Castleton (Scottish Gaelic : Baile Chaisteil) is a civil parish in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire, in the extreme south of the Borders area. It is bounded by Northumberland (England), Dumfries and Galloway, and the parishes of Hobkirk, Southdean and Teviothead. The village of Castleton was commenced in 1793. [1] It was built as a result of the land clearances in the 1790s when people were forced to move from Old Castleton village. While the parish retained the name Castleton, the village later became identified as New Castleton [2] or Newcastleton. [3] The parish is also known by its older name Liddesdale [4]
The inhabited part of the parish runs alongside the banks of Liddel Water and the Hermitage Water. [1] In the upper Hermitage valley is Hermitage Castle, a massive H-shaped fortress of enormous strength, one of the oldest surviving castles in Scotland. It stands on a hill overlooking Hermitage Water. It was built in 1244 by Nicholas de Soulis, and was captured by the English in David II's reign. It was retaken by Sir William Douglas, who received a grant of it from the king.
By the Liddel, upstream from Newcastleton, is the settlement of Riccarton. Nearby is the disused Riccarton Junction railway station.
The area of the parish is 67,909 acres, [3] the largest parish in the south of Scotland. [1] The parish consists of that part of Roxburghshire south of the Teviotdale watershed, whose rivers and watercourses drain into the Solway Firth to the west. [1]
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berwickshire to the north. To the south-west it borders Cumberland and to the south-east Northumberland, both in England.
Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk is a historic county and registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south. It derives its name from its county town, the Royal burgh of Selkirk.
Hermitage Castle is a semi-ruined castle in the border region of Scotland. It is under the care of Historic Scotland. The castle has a reputation, both from its history and its appearance, as one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland.
Liddesdale, the valley of the Liddel Water, in the County of Roxburgh, southern Scotland, extends in a south-westerly direction from the vicinity of Peel Fell to the River Esk, a distance of 21 miles (34 km). The Waverley route of the North British Railway runs down the dale, and the Catrail, or Picts' Dyke, crosses its head.
Newcastleton, is a village in the Scottish Borders, a few miles from the border with England, on the Liddel Water. It is the site of Hermitage Castle.
Whitrope is a densely forested area, high in the Southern Upland hills managed by the Forestry Commission in the south central Scottish Borders of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.
Ednam is a small village near Kelso in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.
The Debatable Lands, also known as debatable ground, batable ground or threip lands, lay between Scotland and England. It was formerly in question as to which it belonged, when they were distinct kingdoms. The name either signifies litigious or disputable ground., or it comes from the Old English word 'battable'.
Liddel Water is a river running through southern Scotland and northern England, for much of its course forming the border between the two countries, and was formerly one of the boundaries of the Debatable Lands.
Cessford Burn is a small stream which eventually runs to meet the Kale Water and then joins the River Teviot, finally entering the River Tweed at Kelso, Scotland.
Hermitage is a village near Newcastleton, on the B6399, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland.
Darnick is a village near Melrose in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire. The name was first recorded in 1124, and has changed from Dernewic, Dernwick and Darnwick to the present Darnick. Darnick Tower was built in c. 1425, and another tower house, Fisher's Tower, is still recognisable by its remains.
Cavers is a parish in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former county of Roxburghshire, south and east of Hawick.
Liddel Castle is a ruined castle in Liddesdale, by the Liddel Water, near Castleton in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former county of Roxburghshire. Liddel Castle is a scheduled monument.
Saughtree is a hamlet in the Scottish Borders at the junction of the B6357 and an unnamed road from Kielder village in Northumberland, England. It is at the confluence of the River Liddle [Liddel Water] and Dawston Burn. The valley of the Liddle is known as Liddesdale. The nearest settlements on the B6357 are Bonchester Bridge, Newcastleton and Kielder village. It is approximately 6 km from the border with England.
Dinlabyre is a village on the B6357 in Liddesdale, on the edge of the Newcastleton Forest, close to Castleton, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.
The Hermitage Water is a river in Liddesdale, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. Among its many feeder burns are Braidley Burn, Dinley Burn, Gorrenberry Burn and Twislehope Burn. The Water flows through the hamlets of Dinley and Gorrenberry, and through the village of Hermitage, and past Hermitage Castle. It continues past Toftholm where it meets the B6399, and passes Newlands, Longhaugh, Leahaugh and Redheugh. At Sandholm it joins the Liddel Water and the dismantled railway.
Ettleton is a village near Castleton, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.
Liddel may refer to: