History is written in the rings of trees and on the ancient ledgers that are made from those rings. And nothing says history quite like a ruined castle! On top of a great earthen mound is a gathering of fine old broadleafs that stand and lean among the old royal ruins of Roxburgh Castle. The mound juts up between the rivers Tweed and Teviot near Kelso and the views are amazing, more than making up for the lack of actual castle. Back when it was a great stronghold, the castle changed hands many times between Scots and English. One such time in 1313 involved Sir James Douglas, Lord of Douglas and a small band of men dressed as cows who used their fine bovine disguise to sneak up on the castle unseen. Scaling the walls with ladders they managed to take the castle by "total surprise". Here is a great aerial shot of the site plus more history.
Today there are no cows or soldiers, only a few birds in the trees and what the place lacks in masonry and military might is made up for with a fine array of trees, some ancient and hollowed and more hole than tree! Trees grown between the defenses, on top of the stones and even through the crumbling walls so it is definitely worth a wander there one day soon!
A fine leaning oak, and a view through to poplars across the river.
A grand horse chesnut tree
Looking downstream along the Teviot
Shapely beeches beyond a bulk of old wall, and a fine young oak.
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