Elliot Country

Towards the head of Liddesdale you are in the territory of the Elliot’s, a great local clan. Most of the farms here were home to Elliot’s and Nixon’s in the raiding days, with the principal strongholds at Redheugh, Hartsgarth and Larriston. Once the towers had been abandoned farmhouses were built, and the house at Larriston is one of the oldest residences in the valley. Here the Highland Jacobite forces camped in 1745, and here too the landowner carried out extensive improvements, operating limekilns, tileworks and even a small coal enterprise. Sweeping slopes lead from the fields to the top of the Larriston Fell, right on the Border once more. There is an abundance of wildlife among the old trees and along the stream sides on the farm.

At Saughtree, a mile of two to the northeast of Larriston, there is a junction leading to the North Tyne valley and Keilder Water. Among the open uplands of Saughtree, where raiders hid their stolen stock long ago, are prehistoric settlement sites, Elliot and Armstrong homesteads, ancient track ways and the stream where three medieval stone crosses were found.

The line of the border itself is just along the road, offering a good hill-walking. In addition to Keilder, Hermitage Castle, Jedburgh and its Abbey, the central Border area and the Roman Wall are all within easy distance.