Scott's View facts for kids
Scott's View is a famous spot in the Scottish Borders. It looks out over the beautiful valley of the River Tweed. Many people say this was a favorite view of the famous writer, Sir Walter Scott.
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Where is Scott's View?
Scott's View is easy to find. You can reach it from a small road that goes south from Earlston. It's also north of the village of St. Boswells, up a hill called Bemersyde Hill. The viewpoint is about 3 miles east of Melrose.
From this spot, you look west. The most noticeable things you'll see are the three peaks of the Eildon Hills. To the southwest, you can see lots of farmland. It stretches out beyond the village of Newtown St Boswells.
The River Tweed Below
Right below Scott's View, the River Tweed makes a big bend. This bend creates a piece of land that once held an old monastery. This monastery was called Old Melrose. It's mentioned in old writings by a historian named Bede.
Long ago, in 651 AD, a saint named Boisil welcomed a young man named Cuthbert here. Cuthbert came to train after he had a special vision. Sometimes, you might even see a fly fisherman in the river below. Looking northwest, you can see the Tweed valley leading towards Melrose. You can also spot the Black Hill, which is a type of hill called a Marilyn, near Earlston.
Old Trees and History
Just below the viewpoint, on the cliffs above the river, there are some very old trees. These oak trees are special because they are part of the few natural woodlands left in the area. Their ancestors were used long ago to make wooden coffins.
Sir Walter Scott's Special Spot
There's a popular story about why this place is called Scott's View. Sir Walter Scott often stopped here on his way home to Abbotsford. He visited so much that his horses would stop without him even telling them to!
After he passed away in 1832, his funeral procession went this way. He was being taken to be buried at Dryburgh Abbey. The story says his horses stopped at his favorite view. This allowed him one last look at the beautiful Borders landscape. However, some say the stop was actually because of a small accident.
Nearby Attractions
- The William Wallace Statue is close by. It's in the grounds of Bemersyde House. This statue is bigger than life-size and shows Scotland's hero, Sir William Wallace.
