Ancient Castles on the River Liddel: Guardians of the Anglo-Scots Borderlands

Into Liddesdale – “The Bloodiest Valley in Europe”

Liddesdale.
Even the name conjures up ancient warfare, cattle raids, clan feuds and crumbling stone towers in the mist.

But did you know that long before Hermitage Castle rose to dominate the region, two even older fortresses guarded this infamous valley?

In this film, I head south along the River Liddel in search of the forgotten remains of:

• Liddel Castle

• Liddel Strength

These two ancient strongholds once stood as silent sentinels on the Scotland–England border — their stones echoing with the clatter of swords and the cries of kings.

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Liddel Castle – The Lost Watchtower of Casselton

The first site lies high above the River Liddel near the vanished village of Casselton. Today, it’s a forgotten grassy ridge, but the remains of massive ramparts still mark its power.

• Built by the powerful de Soules family

• King Edward I (Longshanks) stayed here in both 1296 and 1298 during the Wars of Independence

• The lord of the castle was murdered by his own servants in the 14th century

What remains today?
Surprisingly a lot. Massive earthworks, ditches, and an air of ancient authority still cling to the place. The village is gone, the name barely remembered — but the ghosts of power remain.

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Liddel Strength – Fortress on the Edge

Further downstream — and across the modern-day English border — lies the enormous earthwork of Liddel Strength.

This place is huge.
Rising above the river on a steep natural cliff, its defensive position is breathtaking — and brutal.

• Documented as a major English fortress

• Destroyed in the 14th century by Sir William Douglas (the “Black Knight of Liddesdale”) and King David II of Scotland

• Once featured in legendary meetings, including that of St Mungo and King Rydderch Hael, in tales that blur history and myth

What survives?
Enormous ditches, terraces, ramparts and mounds. The castle itself is gone, but the soul of the site is unmistakable.

This place has never been properly excavated. Who knows what artefacts and stories still lie beneath the surface?

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Beyond Wallace & Bruce

These castles predate Hermitage, Wallace, and Bruce.
They are relics of an older world — one where borders were fluid, kingdoms fragile, and violence constant.

This valley, this land, has been contested for centuries longer than the official histories admit.
And here — amid sheep pastures and silent slopes — you can still feel it.

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Planning a Visit?

• Liddel Castle: Near the vanished village of Casselton. Massive ditches and mounds remain. Steep slopes — caution advised.

• Liddel Strength: Just over the English border. Large and wild. Best visited in winter or early spring before vegetation overtakes it.

These are not tourist sites.
No signs. No car parks. No crowds.
Just history, silence, and the whispers of war.