Clan Scott Heritage Trail
Index Page
Edinburgh and Nearby
Edinburgh to Hawick via A7 and via Galashiels & Selkirk
Edinburgh to Galashiels via A72 and via Peebles
Fife
Introduction
The Clan Scott Heritage Trail has been created to allow those who wish to visit as many of the main locations as possible in Scotland that have connections with the Scott clan/family today and over preceding centuries. You can stop at as many or as few of the places as you wish (or have time to devote).
Although divided into separate pages the routes overlap at various points
The pages have brief notes on each location and - where more information is available - there are links to longer pages on a number of these. The longer descriptions are all also listed under the "Places to Visit" tab at the top of each Web page on this site.
The Scotts are historically very much associated with the Scottish Borders, so the trail focuses on that part of Scotland. But as various Scotts made there mark on Edinburgh and as many people use Scotland's capital as a base, the first three pages concentrate on Edinburgh and the two main routes to the Borders Country from there on Pages 2 and 3. Those travelling from Glasgow can go "cross country" but although longer in terms of miles it is faster to travel via Edinburgh. Those who do not wish to go into the city centre can use the City Bypass to link up with the routes on Pages 2 or 3.
Scotts also had a major presence in Fife (Scotts of Balwearie etc) and Page 4 focuses on that county.
NOTE:This Clan Scott Heritage Trail is very much a "work in progress" and will be expanded as time permits. Eventually, the aim is to also create a PDF document that can be downloaded and/or printed out so that you can take it with you when touring to the places which have been identified.
In the meantime, enjoy the Clan Scott Heritage Trail via these pages.
Monument to Sir Walter Scott in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh
Other parts of Scotland with connections to the Scotts
Ross Priory (Balloch, Argyll) - Sir Walter Scott wrote much of "Rob Roy" at Ross Priory, near Balloch.
Cessnock Castle, Galston, Ayrshire - a massive keep had a large mansion added to it. Initially the property of the Campbellsthen passed through various owners including the Scotts.
Dean Castle, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire - a well preserved 14th century keep built by the Boyds, with a 15th century palace block with a tower and curtain wall enclosing a courtyard. The adjoining three-storey house dates from the 17th century. In the 14th century, it was held by the Balliols but Robert the Bruce gave it to the Boyd family. Dean castle and estate (now a public park) to the Cunningham earl of Glecairn then to the Scotts of Balconie. The castle passed to Lord Howard de Walden in 1828 who donated the estate to Kilmarnock in1975 and it became a public park.
Murthockston, near Bothwell in Lanarkshire - One of the earliest locations recorded as being owned by the Scotts whose descendants became the Scotts of Buccleuch. Property there was exchanged for that of Branxholme Castle
Benholm Castle, Johnshaven, Kincardine - a ruined 15th century keep and a more modern mansion house attached. It was the property of the Lundie family but later passed to the Ogilvies, then the Keithearls MarischalThe property was sold to the Scotts in 1659 who added the large mansion. In 1992 a storm brought down half of the keep.
Brotherton Castle, Kincardine - site of castle and owned by the Brotherton family who sold the property to the Scotts who still held it in the 20th century.
Usan House, Montrose - a mansion house which may incorporate part of an earlier castle from as early as the 13th century. The property passed to the Scotts and then the Keiths and is now held by the Alstons.
Rossie Castle, (south-west of Montrose, Angus) - site of a castle belonging to the Rossie family but it passed to the Scotts of Logie by 1650 and later the Millers.