Prehistory & Ancient Borders

Mark follows the earthwork known as Wallace’s Trench in the hills between Galashiels and Innerleithen, asking what its name and the Catrail can tell us.

Hidden in a forest glen near Coldstream, Routin Linn holds one of the most extraordinary examples of prehistoric art in Britain.

The Votadini were an Iron Age tribe of south-east Scotland. They built hillforts on heights like Traprain Law, traded with Rome, and later became the early medieval kingdom of Gododdin. Their warriors’ last stand at Catraeth is immortalised in the poem Y Gododdin, and their spirit lives on in Border folklore.

Long before castles and clans, the Selgovae ruled the Border hills. This Iron Age tribe fought the Romans, survived north of Hadrian’s Wall, and left a legacy that still echoes in the culture of the Anglo-Scottish Borderers and the reiving families who came after them.

Join me on a journey to the summit of Yeavering Bell — the grandest hill fort in Northern England, towering near the Scottish Border. But how does this ancient Votadini stronghold compare to the likes of Eildon Hill or Traprain Law across the line?

Explore the mystery of Heriot’s Dyke and Harefaulds Hillfort, where ancient earthworks whisper stories of Scotland’s tribal past. These forgotten landscapes reveal Iron Age defences and a legacy carved into the hills of the Borders.

A 2,000-year-old hill fort near Galashiels, long hidden beneath dense woodland, is revealed as trees are cleared for the first time in over a century. 🌲 This spring, Rink Fort steps back into the light—ready to share its ancient story.

Astonishing footage reveals the vast scale of the ancient settlement on Eildon Hill North — once a mighty Iron Age stronghold above Melrose. 🏔️ Thanks to LiDAR technology, hidden ramparts and structures emerge from the landscape, rewriting what we know about Scotland’s tribal past.

On a five-mile walk from Peebles, multiple ancient hill forts emerge from the landscape — silent sentinels of the Iron Age. 🛡️ These lost strongholds, once held by the Selgovae tribe, reveal a hidden tapestry of Borders history underfoot.

With over 400 hill forts scattered across the Scottish Borders, the landscape holds a forgotten story of ancient defence. 🛡️ One such site, Dreva Craig near Peebles, offers a dramatic glimpse into Iron Age fortification and frontier life.

Exploring the 2,000-year-old Edins Hall Broch in the Scottish Borders reveals one of the most remarkable and rare Iron Age structures in southern Scotland. 🏺 With stunning views and ancient walls, it’s a perfect site for guided tours into Scotland’s prehistoric past.

A lone standing stone in the Scottish Borders faces directly towards the Eildon Hills — a silent sentinel with a possible deeper purpose. 🪨 Could it be just one fragment of a vast forgotten temple, aligned with ancient beliefs and celestial forces?

After spotting an old drawing of two standing stones online, the search begins to find their real-world location near Peebles. 🪨 Hidden in plain sight, these ancient sentinels whisper of forgotten rituals and sacred landscapes.

An investigation into 15th-century landowner Robert Pringle of Wrangholm leads deep into the layered history of the Scottish Borders — where Border Reiver legacy meets something far older. 🪨 Among standing stones like the Cossars Stone and Brother Stones lies evidence of a vast prehistoric temple, hinting at sacred landscapes once revered by ancient peoples

In the heart of the Scottish Borders, a journey connects three powerful landmarks: the Brothers Standing Stones, the dramatic Smailholm Tower, and the enigmatic Cow Stone. 🪨🏰 Together, they weave a tale of ancient belief, clan history, and timeless landscapes.

We welcomed the first sunrise of 2019 at the ancient site of Torwoodlee Broch in the Scottish Borders — a place where Iron Age stone meets spiritual stillness. 🌄 As the light broke over the hills, it felt like stepping between worlds.

Highlights from our 2018 Scottish Borders History & Mystery Tour included standing stones, ruined towers, haunted kirkyards, and hidden Reiver trails — all set against the stunning backdrop of the Borders landscape. 🏰🗺️ With tales of witches, outlaws, and ancient rituals, it was a journey into the heart of Scotland’s forgotten past. We’re now looking forwa

In the heart of the Yarrow Valley stand three mysterious stones, weathered by time and cloaked in legend. 🪨 Are they ancient markers of burial, ritual, or memory — perhaps even the resting place of fallen warriors? Their true meaning remains lost in the mists of the Bronze Age.

Explore Cauldshiels Hill and its ancient hill fort, overlooking a dramatic stand-off with Rink Fort and the mysterious Catrail across the valley. 🛡️ These silent ridgelines echo with the tension of forgotten tribal frontiers.

A playful dream of stone circles opens a path into the prehistoric places and enduring mysteries of the Borderlands.

A search unfolds around Galashiels for the three elusive Stone Age brochs believed to have stood at the dawn of the first millennium. 🏺 These ancient drystone towers hint at a forgotten chapter of fortified life in the Scottish Borders.

Amid the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders, a search uncovers a hidden WWII operations bunker tucked beside the ancient remains of an Iron Age hill fort. 🛡️💣 Layers of defence from two millennia stand side by side in one extraordinary landscape.

Ever wondered where the people of the Central Scottish Borders came from? This journey traces the ancient tribes who shaped the heartland of the Borders — from the Selgovae to the shadow of Rome.

They don’t build them like this anymore! Edin’s Hall Broch near Duns is a rare Iron Age roundhouse — part fort, part home, all mystery. A marvel of prehistoric engineering, still standing proud in the Borders landscape.

Follow the legendary Catrail — also known as the Picts’ Ditch — from the mysterious Rink Fort to the Iron Age marvel of Torwoodlee Broch. A journey through ancient landscapes and forgotten frontiers in the heart of the Scottish Borders.