Historic Clan Scott Sites - Aikwood Tower - Scotts of Harden

The lands of Aikwood were granted, in 1517, on behalf of the infant King James V, to Maister Michael Scott, namesake of the thirteenth century scholar on whom the legends of wizardry are founded. Previously, Aikwood had been one of the forest steadings in the Royal Forest of Ettrick: the outright grant may indicate that Michael Scott had performed some special service.

The tower and farm - the last of the Harden properties in Ettrick - were sold to the Duke of Buccleuch during the post-WW II period. In 1989, Sir David Steel (now Lord Steel of Aikwood) along with Lady Steel bought the tower, and adjacent garden ground and restored it as their home. It had been 200 years since the tower had been lived in.

Articles on this transformation include pictures of the house.
Article 1
Article 2


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Newark Castle, Scotts of Buccleuch

Situated on the grounds of Bowhill, home of the Chief of Clan Scott, Newark Castle has one of the longest histories of all the Scott peel towers that dot the Borders region between Scotland and England.

In 1473 Newark was given to Margaret of Denmark, wife of James III of Scotland. The royal arms are visible on the west gable. Newark was unsuccessfully besieged by an English army in 1547, but was burnt the following year. In 1645, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 100 royalist followers of the Marquis of Montrose were shot in the barmkin of Newark after the Battle of Philiphaugh.

The castle was altered for Anna Scott, Duchess of Monmouth and Buccleuch at the end of the 17th century. Today it is a standing ruin and recognized as a Category A listed building.

Wikipedia provides a fuller background on Newark Castle.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Dryhope Tower - Scotts of Dryhope

One of the Clan Scott historic sites near Selkirk, Scotland is Dryhope Tower.

Mary Scott a member of the Scotts of Dryhope, was known as the "Flower of Yarrow" and was given in marriage to Wat Scott of Kirkhope, a notorious Border Reiver. The property passed to Wat Scott's family, the Scotts of Harden, and Scott took possession of Dryhope following his marriage. However, in 1592, Wat Scott fell out of favour with King James VI due to his association with Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell. King James levied an army and proceeded through the forest and slighted many houses of his opponents. Wat Scott did not get off lightly and Dryhope was amongst Scott of Harden's fortalices that were slighted. The tower seems to have been rebuilt by 1613. The castle fell into terminal decay in the latter part of the 17th century and was acquired by the senior branch of the Scotts, the Dukes of Buccleuch.

Dryhope Tower today belongs to the Philiphaugh Estate, and has recently been undergoing stabilisation work.



The history of Dryhome Tower is well covered in Wikipedia.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Kirkhope Tower

Kirkhope Tower is west of the village of Ettrickbridge (near the town of Selkirk, Scotland). It was used as a residence of the eldest sons of the Scotts of Harden and Young Wat Scott brought his bride and cousin Mary Scott of Dryhope, known as the "Flower of Yarrow" back to Kirkhope prior to the death of his father William.

Wat Scott was later to be a supporter of Francis Stewart, 1st Earl of Bothwell, an unsuccessful warrant for his arrest was made in 1592 by James VI. Wat Scott, although the subject of many Border ballads is perhaps best remembered by his wife's reaction to empty stores, presenting him with his spurs on a platter for dinner; a signal to ready his men for a raid.


Kirkhope came into the possession of Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch, widow of the Duke of Monmouth in the early eighteenth century and from mid-nineteenth century it fell into a state of decay.

Background on the site at Wikipedia gives a good history of this important Clan Scott site.


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Historic Clan Scott Sites - Smailholm Tower

Smailholm Tower is a well preserved peel tower near Kelso, Scotland. Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish Borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England. Located at Sandyknowe Farm, where Sir Walter Scott spent formative years as a young boy visiting his grandfather and grandmother this tower is credited with triggering Sir Walter's interest in history and the development of his imagination as a writer.





The Wikipdia entry on Smailholm Tower provides a good background as does the entry by Historic Scotland who operate the site, which is open to the public.

Clan Scott Gathering - Program of Events

The schedule has been updated -- Check it out

Clan Scott Reunion - SOON

September is here and the Clan Scott Gathering is set to start on the 26th. Hosted at Bowhill the family seat of the Chief of Clan Scott - Richard, the 10th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, KBE, the event will be the first international gathering of Clan Scott held in the traditional home region of the clan.

We are headed there soon as part of a family group of 5 meeting up at the site and are very much looking forward to this exciting event.

Check out the Bowhill site for details.

Sir Walter Scott -- Clan Scott Celebrates His Birthday

Every August 15, Clan Scott celebrates the birthday of one of the more illustrious members, Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Widely recognized today at having created the historical novel as a literary genre - in his own day he was widely regarded for all forms of literature that he created: poetry, biography, criticism, and history.

An active lawyer who held important judicial positions in Scottish society it appears that there was a concern that his day job should not be overshadowed by his growing fame as a novelist and thus he wrote with a pen name as "the author of Waverley" despite wide public knowledge of the true identity of the author.

He achieved a worldwide readership at a time that this was rare, and was knighted as a baronet in 1819.

Our doors are open to to all Scotts, says Duke of Buccleuch | STV Video

A video including the Chief of Clan Scott, the Duke of Buccleuch along with a clansman from another era - "Sir Walter Scott" - send a grand greeting to all Scotts worldwide.

Check it out
http://video.stv.tv/bc/scotland-gathering-20090725-clan-scott/

Clan Scott Society Gathering 2009

Check out the new site at Homecoming Scotland 2009 specifically for
Clan Scott Society Gathering 2009

Jock of Hazeldean by Sir Walter Scott

Check out this latest Wordle of the poem by Sir Walter Scott, Jock of Hazeldean

Clan Scott Society Gathering - 2009 - Bowhill - Scotland

New items were recently added to the schedule of events.

The following item is now showing in the calendar of events:

Sunday 27 Sept 2009 11.30
Open Air Ecumenical Service - admission free (collection)
Above St Marys Loch

as well details regarding an event the same afternoon is now more complete

Sun 27 Sept 2009 1pm Walks round Estate,
display of Buccleuch Fox Hounds, Ox roast BBQ to bid farewell to the Scotts.
- £10 location - Bowhill Courtyard

Booking for this event can be made through the booking site
http://www.thebooth.co.uk/

Ticket Booking Update

The ticket booking system for Clan Scott Gathering being held at Bowhill House and Country Estate in September 2009 is now working well. Instructions on the Bowhill site provide directions to type in the term Clan Scott in the search box at the top of the page above the map of Scotland at the ticket site.
http://www.thebooth.co.uk/

This will produce the full list of events. This method is much easier to access than the method I had listed (below) last evening. Some of these events are free to overseas members of Clan Scott Society and they are listed among the ticketed items so be sure to check out the way to register for the free events, by email if you qualify. The events and email address is listed in the blog entry below.

Booking of Clan Scott Events Has Begun

The registration for the various limited enrollment events at the Clan Scott Gathering in Scotland this Sept has begun. For more information get the full list of events at the Bowhill site
http://www.bowhill.org/public/news/homecoming20091

Actual booking of the events is through a private ticket selling site that has other Scottish events listed. Using Clan Scott in the search box at the top above the map of Scotland will sort the events involved. If you don't sort them you need to know the name of the venue for each event to find each of the Clan Scott events. Each venue is listed in the drop down menu. Most of the events are listed under Bowhill House - Bowhill Estate or Bowhill Theatre, but other events are listed under three other venues called

1. Marketplace, Selkirk Events;
2. Victoria Hall, Selkirk Events and
3. Abbotsford House, Melrose, Borders

Just do the search for Clan Scott on the registration site and everything will nicely sort as a list of events.

One item requires no registration. A free will offering will be received at the service.

Sun Sept 27, 2009 11.30 am Open Air Ecumenical Service - Above St Marys Loch

As well some events are free to overseas Clan Scott members but are listed with a price on the ticket site. Rather than buying a ticket for those events you should request a free ticket if you are an overseas member of the Clan Scott Society. For these free events you can contact the organizers with your Clan Scott Society membership number at the email address below.

Wednesday September 23, 2009 7:30 pm
Welcome with traditional music and light supper for overseas guests - location: County Hotel, Selkirk
Free to overseas Clan Scott members on application to bht@buccleuch.com
Tickets limited to 50 people

Saturday September 26, 2009 10 am - 4 pm
Tented Village: local crafts, Genealogy, Clan Parade, Storytelling, Re-enactment of Carterhaugh Ba’ Game and much more
£10 per car, Free for overseas Clan Scott members on application to to bht@buccleuch.com
- location Bowhill Gardens and Estate

Other events that require advance tickets are handled through
https://www.thebooth.co.uk/
They are listed by venue but most will sort in a list type Clan Scott in the search box at the top of page above the map of Scotland. This is an easy route to see all the events Otherwise if can't find an event try looking under each venue. The actual venue title is listed below in red. These include:

Thursday September 24, 2009 10am-5pm
Bus Tour of Scott Country - visits to Abbotsford, Melrose, Aikwood Tower and Dryburg
£10, including light lunch of local produce.
- location: Around the Scottish Borders
Is listed under Marketplace, Selkirk Events

Thursday September 24, 2009 7:30 pm - also on other evenings as well.
Theatre Performance The Ragged Lion presented by Rowan Tree Theatre Company
£10 (numbers limited to 70)
- location: Bowhill Theatre
listed under Bowhill Theatre, Selkirk, Borders
Friday September 25, 2009 2-5 pm

Tours of Bowhill House - Bowhill House and tea with 10th Duke of Buccleuch. 4 tours with tickets limited to 20 per tour.
£15 (80 tickets in total) Timed Tickets
- location: Bowhill House
listed under Bowhill House, Selkirk Events
called Bowhill House Tour

Friday September 25 1:30-4:30
Ranger led tours of Bowhill Woodlands. 3 tours with tickets limited to 40 per tour
£5 (120 tickets in total) Timed Tickets
- location: Bowhill Country Estate
listed under Bowhill House, Selkirk, Borders
event is called Ranger led tours of Bowhill Grounds & Gardens

Friday September 25 7 pm
Reception Dinner at Abbotsford for overseas guests
£50 Limited to 40
Abbotsford House, Melrose. Transport provided to and from Selkirk
listed under Abbotsford House, Melrose, Borders

Friday September 25 7:30 pm
Concert and Ceilidh Dancing, singing, entertainment.
£25
- location: Victoria Hall, Selkirk
listed under Victoria Hall, Selkirk Events
event is called Scottish Concert and Ceilidh

Saturday September 26, 2009 10 am - 4 pm
Tented Village: local crafts, Genealogy, Clan Parade, Storytelling, Re-enactment of Carterhaugh Ba’ Game and much more
£10 per car, Free for overseas Clan Scott members on application to to bht@buccleuch.com
- location Bowhill Gardens and Estate
listed under Bowhill Estate, Selkirk Events
called Tented Village
Note- as mentioned above, this is listed as a ticketed event on the ticket agency site but is free for overseas members of Clan Scott Society so request tickets directly by email, if this applies to you.

Saturday September 26, 2009 7:30 pm
Evening Concert with SCOCHA – traditional Scottish folk rock band
£10
- location Bowhill Gardens
listed under Bowhill Estate, Selkirk, Borders

Sunday September 27, 2009 1 pm
Walks round Estate, display of Buccleuch Fox Hounds, Ox roast BBQ to bid farewell to the Scotts. For Scott Clan members.
£10
- location Bowhill Courtyard
listed under - Bowhill House, Selkirk Events
called Barbeque to say farewell to the Scotts

Provisional Programme for Clan Scott Gathering—Wed 23rd—Sun 27th September

NOTE :
On-line booking of tickets will be available from 9th January, 2009 through the Bowhill website.

There has been an addition to the Bowhill House and Country Estate site. Including a Provisional Programme that may be of interest to those planning a trip to the Clan Scott Gathering in Scotland between the 24th and 27th September 2009.

The Bowhill House & Country Estate site now has the details in pdf format through the following link.
The details have been copied (without the original formatting) below

Bowhill House and Country Estate
www.bowhill.org

Provisional Programme for Scott Clan Gathering at Bowhill

24 – 27 September 2009

Wednesday September 23, 2009
Evening Welcome with traditional music and light supper for overseas guests - location: County Hotel, Selkirk
Free to overseas Clan Scott members on application to bht@buccleuch.com
Tickets limited to 50 people

Thursday September 24, 2009 10am-5pm
Bus Tour of Scott Country - visits to Abbotsford, Melrose, Aikwood Tower and Dryburg
£10, including light lunch of local produce.
- location: Around the Scottish Borders

Thursday September 24, 2009 7:30 pm
Theatre Performance The Ragged Lion presented by Rowan Tree Theatre Company
£10 (numbers limited to 70)
- location: Bowhill Theatre

Friday September 25, 2009 2-5 pm
Tours of Bowhill House - Bowhill House and tea with 10th Duke of Buccleuch. 4 tours with tickets limited to 20 per tour.
£15 80 tickets in total Timed Tickets
- location: Bowhill House

Friday September 25 1:30-4:30
Ranger led tours of Bowhill Woodlands. 3 tours with tickets limited to 40 per tour
£5 120 tickets in total Timed Tickets
- location: Bowhill Country Estate

Friday September 25 7 pm
Reception Dinner at Abbotsford for overseas guests
£40 Limited to 40
Abbotsford House, Melrose. Transport provided to and from Selkirk

Friday September 25 7:30 pm
Theatre Performance The Ragged Lion presented by Rowan Tree Theatre Company
£10 (numbers limited to 70)
- location: Bowhill Theatre

Friday September 25 7:30 pm
Concert and Ceilidh Dancing, singing, entertainment.
£10
- location: Victoria Hall, Selkirk

Saturday September 26, 2009 10 am - 4 pm
Tented Village: local crafts, Genealogy, Clan Parade, Storytelling, Re-enactment of Carterhaugh Ba’ Game and much more
£10 per car, Free for overseas Clan Scott members on application to to bht@buccleuch.com
- location Bowhill Gardens and Estate

Saturday September 26, 2009 7:30 pm
Evening Concert with SCOCHA – traditional Scottish folk rock band
£10
- location Bowhill Gardens

Saturday September 26, 2009 7:30 pm
Theatre Performance The Ragged Lion presented by Rowan Tree Theatre Company
£10 (numbers limited to 70)
- location: Bowhill Theatre

Sunday September 27, 2009 1 pm
Walks round Estate, display of Buccleuch Fox Hounds, Ox roast BBQ to bid farewell to the Scotts. For Scott Clan members.
Free to overseas Clan Scott members on application to bht@buccleuch.com
- location Bowhill Courtyard

Local Accommodation Providers - near Bowhill Country House & Estate

There has been an addition to the Bowhill House and Country Estate site. Including a listing of local accommodation providers that may be of interest to those planning a trip to the Clan Scott Gathering in Scotland between the 24th and 27th September 2009.

Selkirk Area (Approx 2.8 miles)

Hotels

The Glen Hotel http://www.glenhotel.co.uk/ Tel. 01750 20259

B&B’s/Guesthouses

Cross Keys Inn http://www.cross-keys-inn.co.uk Tel. 01750 52224
Ivy Bank B&B http://www.ivy-bank-bed-and-breakfast.co.uk/ Tel. 01750 21270


Galashiels Area (Approx 10 miles)

B&B’s/Guesthouses

Craigielea Guest House http://www.craigieleaborders.co.uk Tel. 01896 753838
Sunnybrae B&B http://www.sunnybrae.co.uk/ Tel. 01896 758042

Melrose Area (Approx 10 miles)

Hotels

Burts Hotel http://www.burtshotel.co.uk Tel. 01896 822285
The Townhouse http://www.thetownhousemelrose.co.uk Tel. 01896 822645

B&B’s/Guesthouses

Braidwood B&B http://www.braidwoodmelrose.co.uk/ Tel. 01896 822488
Fiorlin B&B http://www.melroseaccommodation.co.uk
Fauhope House http://www.fauhopehouse.com Tel. 01896 823184

Hawick Area (Approx 14 miles)

B&B’s/Guesthouses

Hizzy’s Guest House http://www.hizzys.co.uk/ Tel. 01450 372101

Additional information on Clan Scott Gathering in Scotland

There has been an addition to the Bowhill House and Country Estate site. Including a revision to the

• Provisional Programme of Events, and
• Local Accommodation

As well the date on which registration will begin has been announced, on-line booking of tickets will be available from 9th January 2009

Scott Country - Kelso: The River Tweed and Abbey Ruins

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

Scott Country - Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh Abbey

The abbey is said to have been founded in 1150 by the White Friars. Edward II burned it in 1322, and Robert the Bruce partly restored it. Sir Walter Scott is buried in the south aisle.

Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).

Scott Country - Roxburgh Castle

Roxburgh Castle
Watercolour illustrations from The Scott Country completed by Ernest William Haslehust (1866-1949).