Scott's View

Scott's View

"This iconic view of the Scottish Borders is said to have been the favorite of the celebrated 19th century novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott.

The story goes that he paused to admire the view so often during his travels that his horses soon learned to stop at the viewpoint without command. When Scott died in 1832, his funeral procession passed the viewpoint on its way to Dryburgh Abbey (where Scott was interred), and it is said that his horses stopped out of habit, allowing their friend to have one final look at the Borders landscape he loved so dearly." (from Atlas Obscura)

This is a great visit almost any time of year as although it changes with each season you will always get a wonderful view, it's easy to see why Sir Walter Scott enjoyed this place so much. It is visited quite regularly but most people who go really do take in the view so it's usually pretty peaceful and there's a couple of benches where you can sit and take it all in.

William Wallace Statue

William Wallace Statue

"The statue of Wallace was the first to be erected in Scotland and is based on a portrait of Wallace found in France. The sculpture was commissioned by David Stewart Erskine, the 11th Earl of Buchan and executed by Mr John Smith of Darnick, a self-taught sculptor, who worked from the portrait.

The statue is gigantic; much larger than life-sized. It stands 21.5 feet high and stands atop a pedestal 9.5 feet high, for a total height of 31 feet. The piece is carved from red sandstone and was originally painted white, though the paint has long-since worn way, leaving the plain sandstone. It shows Wallace clad in medieval Scottish armour, with a shield hanging from his left arm while he leans upon a sword with his right." (from britainexpress.com)

An inscription on the base of the Wallace statue reads:

Erected by David Stuart
Erskine, Earl of Buchan
WALLACE
GREAT PATRIOT HERO!
ILL REQUITED CHIEF!
Joannes Smith Sculpsit
MDCCCXIV

There is also another sculpure by Smith of an urn situated just in front of the Wallace Statue with the faded inscription:

The peerless Knight of Elderslie
Who wav'd on Ayr's romantic shore
The beamy torch of liberty
And roaming round from sea to sea
From glade obscure of gloomy rock
His bold companions call'd to free
The realm from Edward's iron yoke

Castle Knowe

Castle Knowe is the site of an Iron Age fort in Cardrona forest, presumably the walls have been rebuilt over the years.

You can find this site by following the brown "Pikes Knowe Trail" around Cardrona Forest. This trail also takes you passed Cardrona Tower 

Gordon Community Woodland

"Gordon is a small Borders village with a large community woodland of over 200 acres, almost all mixed broadleaves. The wood has a pond, a cabin, a river, old burial mounds and a disused railway line as well as lots of trees, so there's something for everyone and a lot to do." (from woodlandtrust.org)

There are a few nice routes round Gordon Woodland that you can do any time of year although it can get a bit sludgy in the rain! Lots of wildlife to see here including birds of prey and some deer running about.