Hailes Castle

This beautiful ruin is of exceptional interest because its oldest portions date from before the War of Independence, and represent, not so much a castle as a fortified manor-house, closely resembling the well-known Aydon Castle in Northumberland. It then belonged to the Gourlays, but afterwards passed to the Hepburns, by whom a great square tower and high curtain walls were added. There is also a fine sixteenth century chapel. The castle was heavily involved in the Rough Wooing, and was dismantled by Cromwell in 1650. It stands in a lovely situation on the bank of the Tyne. Located one and a half miles south-west of East Linton.