Welcome to
| Historian | Filmmaker | Blogger |
| Guided Tours | Group Speaker |
Discover Scottish Borders is a website and social media stream to showcase the intrepid explorers of the Scottish Borders and the borderland between Scotland and England. We cover the Myths and legends as well as strange places – We also have a love for the wildlife that frequents this area! Our website is for everyone who has a connection with the Scottish Borders, whether you live here, have visited (or even want to visit), your ancestors came from here or if you just like the look of this beautiful region!
Our Story
Mark Nicol is the driving force behind Discover Scottish Borders, meticulously researching, scouting and presenting his videos that are unique and full of informative information and bringing the Borders Regions history and tales to life that are almost forgotten.
This is all done in Mark’s free time and days off!
It all started off one day with Mark exploring the local region and producing certain videos that were a way of documenting his explorations with a little bit of a fun element to add to better viewing and in context with Mark’s personality.
Our Passion
Our Videos
Listen Again – TD1 Radio Interview
My Radio interview on TD1 Radio
Scottish Border Legends – Hobbie Kerr
A man searches for evidence of enigmatic Border Reiver Hobbie Kerr and in particular Hobbie Kerr's cave, which had...
Prehistoric Sunrise 2019
We visit a prehistoric site to watch the first sunrise of 2019 in the Scottish Borders
Shorts – Body Snatchers & Jougs
Taking a look at the interesting and macabre artefacts in Eckford Church yard.
Witch Execution Sites Scottish Borders
A man uses old maps to trace the sites where thousands of women were executed for being witches in...
Highlights – Scottish Borders Tour 2018
Highlights from our Scottish Borders history and mystery tour last year 2018, and looking forward to the May 2019...
Battle of Carham
The Scottish Borders and Lothians are celebrating 1000 years of being Scottish this year. We investigate the Battle if Carham...
Shorts- Cheviots war Graves
We look at some international pilot’s war graves in a remote corner of the Cheviot Hills, North England.
Shorts – The Bruce left his mark
We look at Norham church and the scars left there by Robert the Bruce
Shorts – Twizel Castle
We investigate Twizel castle in Northumberland. One of many castles built on the Anglo-Scots Border to protect from marauding...
The Real Black Douglas
We go on the trail of the Black Douglas, inspired by the Netflix movie Outlaw King. He visits the...
Willie Armstrong’s Grave
The graves of Border Reivers are few and far between. In this new film we go looking for one of...
Shorts – Black Douglas Outlaw King
The Black Douglas in the new Netflix movie Outlaw King
Shorts – Buzzard
While out filming I get a lucky shot of a buzzard
EASTERN (Lothian) ODYSSEY
A man goes on an adventure around East Lothian in Southern Scotland. Looking at ancient hill forts, WW2 submarine...
Shorts – Warrior’s Rest
A look at 3 mysterious standing stones in the Yarrow Valley, Scottish Borders....what do they mean??
Shorts – Traquair yew forest
A look at the enchanting and magical yew trees on the Traquair house estate in the Scottish Borders.
Shorts – Cauldshiels hill fort and the Catrail
A look at Cauldshiels Hill, hill fort and the stand-off with the Rink fort and Catrail across the valley
Shorts – Scottish Borders Autumn
Scott’s View and Stichill Linn waterfall in the Scottish Borders Autumn
Sacred Scottish Yew Trees
A man searches for ancient, sacred, huge, impressive yew trees in Southern Scotland, and wonders why they are so...
Death of Paganism in Scotland
A man investigates what potentially could be the first Christian site in Scotland and finds the oldest Christian relic...
Armstrong Family Tour
On Friday 17th August Mark met with Craig and Becci Speers and their family to trace the family roots...
Scottish Borders Cave Hunter
A man investigates the large above and underground cave system at Grahamslaw in the Scottish Borders, then foolishly imagines...
Trimontium- Scotland’s Greatest Roman Site / Sight
A man films the outline of Trimontium Roman Fort near Melrose during the drought conditions of 2018 with real...
Scottish Borders Caves
A mans childish obsession with finding caves and singing about them continues.
William Wallace’s Grave??
A man searches for Wallace sites in the Scottish Borderlands including Wallace's trench and a possible resting place for...
The Lammas Tide
A man investigates the battle of Otterburn from 1388. Tracing the footsteps of James Douglas and makes a rather...
Bourjo – Eildon Hills
Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo, Bourjo etc What does it mean????
Covenanter Murder – John Hunter 1685
A man investigates the murder , in 1685, of a Covenanter based soley on his religion amid the stunning...
Whitslaid Tower, Lauder, Berwickshire
Whitslaid Tower, Lauder, Berwickshire situated just of the A68, 2 miles south of Lauder
Longshanks vs Wallace – Borderlands
A man searches for monuments and evidence of Edward Logshanks and William Wallace in the Scottish and English Borderlands.
Celebrating 100 Years of the RAF
A man looks for the site of RAF Charterhall in the Scottish Borders, the scene of so many death...
History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders – Aug 2018
Join us this summer for an exclusive History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders. Your guides Mark Nicol (Scot)...
The mark of the Roman Legion
A man searches for the mark of the Roman legion Legio II Augusta hidden in a secret underground chamber...
Wars of Independance in Galashiels?
A man traces a link between Tweedbank in Galashiels and Caddonlee which was for centuries the muster point of...
History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders – Aug 2018
Join us this summer for an exclusive History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders. Your guides Mark Nicol (Scot)...
Bethlehem of The Borders
A man investigates the life and death of St Cuthbert from his origins in the Scottish Borders hills to...
Live Stream – New Feature on our Website
We are pleased to bring you our new feature on our website: 24/7 Live Streaming Find yourself at a loose end...
Secrets of Jedburgh Abbey
We search for lost and ruined churches around Jedburgh, then investigates who was buried in Jedburgh Abbey to make...
Borders Horrific Xmas
A man investigates ancient monuments and lost villages of Berwickshire then has a supernatural experience at Foul Ford
Not Outlander this is real!
A man investigates stone circles in the Borderlands between Scotland and England, with some dramatic results.
War & Religion on the Tweed
A man searches for the lost and forgotten Chapel of St Cuthbert on the banks of the River Tweed,...
Whytbank Tower – Scottish Borders Haunted Towers
A man investigates the eerie Whytbank Tower, Clovenfords in the Scottish Borders with some alarming results.
Eildons – A short trailer
A short trailer for our new film due out October 2017. A man searches for the myths and legends...
The Gates of Hell in Southern Scotland
A man investigates goblins, ghosts and fairies in Southern Scotland while looking for the gates of Hell ..... with...
The Legend of the Black Dwarf
A man searches for evidence that Sir Walter Scott's novel "the Black Dwarf" was based on a real man...
Scottish Borders Mass Graves
A man searches for forgotten mass graves in the Scottish Borders, all fuelled by religious persecution in the 17th...
Remembering The Battle of Flodden
A man travels to fantastical ruined castles, old bridges and monuments to uncover the history of the Battle of...
Heavily Defended Galashiels
A nightmare(ish) glimpse of the future where everybody wants to get into a heavily defended Galashiels.
The Holiest Place In the Scottish Borders?
A man investigates a mysterious, huge cross prominent on a remote hill side near Peebles.
The Romans, Hadrian’s Wall to Peebles
A man searches for a little known Roman fort in Peeblesshire and investigates the difference between Roman sites on...
The Pacification of The Scottish Borders
A man investigates the brutally violent pacification of the Scottish Borders during the Union of the English and Scottish...
The 3 Brochs of Galashiels
A man searches for the 3 stone age Brochs which survived in the Galashiels area at the beginning of...
Borders Legends – The Battle of Degsastan
A man searches for the legendary site of the Battle of Degsastan in the Scottish Borders, with some dramatic...
Tallest Bridge In the World (1794)
A man searches for the tallest bridge in the Scottish Borders, which was the tallest bridge in the world...
WW2 Bunkers and Iron Age Forts
A man searches for a top secret World War 2 Operations bunker + Iron age hill fort, all amongst...
The Lowland Clearances – Lost Villages
A man talks about the land clearances of the Scottish Borders in the 18th century, and searches for some...
The Peoples History Show – STV
Our Very own Mark Nicol on The Peoples History Show - STV
Scottish Border’s Waterfalls – Part Deux
A man visits some rubbishy waterfalls in Galashiels then searches for the huge, remote and majestic Wolf Cleuch Falls...
Real Scottish Borders Mermaids
A man investigates the mysterious Mermaids Well and Mermaids Pool in the Scottish Borders with disturbing results.
Tunneling Tommy The Teviotdale Tiger
A man enters the cavernous abyss that is Peebles Neidpath Railway tunnel, searching for a long lost relative.
Scottish Border’s Waterfalls
A man serches for a mystical, beautiful largely unknown waterfall in the Scottish Borders. Taking in some more well...
The Romans in the Scottish Borders
A man investigates the earthworks on top of Woden Law near Jedburgh and also looks at the Roman road...
Snow on the Eildon Hills
Short showcase of the beauty of our region in winter.
The Linton Worm
We go in search of the most ferocious and terrifying creature ever to stalk the countryside of the Borders....
Happy New Year 2017
All the best to our website visitors!
Merry Christmas from Discover Scottish Borders
The official Discover Scottish Borders Christmas Video On a different level from John Lewis!
Knights Templar in the Scottish Borders
Join us on a rollercoaster of a journey from the war-torn desert wastes of the middle East to the...
Cave of the Black Douglas
A man searches for the mysterious Ancrum caves and then goes on to look for a cave reputedly used...
Ruberslaw Scottish Borders
A man climbs Ruberslaw in the Scottish Borders for the first time and wonders at the stunning panoramas.
Quest for the Crystal Well
A man searches for the mysterious Crystal Well in the Scottish Borders, with some terrifying results…
Scottish Borders Isolation
A man gets lost among the hills in the Scottish Borders after the first flurry of snow in 2016,...
Scottish Border Legends: Little Jock Elliot
A man investigates the life of notorious Scottish Border Reiver, Little Jock Elliot. And looks into the real reason...
Scottish Border Legends, Kinmont Willie
We go on a search for the lost grave of notorious Border Reiver Kinmont Willie Armstrong. And also re-live some...
Forgotten Galashiels
A man walks from Galashiels to Clovenfords via the forgotten Blindlee Tower and mysterious Meigle Pots. Also features a...
Crossing the Anglo-Scots Border
A man searches for a mysterious, eerie tunnel which bores through the cliffs at the eastern extremity of the...
Scottish Borders Dolphins
A man films dolphins from the town of Eyemouth
Forgotten Scottish Borders Castles
A man dreams of forgotten Scottish Borders castles, in Selkirk and on the cliffs of Berwickshire ….. but are...
Scottish Borders Smugglers
We investigate the smuggling trade in the Scottish Borders throughout the 18th and 19th century. Visiting smuggling hotspots inland and...
Highest Point In the Scottish Borders
A man climbs the highest hill in the Scottish Borders and then rolls back down again. Filmed amidst the...
A Tale of 2 Tribes
We follow the path of the Catrail, this time in a Southerly direction. We make a vital distinction of...
Dobies Grave – A pipers resting place *Updated
Dobies Grave – A pipers resting place Remote, ancient, mysterious graves of unknown pipers are scattered across the Border...
Traquair House Promotional Video
Traquair house is built on the site of a hunting seat used by the Scottish kings from the 12th century....
Dere Street
Scottish Borders Aerial Film – Some Aerial Footage of landmarks in the Scottish Borders set to Music from Scottish Borders Band...
The Mutiny Stones
We go in search for the oldest, most remote and most mysterious ancient monument in the Scottish Borders. Thanks to...
The Allure of The Borders Hills
Simply more reasons to Discover whats on our door step in the Scottish Borders.
Merlin’s Place
We finally found him! Proof that Merlin the Wizard existed in the Scottish Borders….. This is a lead on...
King Arthur in the Scottish Borders
Our recent trail follows some of the footsteps of the legend of King Arthur and the Wizard Merlin and...
Norham Castle – Not what we expected
A recent visit to Norham Castle turned out “not what we expected”. Heres what we found… This section of...
Hermitage Castle ghost??
A man unwittingly captures a strange figure on film at Hermitage Castle while filming a video about the Borders...
Edin’s Hall Broch
They don’t make them like this no more! Edin’s hall broch near Duns
Scottish Borders Legends…The Black Douglas
A man talks about the life of Scotlands fiercest ever warrior the Black Douglas. Also the site of ancient...
Galashiels Mysteries…The Catrail
A man walks along the legemdary Catrail or Picts Ditch Earthwork from the great and uncharted Rink Fort near...
A Tale of two (Scottish Borders) Cities
In this day and age the regional area of the Scottish Borders has large townships born out of the...
Galashiels Mysteries – Wallace’s Putting Stone
A man goes in search of the legendary “Wallace’s Putting Stone” at the summit of Meigle Hill in Galashiels....
Scottish Borders Coast
A man investigates the site of a pivotal moment in World War 1, then looks at a largely forgotten,...
Pray For Otters In Galashiels
A man takes us on the emotional roller coaster of a journey that is spotting otters in the Scottish...
Unbelievable Galashiels wildlife
A man spots otters and peregrine falcons while out walking in Galashiels
Scottish Borders Witch Project
A man investigates the brutal witch hunts carried out in the Scottish Borders in the 1500s. A period in...
Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie
A man notices a similarity between 2 statues in Galashiels and Carlisle. And then goes on the trail of...
About the Scottish Borders
Technically, as it stands today the Scottish Borders is a council areal formed in 1975 – Although our website is not to be confused as solely concentrating on the council area but rather the whole of the Anglo-Scottish border area that has seen some of the most extravagant moments in history of the British Isles
Historically, the term Borders has a wider meaning, referring to all of the burghs adjoining the English border, also including Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire — as well as Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland in England.
Roxburghshire and Berwickshire historically bore the brunt of the conflicts with England, both during declared wars such as the Wars of Scottish Independence, and armed raids which took place in the times of the Border Reivers. Thus, across the region are to be seen the ruins of many castles, abbeys and even towns.
The Scottish Borders has seen evidence from Pictish tribes, Roman Strongholds right through to important battles and documented papers that played a vital part of the several Wars of Independence.
Our Bloggings
Listen Again – TD1 Radio Interview
My Radio interview on TD1 Radio
Armstrong Family Tour
On Friday 17th August Mark met with Craig and Becci Speers and their family to trace the family roots...
Whitslaid Tower, Lauder, Berwickshire
Whitslaid Tower, Lauder, Berwickshire situated just of the A68, 2 miles south of Lauder
Discover Scottish Borders Meets Borders College
Mark met students from Borders college studying Scottish Borders History and took them to a scary and dark place........
History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders – Aug 2018
Join us this summer for an exclusive History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders. Your guides Mark Nicol (Scot)...
History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders – Aug 2018
Join us this summer for an exclusive History and Mystery Tour of the Scottish Borders. Your guides Mark Nicol (Scot)...
Live Stream – New Feature on our Website
We are pleased to bring you our new feature on our website: 24/7 Live Streaming Find yourself at a loose end...
Whytbank Tower – Scottish Borders Haunted Towers
A man investigates the eerie Whytbank Tower, Clovenfords in the Scottish Borders with some alarming results.
Buckholm Tower (and a Ghost Story)
In pictures - Buckholm Tower and a Ghost Story
Old Melrose WW2 Bunker
In pictures - Our visit to Old Melrose WW2 Bunker
Yester Castle and Goblin Hall
Yester castle was build in the 1260s. Although in East Lothian in was considered a stronghold in the wars...
Border Reivers may have used advance technology
Modern Studies show how Border Reviers survived so well Border Reivers: From the late 13th century until their gradual...
William Leggat of Cavers
William Leggat of Cavers A different kind of Statue in the Scottish Borders William Leggat of Cavers was a simple-minded...
The Poems of Will H Ogilvie
The Poems of Will H Ogilvie Will H Ogilvie was born at Holefield Farm near Kelso, Scotland in 1869....
Talla Reservoir – A man made beauty
Talla Reservoir A man made beauty in Scottish Borders In the days I used to work night shift, after...
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Guided Tours
We are able to offer private guided tours that are specifically themed to take in the great myths, legends and tales of the Borders Region and beyond.
Experience first hand the grandeur of these places and take in the knowledge from your guided tour and explore the many unknown and forgotten about aspects of the area of the Border Lands.
Speaker
Mark is also available to provide talks for groups who are interested in the history of the Borders Region.
As you can see Mark has a real passion for the unknown and forgotten history and presents his videos in a unique way to engage an audience and bring a fun way of keeping the Borders Spirit alive.