Newtown St Boswells and Dryburgh Abbey

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Dryburgh Abbey

We have done this walk before at a time when Dryburgh Abbey was closed for high-level masonry inspections, but on our 2022 Christmas break in the Scottish Borders we were able to visit it, though some areas were still fenced off.

Starting in the village of Newtown St Boswells we walked along the banks of the Tweed, crossing at a suspension bridge near the Temple of the Muses. Here we took a detour to climb to the statue of William Wallace. You can read more about the temple and the statue (and see pictures of them in sunnier weather) in Border Break 3: Wallace and Scott.

River Tweed near Dryburgh
Suspension bridge near Dryburgh
At Temple of the Muses
Temple of the Muses
Suspension bridge near Dryburgh
Dryburgh Farmhouse
Wallace statue above Dryburgh
View from Wallace statue
Urn at Wallace statue

Dryburgh Abbey sits on a loop in the Tweed so is surrounded on three sides by water. A brief history can be gleaned from the information board below.

History of Dryburgh Abbey

The abbey is certainly very picturesque.

Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey
Dryburgh Abbey

I was particularly taken with the book cupboard, as you might expect – less taken with the idea of having only one book a year.

Book cupboard
Book cupboard

We found the graves of Walter Scott and Field Marshall Douglas Haig. And come he slow, or come he fast, it is but Death who comes at last. (Walter Scott, Marmion, 1808).

Walter Scott’s grave
Douglas Haig’s grave

The three figures on the obelisk below intrigued us. In the centre is Hugh de Moreville, who founded Dryburgh Abbey around 1150. He is shown holding the king’s banner, but he is quite faint. Much clearer are the two kings, James I shown left and James II to his right.

James 1
Hugh de Moreville
James II

Finally, before leaving the abbey, we admired the Dryburgh yew. Supposedly planted by monks in 1136, this would make it older than the abbey itself.

Dryburgh Abbey Yew
Dryburgh Abbey Yew

From here we returned to Newtown St Boswells passing Dryburgh Abbey House and making our way back along the other side of the Tweed in fading light.

Dryburgh Abbey House
River Tweed
River Tweed
River Tweed
Newtown St Boswells

Almost finished with 2022 – will one more post do it?

Scotland, UK , ,

36 Comments »

  1. Hi Anabel – it’s a lovely part of the world – I’ve only visited once when I spent a little time in Haddington – where John Gray’s (1646 – 1717) library is held: I was impressed and wished I’d had more time to investigate the town and learn more about that very library. Cheers Hilary

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  4. Had a walk around that area around ten years ago as part of a hill walk. Nice district. If I had to move in Scotland to another area it would always be Fife, The East Coast past Edinburgh or the Scottish Borders. Better weather, no midges, far less rain, and more to do. The Highlands are fine for a sunny holiday or Munro bagging but I personally would hate to be any further north than where I am in the Central Belt. Bob. BSS.

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  5. What a beautiful site and very romantic view but it is an Abbey. I love the 3 cultures of the Abbey Founder, the king and…um…the other one. Lol. I forget but I like the style. Now I’m going to look back at your other posts

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  7. So beautiful. No to one book a year! Supposedly some people I wrote about for my Colorado cemetery book were related to Walter Scott. I decided not to take the plunge into their family tree and just left that info out.

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  12. The abbey looks lovely and I love the book cupboard. I wonder if the monks swapped books between them once they had read the ones they had been given 🙂

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  14. Here at Fountains Abbey we also have yews as old as the Abbey’s foundation – and therefore older than the Abbey itself. Monks arrived in 1132 for the first time. And they too had to put up with a single book a year. A pretty tough life, though a safe and secure one.

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