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.
