Discover neidpath
Like the best Scottish castles, Neidpath is bursting with history and drama, battle and bloodshed
Perched on a rocky escarpment high above the River Tweed, Neidpath Castle is a rare example of a fortified L-plan tower house. Its origins date back to the 12th century, although the current castle is thought to have been built in the late 14th century.
Neidpath’s true beauty is that very little has changed in the 700 years since the first families stayed here. The thick stone walls, the deep well, hidden staircases, wonderful tapestries and panoramic views from its battlements would all have been very familiar to its former residents.
Like all big houses in the Scottish Borders, the castle has hosted plenty of celebrated visitors down the centuries. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here in 1563 and wrote about Neidpath in one of her famed letters – and following a visit to Peebles with his sister, Dorothy, in 1803, William Wordsworth was inspired to compose a passionate sonnet about the medieval tower house overlooking ‘the gente Tweed’.
And the literary connections don’t stop there. The deep pools beneath Neidpath are said to have been a favourite swim spot of one of Scotland’s greatest writers, Sir Walter Scott, who penned a ghostly poem about a past inhabitant of the castle. Scott’s The Maid of Neidpath immortalises Jean, the youngest daughter of Sir William Douglas who died of a broken heart when her father refused her marriage to the Laird of Tushielaw.
Today, Neidpath is a hugely popular location for weddings – plus film shoots, festivals and live music events. It’s also possible to visit and stay in Queen Mary’s Chamber – a suite in the main castle where Mary Queen of Scots stayed in 1563 – or in a nearby cottage.
Each June, the castle is the dramatic setting for the historic installation of the Warden of Neidpath ceremony. This poignant service precedes the riding of the boundaries and a spectacular fording of the River Tweed by horses and riders just a few hundred metres downstream.
Further information
For more information on guided tours of the castle, plus private and corporate events, head over to the Neidpath website. The estate is also home to a range of characterful self-catering apartments – check out their stay pages for further details. And finally, discover much more about the literary heritage in and around Neidpath on our literary trail, Tweed Valley Words.
Photo credits: Ian Linton; Colin McLean Photography