Savour the sights at battle-scarred Dryburgh Abbey

King Edward II’s English army set fire to Dryburgh Abbey in 1322, and subsequent attacks left it in severe decline by the 1550s. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

Dryburgh Abbey is a ruined monastery set amid beautiful surroundings near the town of St Boswells, Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders. The abbey was founded in 1150 for Premonstratensian canons, an austere religious community that originated in the French town of Prémontré.

Its canons were known as Norbertines after their founder, St Norbert.

The abbey underwent trials and tribulations due to wars over the subsequent centuries, and by the 1550s, it was in severe decline.

In 1786, the 11th Earl of Buchan purchased the abbey remains and beautified the grounds.

Today, it is a historic location that is well worth a visit. Here are some highlights.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), Scotland’s renowned novelist and poet, is buried at the abbey. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

The abbey ruins are fenced off to visitors while safety checks are carried out on the crumbling walls. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

A short walk from the abbey is the Temple of the Muses, a tribute to the poet James Thomson (1700-1748), who, among other works, is credited with the words to the song ‘Rule Britannia’. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

The Temple of the Muses was paid for by the Earl of Buchan, who admired Thomson’s work. He also had this quaint cottage, Stirling Tower, built for his gardener. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

Nearby is a pedestrian suspension bridge spanning the River Tweed, connecting Dryburgh to St Boswells. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

Just under 2km away stands the William Wallace statue at Bemersyde on a bluff overlooking the magnificent scenery of Tweed Valley, with Eildon Hills in the background.

A notice board says this was the first statue erected in Scotland to Wallace (1270-1305), Guardian o’the Scottish Borders.

The statue was again paid for by that wealthy patriot, the Earl of Buchan. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

A couple of kilometres further north is Scott’s View, reputed to be one of the favourite vistas of Sir Walter Scott.

According to a plaque, when he died, the funeral procession passed this spot on the way to his burial at Dryburgh Abbey and his horses stopped here – just as they had done when their master was alive – so he could enjoy the view.

Scott’s View, one of Sir Walter Scott’s favourite lookouts, and no wonder. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

Lovely weather for November. (Northumberland Traveller pic)

This article first appeared on Northumberland Traveller.

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Savour the sights at battle-scarred Dryburgh Abbey

This ruined monastery is set amid beautiful surroundings near the town of St Boswells, Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders.