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Nestling on the side of steep gorge overlooking a bend of the River Tweed, Neidpath Castle is an altered L-plan tower with rounded corners. The tower dates from the 14th century, but was substantially remodelled in the 16th century and later.
An earlier castle here belonged to Sir Simon Fraser. He defeated the English at Roslin in 1303, but was later captured and executed by the English by being hanged, drawn and quartered. The property passed by marriage to the Hays in 1312, who built the existing castle. Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at Neidpath in 1563, as did her son James VI in 1587.
The Hays were Royalists, and in 1650 Neidpath held out against Cromwell’s army longer than any other stronghold south of the Forth. Cannon damaged the castle, and the defenders were eventually forced to surrender.
Neidpath is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a young lass, the ‘Maid of Neidpath’, who was written about by Sir Walter Scott.
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