Hev ‘ee got th lugs oan, guid folks, we are almost into a new season, so pop along and talk to us!
Our 2026 Leaflet Distribution Day – Free Visit, coffee and tour of Gilnockie Tower!
All we ask, is, bring along your own advertising leaflets, 15/20 of them, and we will give some of ours, so that we can all advertise each other’s business experiences, as one, and all at as low a distribution cost as is possible.
If you cannot make the Gilnockie Tower Leaflet Day, please post a few flyers to us, we are only too happy to help ALL organisations.
Teviotdale Steel Bonnets will be in attendance on the 21st March, and they will tell you a tale or two, of their experience in the history of the Anglo-Scottish Border Reivers.
Hawick once again becomes the beating heart of Border history from 27th to 29th March 2026. Step back into the 16th century and immerse yourself in a weekend of reenactments, music, storytelling, and 3 traditional festivities. History enthusiasts will be descending on Hawick for this lively celebration of its Reiver heritage. Full details of the 2026 programme will be released later in the year – follow the festival on social media to keep up to date.
To get a flavour of what to expect, explore the 2025 Festival highlights here: Hawick Reivers Festival 2025 – https://www.hawickreivers.com
From the late 13th to the early 17th century, these notorious raiders operated along the Anglo-Scottish frontier. Known for their horsemanship, daring raids, and fierce family loyalties, the Reivers lived in a world of shifting alliances, feuds, and survival. Hawick, a stronghold of Reiver culture, still proudly keeps this heritage alive through its annual festival.
One of Scotland’s oldest and most cherished traditions, the Hawick Common Riding with its stirring war cry of “Safe Oot, Safe In”, will take place across two days in early June. The highlight – the Riding of the Boundaries – is held on the Friday, while Saturday features horse racing on Hawick Moor and the ceremonial return of the flag to the Council Chambers. A spectacle of horsemanship, pageantry, and civic pride, the Common Riding brings the whole community together in a powerful celebration of Hawick’s identity.
The Armstrongs return to their ancestral stronghold at Gilnockie Tower, Historic Home of Clan Armstrong, for an unforgettable weekend. Borderland Textiles, Borderland Art & Crafts, a couple of prominent Border Reivers authors going to talk about their background and books.
We can now confirm that Annandale Distillery, based in the town of Annan, will be on site both Gathering days. Grant, our contact at the distillery, will be taking whisky related mini conferences during two days, and will be offering samples from the range of spirits produce within the Annandale Distillery.
To date, the Beac’n Lantr’n has visited the distillery, official business of course, on a number of occasions recently, principally, to ensure that the dram of the local Amber is ageing to perfection in time for the gathering! An exciting report to follow, relating to further in depth research!
Expect history, heritage, ghostly stories about the real Gilnock, and a fair measure of drama as the back ground to the Border Reiver Trail 60, the Teviotdale Steel Bonnets and much more will all surpass themselves with an ‘All Floors Extravaganza’ of 16th century history, as this range of backgrounds and traditions take centre stage. More information on the Gathering Day and the Teviotdale Steel Bonnets in our ‘Have You Heard’ newsletter. Although subject to change, below, is the plan for the weekend to date: –
Look ‘oot fur thame ither faamiles awaitin trubl at Gilnock’…
Our updated HYH Newsletters are available from our websites https://gilnockietower.co.uk and https://theborderreivertrail.co.uk, or email us at gt@gilnockietower.co.uk and we will send you a copy.
Exclusive Armstrong-only sensations will also be revealed – prizes and surprises that clan’s folk worldwide will be eager to rally aroon. Explosive and revealing – subject to availability Ghost Tours of the Border Reiver Trail 60!!!!!! Subject to availability.
An Armstrong Special raffle will be held over the two days, so keep an eye open for that show on its own. With so, so many exciting things yet to unfold this is certainly NOT A SHOW to miss…
Da dit da… A message has just come in from the towers ‘Barrel Vault’, how true we dinna ken, the to’ors Project Manager has announced that there is the distinct possibility thatan Armstrong whisky will be laid soon, Armstrongs its now over to you…
We will also let you know any further development with the Border Reiver Trail 60, at the Saturday Gathering Event…
More if we hear owt…
With its cry of “Safe Oot, Safe In”, Annan’s annual Riding of the Marches is a stirring spectacle of heritage, horsemanship, and community. Riders set out to inspect the town’s 15-mile boundary, galloping across merse, sand, and hill, stopping at historic markers such as the Beltedstane and Altarstane.
The tradition dates back centuries, rooted in the defence of the Burgh’s boundaries during turbulent times. Today it continues as a vibrant community celebration – with processions, parades, pipe bands, and exhibitions at Annan Museum, which also curate’s objects tied to the Marches such as the Boundary Map and Cornet’s regalia.
This is living heritage in action – a festival of place, people, and memory that still inspires locals and visitors alike.
Held on the last Friday in July, the Langholm Common Riding is a tradition stretching back to 1759. Riders set out to check the town boundaries before the dramatic Kirk Wynd Gallop up to the Malcolm Monument – a true test of horsemanship.
The day also features children carrying Heather Besoms in a colourful procession carrying symbolic items such as the fish, the crown, and the thistle – each a proud emblem of Langholm’s past.
Annan, the History Town hosts – The Border Gathering – an Annual Gathering of the Clans on the Scottish Borderlands, down by the banks of the River Annan. Annan’s history came in waves like our Solway tide, carrying Romans to settle on our river banks, bringing Vikings with their haaf net fishing which we still practise here today; attracting the Normans including Robert the Bruce’s family who built Annan Castle.
The fierce power of Annan River swept it away and centuries of turmoil ensued. When cross-border hostilities ceased, exciseman Rabbie Burns patrolled this smuggler coast and wrote great poems in Annan.
Prosperity came in the 19th Century. Record-breaking tall ships were built in Annan and sailed the Atlantic from our harbour with cargoes of people and sandstone. This red sandstone, which helped build New York, still brightens our High Street and every building, courtyard and back wynd has a story to tell of great writers, radical churchmen, fine artists, military leaders and more! Information available from – https://www.annanthehistorytown.org/
Mark your calendars and prepare to embrace the history, pageantry, and community spirit of the Scottish Borders area in 2026.
From Reiver re-enactments to centuries-old Common Ridings, these events keep alive the traditions of resilience, pride, and kinship that define the Anglo-Scottish Borderlands.