Lammermuirs

The Lammermuirs are a range of hills in southern Scotland, forming a natural boundary between East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. The name comes from Old English and means ‘moorland of the lambs’. They are made of Silurian and Ordovician marine sediments with layers of greywacke, siltstone and mudstone. Early Devonian conglomerates appear in red-purple bands across the east and west. Granite intrusions like the Priestlaw mass sit near Whiteadder Reservoir. Glacial meltwater channels cut through the northern and eastern edges, pointing towards the north-east. The hills span Selkirk, East Lothian and Berwick, stretching from Gala Water to St Abb’s Head. Sheep have grazed here since ancient times, though the highest tops reach only 535 metres at Meikle Says Law. Steep slopes and exposure to wind create a barrier between Edinburgh and the Borders. Only the A68 crosses the hills, often closed by snow in winter, while the A1 skirts the coast. Crystal Rig Wind Farm stands on the high ground, harnessing the constant wind. White Castle is an Iron Age hill fort once settled by the Votadini tribe. The young Cuthbert worked as a shepherd on these slopes before becoming a Northumbrian bishop. In the 12th century, Melrose Abbey built granges at Penshiel and Hartside for its flocks, sparking disputes with the Earl of Dunbar’s tenants. Sir Walter Scott drew on the hills for his novel The Bride of Lammermoor, and the name lives on in New Zealand ranges. Walkers find wide moorland, deep valleys and sweeping views across the Borders and the North Sea.