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Smailholm Tower

Sandyknowe Farm, Kelso
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Important notice

The walk up to the tower is currently very muddy, we recommend strong footwear.

Discover the setting that helped shape Sir Walter Scott’s imagination.

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Ancestors of the great Romantic novelist once called Smailholm Tower home.

This 15th‑century tower house is a remarkably complete laird’s residence that still stands roofed and floored today. Around it, the foundations of the outer hall and kitchen hint at the wider life of the estate, while the massive enclosure wall—nearly two metres thick—reveals the strength once needed in these borderlands.

Inside, the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border exhibition explores the deep connection between Scott, the tower, and the ballads that inspired him. From the battlements, take in wide views across the countryside, and on a clear day you might even spot Bamburgh Castle far across the Northumberland coast.

Extend your journey with a visit to nearby Dryburgh Abbey, the peaceful resting place of Sir Walter Scott.

Close-up view of a stone tower house on a rocky outcrop with a Scottish flag flying beside it.
View from stone ruins looking out across rolling green hills beneath a cloudy sky.
Interior of a vaulted stone room with wooden floor and display cases showing small artefacts.

Smailholm’s charm is tied to the spirit of 18th‑ and 19th‑century Romanticism. It was clearly a place that sparked Scott’s imagination, and the way we see the tower today is still shaped by his stories and ideas. JMW Turner, one of the most famous artists of the time, painted the tower after Scott encouraged him to visit. Since then, Smailholm has stayed a favourite subject for artists who are drawn to its dramatic setting and atmosphere.

Stone tower at dusk with a large orange moon rising behind it.
Image credit: Lee Howard

The remarkable art of Anne Carrick

Anne Carrick’s handmade costumed figures offer a unique way to experience Sir Walter Scott’s stories during a visit to Smailholm Tower. Created in 1971 to mark the 200th anniversary of Scott’s birth, the models illustrate scenes from Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, using detailed costumes and thoughtful staging to bring key moments from the ballads to life. Displayed in the tower that helped inspire Scott as a child, the figures add an engaging visual layer to the site’s history and give visitors a memorable introduction to the characters and legends that shaped his early work.

Find out more about her work on our blog:

Conjuring up the Fairy Queen: The Art of Anne Carrick

Border Ballads Brought to Life at Smailholm Tower

A detailed model of a medieval woman wearing layered embroidered robes and a long veil, standing with one arm raised to hold a falcon. A light‑coloured hound on a leash stands at their side, with feathers and hunting gear arranged on the ground beneath them.
A scene from the ballad “The Twa Corbies,” where two crows discuss how a fallen knight has been forgotten. His lover, hound, and hawk have all moved on after his death.
A model dressed in an ornate dark gown with metallic gold patterns and a sweeping cloak, standing beside tall artificial reeds. The figure wears a decorative headdress and appears to be positioned in a dramatic, atmospheric scene.
The Queen of the Fairies from the Tale of Tamlane. The Queen kidnaps the young hero and takes him to Fairyland.
A group of four figures—an adult woman holding an infant, a young girl hugging her side, and an older woman leaning forward—stand in the foreground. Behind them, a mounted rider on a brown horse charges past, creating a sense of urgency or danger.
A scene from The Tale of Jamie Telfer of the Fair Dodhead, where Jamie leaves his wife and children behind to pursue the cattle thieves who have raided his home.
A model of a medieval woman seated on wooden steps, dressed in a long green gown with patterned sleeves and a veil. She holds a small harp in her lap, her posture suggesting she is preparing to play.
This scene shows Annie from the ballad “Lord Thomas and Fair Annie.” Annie is the lover of Lord Thomas, who ultimately chooses to marry another woman only to discover she is Annie’s long‑lost sister.

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