Smailholm Tower

Smailholm Tower sits almost half way between Melrose (9 miles away) and Kelso (7 miles away), and is reached by minor country roads.

View Smailholm Tower on a Google map

Journey Planners

Search for National Cycle Network routes with the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust

Plan your journey by public transport using Traveline Scotland

Carers' tickets

Visitors with disabilities are charged standard admission rates (adult/concession/child). Proof of disability is not required. Up to two accompanying carers receive free entry per transaction.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are permitted at all our sites and within roofed areas.

Parking

The small parking area is level crushed stone. There are no accessible bays marked.

Access to the car park from the main road is through Sandyknowe Farm and across two cattle grids.

Approach to site

A latched kissing gate (90cm wide) leads from the car park to the path towards the tower.

The tower is 190m from the car park along an earth path. It can be very muddy in wet weather and there may be cattle nearby.

The path has an average gradient of:

• 1:20 over the first 100m

• 1:9 over the last 90m

Entry to the site is through a metal gate 75cm wide (it can be opened up to make a double gate 2m wide).

Visitor centre

Entry to the visitor centre is through a low (96cm) and narrow (85cm) door, with an uneven threshold stone.

There is a step up to the area in front of the counter.

The upper level of the exhibition is reached by a modern spiral timber and steel staircase of 12 steps with a handrail on the outer side.

Monument

The architectural remains by the tower are viewed from a deep gravel surface.

The tower has three upper floors reached by a narrow (89cm) stone spiral staircase of 63 steps with a rope handrail on the inner side.

Grounds

Smailholm Tower sits on uneven ground on a hill. The land around it is used for grazing.

Special features

Please note that Smailholm Tower has low doorways throughout the building.

Toilets

Smailholm has no toilets.

The nearest accessible public toilets are in Horsemarket, Kelso.

Audio Guide

Tour the tower with our audio guide using your own mobile phone or one of our devices. Included in ticket price.

Print versions of the audio guide are available in both large print and Open Dyslexic large print. These are also available to download onto your own device. Please ask a member of staff for a copy.

• Bicycle rack
• Car parking
• No dogs except assistance dogs
• Guided or audio tours available