Elibank Castle

Elibank Castle

"Elibank was originally known as Eliburn and in 1511 James IV granted a charter of the lands and forests of Aleburne to Catherine Douglas, the widow of John Liddale, and their son, also John. The charter obliged them “to build upon their property an adequate house of stone and lime, with a hall, chamber, barn, cattle-shed, stable, dovecot, garden, orchards and beehives”." (from stravaiging.com)

There's surprisingly more to see at this ruin than first imagined. While you can't get into the remaining standing tower you can look in through the gated doorway or in through the window and you can get into the vaults underneath which unless you actually go in to look around you would probably never notice.

Caution - this is a dangerous building so do not climb on the walls

Dryhope Tower

Dryhope Tower

"In 1535 King James V decreed that “each man with £100 worth of land must build a barman (an enclosing defensive wall) for the safety of humans and stock:. In the Borders, powerful families such as the Elliots, Armstrongs and Kerrs all built towers at the centre of their lands. Many of them are now just grassy mounds: Dryhope is one of the best preserved." (from scotclans.com)

Dryhope Tower has had a lot of structural work done, it seems mostly for safety rather than aesthetics. This includes a spiral metal staircase which leads to the roof where there are amazing views!

Gray Mare's Tail & Loch Skeen

Gray Mare's Tail & Loch Skeen

"The waterfall, one of the UK’s highest, plunges 60m down into the Moffat Water Valley. This dramatic upland landscape was created by glacial erosion over millions of years and unfolds further up steep slopes past the waterfall to picturesque Loch Skeen" (from National Trust for Scotland)