Places to Visit

A Little Further Afield

There are numerous interesting day trips possible from Newcastleton. As well as the ones listed here (all within 1 hour from the village) you may wish to venture further afield, to Edinburgh or Glasgow, or to explore the beautiful national parks of The Lake District or Northumberland. You may also like to take the scenic drive along the northern shore of the Solway Coast, visiting the charming villages of Powfoot, Rockliffe and Kippford.

This Roman ruin runs across the width of Britain close to the Scotland/England border. Built in AD 122, after Emperor Hadrian, inspecting far frontiers of the Roman Empire, decided that a wall was needed to keep out the barbarians to the north. The remains of Roman garrisons and forts can be seen in several places along the wall, notably at Chesters and Housesteads- well worth a visit from Staffin.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall/

The Border abbeys of Jedburgh, Dryburgh, Kelso and Melrose can be covered in a day trip from Staffin. These monastic ruins were built in the 12th Century and were frequently attacked by the English during the turbulent medieval times. The towns of Jedburgh, Kelso and Melrose also have many other sights worth visiting, including:

  • Floors Castle just outside Kelso
  • Teviot Smokery & Water Gardens near Kelso
  • Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum
  • Mary Queen of Scots House in Jedburgh
  • Priorwood Gardens in Melrose
  • Abbotsford House (home of Sir Walter Scott) near Melrose

Gretna Green is famous for its Blacksmiths Shop where you can see memorabilia from couples who, from 1754, fled England to wed legally across the border in Scotland. There is also a nearby shopping outlet called Caledonia Park where you may wish to spend a few hours trying to get a designer bargain!

Another interesting place to visit nearby is the Devil’s Porridge Museum, which tells the story of how Gretna was built during the First World War to house 30,000 employees working in one of the biggest munitions factories in the world. The museum continues the story of conflict in this region by looking at World War Two and then the Cold War. More information on this interesting museum can be found at https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/

It is a scenic 25km drive to reach Kielder Water (northern Europe’s largest man-made lake) and Kielder Forest (England’s largest forest). Here, many water and land-based activities are possible, including kayaking, sailing, cycling, fishing, mountain biking, and horse riding.  In the summer you can also take a boat trip around the lake. https://www.visitkielder.com/

If you are in this area, be sure to visit the Observatory and Birds of Prey Centre:

Kielder Observatory 

Set within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, this observatory is well worth a visit. It offers a varied events programme to suit all ages but booking is highly recommended. https://kielderobservatory.org/

Kielder Birds of Prey Centre

The Kielder Birds of Prey Centre, located within the magnificent lakeside surroundings of Kielder Water, is one of the largest and most fascinating collections of Birds of Prey in the North of England. There are now over 65 birds including owls, hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures and one or two other interesting species! It is also possible to take part in a number of hands-on experiences, including bird handling, hawk walks, and a photography day. http://www.kielderbopc.com/