Border Break 3: Wallace and Scott

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Scott’s View

Scott’s View, between Melrose and St Boswells, has a stunning view of the River Tweed and Eildon Hills, the latter serving as a reminder of the volcanic activity that once took place in the area. The lookout was known to be one of Sir Walter Scott’s favourite places to come and reflect. According to the plaque above, Scott (1771-1832) was the most popular writer of his age, and when he died his funeral procession was over a mile long. The horses stopped here on their way from Scott’s home at Abbotsford to his tomb in Dryburgh Abbey, just as they had done when their master was alive. The day after we visited the View, we passed through the grounds of Abbotsford on one of our walks.

Scott’s View
Scott’s View
Abbotsford
Abbotsford

The same view of the Eildon Hills, from a slightly different angle, can be enjoyed from the nearby statue to Sir William Wallace (1270-1305) – he of Braveheart fame. This was the first statue to Wallace in Scotland. It was commissioned by David Stuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan, and made of red sandstone by John Smith of Darnick in 1814.

Wallace Statue
Wallace Statue
Wallace Statue
View from Wallace Statue
Wallace Statue

The inscription at Wallace’s feet reads:

Erected by David Stuart
Erskine, Earl of Buchan
WALLACE
GREAT PATRIOT HERO!
ILL REQUITED CHIEF!
MDCCCXIV

These words are by 18th century poet, James Thomson, whose work the Earl of Buchan loved, and at the bottom of the hill housing Wallace’s statue, he built the Temple of the Muses as a memorial to Thomson. It originally sheltered a statue of Apollo, but at some point this disappeared and in 2002, following some remedial work, a new bronze statue representing the Four Seasons was commissioned from Siobhan O’Hehir.

Temple of the Muses
Four Seasons
Four Seasons

Next time – wandering the Tweed and the Teviot.

Scotland, UK , , ,

54 Comments »

  1. I have to agree with Scott about that view. Quite stunning on a nice day like in your photograph. can’t sya that I think much about his novels and his politics, though. And as for Wallace – he beat the English so the less said about him the better!!!

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  7. Hi Anabel – it’s a stunning part of the world … I know I’d love to spend some time there – incredible photos you’ve given us. So pleased you’re getting out and about again. Cheers Hilary

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  9. Past the four seasons statue but none of the others. Too busy bagging small hills down there to do much sightseeing unless it was on the actual drive route or walk in or out. Have done the Eildons though. Nice hills.

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  10. Stunning views though the Abbotsford is more so. We do have an Abbotsford in Dunedin, Sth Island which of course is a wee Scotland in disguise.

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  14. I’m as impressed as everyone above with the view and the marvellous vistas on your walk. Fancy volcanic activity in Scotland, I never knew! Not sure about Wallace but I like the material he’s made in, the red sandstone!

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  15. What a stunning view especially seeing the extinct volcanoes. I never think of Scotland as having volcanic activity. I would want to walk there almost every day rather than the boring suburb I walk around in.The Wallace statue is great and represents his fierceness. I hope you and John are keeping well.

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  19. The statue of William Wallace makes him look very fierce – I think not a person to be reckoned with. The view from the lookout in your third photo is stunning – never mind stopping there on the way to my funeral, I’d want to be buried there 🙂

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