Very nice photos. It looks like perfect riding weather!
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Castles, bridges and other aspects of the Scottish Borders
- Thread starter Raymond
- Start date
Thank you, Bob! I still need to figure out how to photograph a bridge and get the bike in as well - there isn't always a standpoint that facilitates both. That's why there are two pictures of the Dryburgh footbridge.
I was very lucky with the weather today and that's not always the case! We have had a few very warm and sunny days - our warm being a lot cooler than yours - but now we are entering a changeable period with lower temps, rain and showers. After Kalemouth, was going to visit Nisbet and snap the bridge there but it was clear that rain was heading in so I cut loose and went straight home. Slight drizzle on the way. Then 5 minutes after I got back, the skies opened.
The ground needs the rain.
I was very lucky with the weather today and that's not always the case! We have had a few very warm and sunny days - our warm being a lot cooler than yours - but now we are entering a changeable period with lower temps, rain and showers. After Kalemouth, was going to visit Nisbet and snap the bridge there but it was clear that rain was heading in so I cut loose and went straight home. Slight drizzle on the way. Then 5 minutes after I got back, the skies opened.
The ground needs the rain.
Took the Orange Peril out for a short ride to assess how the handling feels after Saturday's incident.
Can't go far during lock-down but used the opportunity to snap Merton Bridge:
That's the River Tweed very low. In February, posted pictures of the Tweed in the highest spate I've ever seen. Since then we've had one of the driest Spring seasons on record. But the Borders still manages to look green?
Once again, that's a toll keepers cottage at the far end.
Yellow tape - everything everywhere seems sealed off for Covid reasons.
Can't go far during lock-down but used the opportunity to snap Merton Bridge:
That's the River Tweed very low. In February, posted pictures of the Tweed in the highest spate I've ever seen. Since then we've had one of the driest Spring seasons on record. But the Borders still manages to look green?
Once again, that's a toll keepers cottage at the far end.
Yellow tape - everything everywhere seems sealed off for Covid reasons.
Very Nice Raymond! I hope your bike still has its manners. 
Seems to steer straight, thanks Bob. Friday, taking her to the people who do my MoT tests - they will check the wheel alignment and take the bike for a short ride, see if it feels 'odd'.
Well, hopefully the injury is “just” cosmetic.
Painful, but not fatal.
Pete
Painful, but not fatal.
Pete
I just discovered your interesting thread.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the history, the culture and the photos.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the history, the culture and the photos.
Bit of a hiatus, until the bike is fixed . . .
The idea is to post pictures of the Borders taken when I'm out and about on the XS. But that isn't happening just now for reasons already discussed . . .
However today, while out on Kawasaki W800, could not resist stopping to record Hume Castle:
I quite often go there just to look at the view - sitting on top of an isolated hill in the flatter Eastern part of the Scottish Borders, Hume castle offers views over a wide area. And of course, the castle itself can be seen from a wide area.
The castle's origins were in about 1300 AD but the external walls you can see in the picture are much more modern. The original castle was largely destroyed in the mid 17th century Civil War so it would have no military value. But some time in the 18th century, the owners built fanciful castle walls using the stones still on the site. So technically, what is there today would be classed a a folly.
It's free to go in, walk around the walls, look at the view and maybe have a picnic.
However today, while out on Kawasaki W800, could not resist stopping to record Hume Castle:
I quite often go there just to look at the view - sitting on top of an isolated hill in the flatter Eastern part of the Scottish Borders, Hume castle offers views over a wide area. And of course, the castle itself can be seen from a wide area.
The castle's origins were in about 1300 AD but the external walls you can see in the picture are much more modern. The original castle was largely destroyed in the mid 17th century Civil War so it would have no military value. But some time in the 18th century, the owners built fanciful castle walls using the stones still on the site. So technically, what is there today would be classed a a folly.
It's free to go in, walk around the walls, look at the view and maybe have a picnic.
That is a very pretty spot!
Hey - have seen Marlon Slack's YouTube video entitled: "An honest review of the Kawasaki W800"?
Hey - have seen Marlon Slack's YouTube video entitled: "An honest review of the Kawasaki W800"?
Now THAT is a very pretty spot!
Hey - have you watched Marlon Slack's YouTube video entitled: "An honest review of the Kawasaki W800"?
Hey - have you watched Marlon Slack's YouTube video entitled: "An honest review of the Kawasaki W800"?
Yes, I watched Marlon's video a few years ago. I really enjoy his laconic Aussie humour. WRT his criticisms of the W800, mine has braided front brake line, after market full exhaust system, after market shocks and modified forks - it's a pretty bike and well-sorted too. Mrs checked it was a keeper before splurging out for that uniquely well-suited registration number.
But I seem to remember that Marlon was generally very pleased with the standard bike.
Have you seen his honest review of the Triumph Bonneville? He doesn't spare his punches . . .
But I seem to remember that Marlon was generally very pleased with the standard bike.
Have you seen his honest review of the Triumph Bonneville? He doesn't spare his punches . . .
Nice photo Raymond, I’ll have to do some reading on Hume Castle, it looks interesting! By the way, I think it is entirely appropriate to ride whatever bike you fancy. Your Kawasaki is a great looking bike! 
Oh yes - he certainly lets the air out of their balloon.
I just looked again at your number plate - very cool indeed!
Pete
Can still get out only to buy essential supplies. And the Orange Peril is still awaiting her rear mudguard. But today, went shopping on the W800 and took a detour to photograph another castle for Bob.
This is Newark Tower. Also called Newark Castle. Near Selkirk and visible from the Selkirk-Moffat road. It's just a few miles from us but I haven't been up there for years.
Built in 1423, so less than 600 years old. It's basically a tower house, like Greenknowe Tower, but on a larger scale and with an enclosed area inside a curtain wall. The remains of which are visible in at least one of the pictures.
A few more views:
This is Newark Tower. Also called Newark Castle. Near Selkirk and visible from the Selkirk-Moffat road. It's just a few miles from us but I haven't been up there for years.
Built in 1423, so less than 600 years old. It's basically a tower house, like Greenknowe Tower, but on a larger scale and with an enclosed area inside a curtain wall. The remains of which are visible in at least one of the pictures.
A few more views:
Raymond,
I can’t tell you how much the size and age of that structure impresses me. You don’t realize how big it is without your bike added for scale. Is that castle open to the public to go through?
I’ve been looking for old Indian ruins to go see here in Arizona, and there are some nice ones, but many of them are just piles of rocks and rubble that you would hardly notice.
Thanks for the photos!
I can’t tell you how much the size and age of that structure impresses me. You don’t realize how big it is without your bike added for scale. Is that castle open to the public to go through?
I’ve been looking for old Indian ruins to go see here in Arizona, and there are some nice ones, but many of them are just piles of rocks and rubble that you would hardly notice.
Thanks for the photos!
Bob, the Scottish Borders has lots of fortified houses, Greenknowe Tower is typical, but while Newark Castle has the same form it is indeed a big one.
Memory is imperfect and over my lifetime I have visited quite a few castles and ruins. I think I stood inside the ruin when I was a child, but now there is no public access to the interior. It's very much a ruin. In one of the pictures you might see some wooden beams supporting a floor but I think this represents work that has been done to secure the structure from falling down. As far as I know there are no plans at present to renovate the castle.
Like many such places, Newark has a grim history - various murders and a dreadful massacre. But it manages to be a pretty and pleasant spot these days. Used to be very visible from the nearby main road, perched on a vantage point above the Yarrow Water, but coniferous plantations around the tower have grown so tall that only the upper part is visible unless you approach close up.
Memory is imperfect and over my lifetime I have visited quite a few castles and ruins. I think I stood inside the ruin when I was a child, but now there is no public access to the interior. It's very much a ruin. In one of the pictures you might see some wooden beams supporting a floor but I think this represents work that has been done to secure the structure from falling down. As far as I know there are no plans at present to renovate the castle.
Like many such places, Newark has a grim history - various murders and a dreadful massacre. But it manages to be a pretty and pleasant spot these days. Used to be very visible from the nearby main road, perched on a vantage point above the Yarrow Water, but coniferous plantations around the tower have grown so tall that only the upper part is visible unless you approach close up.
Very pretty indeed - but as for it being a ruin Raymond, I'd agree and point out that the eavestroughs certainly need some work....
Raymondo, one question on the Newark Tower, are those roundish holes where windows would have been or were they from canon fire, guess they look to regular to be from canon shots.
And I always get a kick out of how unimaginative the people who came to North America were as far as naming places. Just in that one sentence are the names of two places in the state I live.
And to get a bit OT while I'm thinking about place names, I recently came across a story behind the name of a village not too far from me. The village is called Trumansberg. If I had to guess I would have thought that it was named after an ancestor of our 33 rd president. Come to learn from reading an old history book from the early 20th century that it was named in honor of Abner Treman, who was granted the land for his service in the American Revolutionary War! Huh you say? Yep seems that back in 1872 when some one was filling in a form for the incorporation of the village I guess they had bad penmanship and the "E" looked like a "U"! And no one bother to correct the mistake.
And I always get a kick out of how unimaginative the people who came to North America were as far as naming places. Just in that one sentence are the names of two places in the state I live.
And to get a bit OT while I'm thinking about place names, I recently came across a story behind the name of a village not too far from me. The village is called Trumansberg. If I had to guess I would have thought that it was named after an ancestor of our 33 rd president. Come to learn from reading an old history book from the early 20th century that it was named in honor of Abner Treman, who was granted the land for his service in the American Revolutionary War! Huh you say? Yep seems that back in 1872 when some one was filling in a form for the incorporation of the village I guess they had bad penmanship and the "E" looked like a "U"! And no one bother to correct the mistake.
I'd say those were the windows - the main rooms are upstairs in a castle. I don't know why the sills and lintels are missing, perhaps they are weak spots and fell out? Or perhaps the dressed stone parts were removed to be re-used in a later building?
The tower did come under siege in the 17th century, but I believe it was still occupied until the late 18th century. And I don't think the inhabitants would have tolerated have great big drafty holes in the walls. So we can rule out cannon fire.
Just age and general ruination.
That's the castle I'm talking about, not meself.
The tower did come under siege in the 17th century, but I believe it was still occupied until the late 18th century. And I don't think the inhabitants would have tolerated have great big drafty holes in the walls. So we can rule out cannon fire.
Just age and general ruination.
That's the castle I'm talking about, not meself.