Witch Execution Sites in the Scottish Borders: A Dark Chapter in History

The Witch Trials of Scotland

Between 1563 and 1736, under the Scottish Witchcraft Act, more than 3,800 people were accused of witchcraft—most of them women. Of those, around two-thirds were executed. Scotland’s rate of persecution was among the highest in Europe, and the Borders region was no exception.

Here, in close-knit communities shadowed by harsh religion and hardship, accusations spread like wildfire—often stoked by local clergy, jealous neighbours, or personal vendettas.

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Witch Execution Sites in the Scottish Borders

These haunting sites can still be traced—on old maps, in oral tradition, and sometimes, in the very names of the hills and glens.

Peebles – Venlaw Hill

Perhaps the best documented Borders execution site. At least 19 women were tried and executed here, often strangled and then burned. The hill remains a solemn reminder of the town’s brutal past.

Jedburgh – Gallows Knowe

Located just outside the town, Gallows Knowe likely witnessed multiple executions. Agnes Wood was burned here in 1620. Today, the hill lies quiet—near a rugby pitch—but its history is far from forgotten.

Duns – Witches’ Hill

Adjacent to Gallows Hill, Witches’ Hill sits just beyond the town. It appears clearly on old Ordnance Survey maps and is said to have been the site of witch executions during the peak of the panic. Nothing marks it today but grass, sky, and memory.

Foulden – Witches’ Linn

A steep, secluded ravine near the English border. The name alone—“Witches’ Linn”—tells a chilling story. The steepness and remoteness of the site suggest it may have been used for drownings, a grim alternative to fire. Whether folklore or fact, the fear behind the name is real.

Lauder – The Common Haugh

Lauder was an active town during the witch-hunting era, with a particularly zealous kirk session. Several women were accused here, and although exact records are scarce, local tradition names the Common Haugh—a flat piece of ground used for public gatherings—as a possible execution site. Oral tradition suggests victims were displayed or burned in this very field, with the townsfolk made to watch.

“They say the fire burned for hours. But no one remembers the names. Only that they burned.”

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A Legacy of Fear

These women—many of them healers, widows, or simply outsiders—were victims of a deeply patriarchal society, where spiritual fear and real-world power struggles collided. Some were tortured until they confessed. Others were condemned by neighbours’ testimony. Few stood a chance.

They weren’t witches. They were scapegoats. And their deaths cast a long shadow.

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Memorial and Memory

Scotland has only recently begun to reckon with this past. Campaigns like Witches of Scotland call for official pardons, memorials, and recognition. In the Borders, a grassroots movement has emerged to research local cases, walk the old execution sites, and raise awareness through storytelling and film.

Remembering isn’t just about history—it’s about justice.

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How to Visit

Here’s how you can respectfully explore these sites today:

Venlaw Hill, Peebles – Easy walk from town
Gallows Knowe, Jedburgh – Near the rugby club
Witches’ Hill, Duns – Found on older OS maps
Witches’ Linn, Foulden – Remote and steep; tread carefully
Common Haugh, Lauder – Accessible field at the edge of town

Bring respect. Read. Reflect. Light a candle if it feels right.

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Final Thoughts

These hills may be quiet now, but they were once alive with fear, injustice, and courage. The women who died here deserve to be remembered—not just as victims, but as part of our shared heritage.

Let their names echo where they were once silenced. Let the winds of the Borders carry their stories.

Because to remember is an act of resistance. And in memory, there is healing.

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