Mystery and Myth

Prehistoric sites within 15 miles of the Hotel

The district around the Collingwood Arms Hotel is scattered with evidence of 12,000 years of human habitation.

Walkers in the nearby hills often come across mysterious cup-and-ring marked rocks. We can never know the meanings of these symbols that were tapped laboriously into the stones many thousands of years ago.

One of the most impressive groups of these carvings can be seen on Dod Law. Take the B6525 north east from Wooler and park in the little village of Doddington . Walk up the lane signed to the Golf Club. At the footpath sign beside the first house on the right, go over the stile and walk uphill through the gorse. It is quite steep, but worth the effort for the magnificent views. Look out for a carved rock just beyond the second clump of gorse. Continue up along the line of old hawthorn trees, to the remains of a prehistoric hill-fort at the top of the hill. One of the best carved rocks is located just beyond this hill-fort, towards the golf course before you reach a second hill-fort.

Maelmin Heritage Trail, Milfield – approximately 6 miles from the hotel

To find out more about the early settlers, take a little time to explore the Maelmin Heritage Trail at Milfield. The trail s a self-guided route through the history of the area, with interpretive panels and reconstructions of ancient buildings including a prehistoric wooden henge and an Anglo-Saxon hall. It is open, free of charge, throughout the year and there is a car park beside the site.

It is said that King Arthur fought one of his battles beside the River Glen, a tributary of the Tweed . Northumbrians will tell you that Arthur lies asleep under Sewingshiels Castle on Hadrian’s Wall , waiting to return and save Britain in her hour of greatest peril. Scottish borderers dispute this. They are convinced that Arthur rests deep beneath the Eildon Hills near Melrose .

Melrose is one of the prettiest towns in the Scottish Borders and is well worth a visit. The triple peaks of the Eildon Hills can be spotted from many miles away. Though geologists say that the distinctive shape is the result of volcanic action millions of years ago, legend says that it was caused by a local man, Michael Scott the Wizard, tricking the Devil into smiting the hill into three with his fork.

Edinburgh's Hall Broch – approximately 15 miles from the htel

If you are keen on walking, be sure to visit Edin’s Hall Broch near Abbey St. Bathans. This is one of very few brochs built in the Scottish lowlands. They are generally located in the far north and west of the country.

Drive on the A6112 north east from Duns until you see signs to Edin’s Hall Broch. There is a walk of about 3 miles to the substantial stone walls of this unusual fortified building. The site is accessible throughout the year and offers excellent panoramic views towards the Tweed Valley and the North Sea .

Trimontium, Melrose – approximately 25 miles from the hotel

Although this area lies many miles north of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman army built outpost forts to guard their roads north into what we now call Scotland.

The largest of these forts stood at Newstead, near Melrose . As the it lay in the shadow of the Eildons, the Romans named the fort Trimontium (“Three-peaks”). The Trimontium Exhibition in Melrose tells the story of the site and displays some of the fascinating artefacts discovered there. The museum is open daily from April to October. An audio commentary is included in the admission charge. There are guided walks to the fort site on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the summer months.