland, had been raised by 1987 and was used to buy the land and woods at Wooplaw between Stow and Gala. There are community inspired activities there throughout the year.
Go to www.wooplaw.org (Ignore the web address on the board!)
The Woooplaw Bull
On the diagram above this open workshop is top left, and...
...this pool is at the centre of the panel
The main Whooplaw signpost
The two buildings at the centre of the woods
Turning back towards the Eildons, and continuing south, brings this view of the Waterloo Monument. Seen like this, situated in expansive rolling country, it typifies The Borders' landscape.
On the Rubers Law page the monument was glimpsed far away
Trailers...
The next Picture Posting page
takes you to two locations closely associated with Sir Walter Scott's life.
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is headed 'Discovery versus Invention'.
Or go to the contents Go to the contents of the Mosaic Section. of the Mosaic Section.
The previous page brought pictures from Roberton and Craik Forest
From a 900 year old Christian building to a modern one, lit for Christmas in Vietnam
...guide to this site