Hume

Hume Castle

Hume Castle is the modified remains of a late 12th / early 13th-century castle. Nice castle folly in a quiet scenic area.

"Hume Castle was used as a beacon to warn of English invasion throughout the medieval period. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries it performed the same function but was now on the alert for an invasion by Napoleon. On 31 January 1804 the alarm was raised when a fire from charcoal burners on nearby Dirrington Law was mistaken as a beacon. When the Sergeant in charge of Hume lit his own beacon, the result was a chain initiation across the Scottish borders and the mobilisation of a 3,000 strong force. This became known as the 'Great Alarm'." (from castlesfortsbattles.co.uk)

The surrounding field often has sheep in it, so don't go in with your dog off lead! The gate may appear locked but you just need to lift the latch and slide it along, be sure to close it to keep the sheep out (and obviously close the field gates to keep the sheep in!)

If you take a wander down to the Hume War Memorial, you'll also see the memorial horse sculpture and also a bizarre Wickerman-esque figure lurking in the trees!