Athelstoneford, Niglel Tranter, and England

Today was a wet day...very wet. But we didn't waste the day. We first headed towards Athelstonford. Near this little town, way back in the past,the early Scots fought a battle against the Saxons. Just before the battle, the white X cross of St Andrew appeared in the sky, and the Scotls won the victory. Hence the Saltire....the Scottish flag...white X cross on a blue background.

In the Church there, I found an exhibition on the life and work of Nigel Tranter. He was a Scottish writer of Historical stories that merged fact and fiction. His stories are worth the reading.

Next we visited Hailes Castle, in a remote hillside. It is 12th Century.It once belonged to an English family, but it was taken from them after they sided with the English in the wars of Independence. It ended up the property of the Earl of Bothwell, the man who forced maryQueen of Scots into marriage.

Then we headed south to England to visit Berwick Upon Tweed. It has been alternatively in Scotland and out of Scotland throughout history. It is now an English town with a long history of death and destruction.

Then we headed back to Edinburgh.

Photos show Athelstoneford, Tranter, and Hailes castle.