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The England border stone at Carter Bar on its tarmac lay-by, green hills behind under a blue summer sky.
Scottish Borders

Carter Bar

Where the A68 crosses from England into Scotland at 418 metres in the Cheviot Hills, south of Jedburgh.

Welcome

There's something special about crossing into Scotland at Carter Bar, and it's a lovely place to stop whichever way you're heading.

Pull into the lay-by beside the marker stones and look both ways, to England's Cheviot Hills on one side and the rolling Scottish Borders on the other. In July 1575 the wardens of both sides met here for a Truce Day, to settle cross-border cases. A quarrel over a thief turned to insults, then to shots and fighting, and a second group of men arrived from Jedburgh to join the Scots. The Redeswire Fray is thought of as the last significant conflict between the two kingdoms, and the Redeswire Stone on the hill marks the spot. Bring a picnic.

A short drive awayThe Capon TreeAn ancient sessile oak, one of the last of the old Jed Forest, beside the A68 about a mile south of Jedburgh.13 min by roadSee itThe Capon Tree in winter, a broad bare oak on wooden props in a green field, with its fingerpost sign in front under a blue sky.
Before you go

Open at any time, all year, and free.

Where
On the A68 at the Border, south of Jedburgh, TD8 6PT.
Parking
Free lay-bys on both sides of the road.
Walks
From the lay-bys, paths lead up to the Redeswire Stone and to the rebuilt Carter Pike cairn, about four miles there and back. The hill ground is rough and boggy in places, so wear good boots.

Opening hours

Monday
Open all day and night
Tuesday
Open all day and night
Wednesday
Open all day and night
Thursday
Open all day and night
Friday
Open all day and night
Saturday
Open all day and night
Sunday
Open all day and night

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Where it is

On the A68 at the Border, south of Jedburgh, TD8 6PT.

Close byJedburgh and the Cheviot side of the Borders.
  1. Jedburgh AbbeyJedburgh AbbeyOne of the four great Border abbeys, a striking mix of Romanesque and early Gothic in the middle of Jedburgh, with a visitor centre and cloister garden.11 miles 16 min by road
  2. Jedburgh Castle Jail & MuseumJedburgh Castle Jail & MuseumA free museum in Jedburgh's 1820s jail, built on the site of the old castle, with the town museum in the jailer's house.11 miles 16 min by road
  3. A panelled room in Mary Queen of Scots' House, Jedburgh, with a fireplace, a painting above it and portraits on the walls.Mary Queen of Scots' HouseThe 16th-century house in Jedburgh where Mary Queen of Scots stayed for a month in 1566, now a free museum of her life.11 miles 16 min by road
  4. Cessford Castle, a massive roofless tower of red and grey stone, standing in green grass with farmland beyond under a blue sky.Cessford CastleThe great roofless tower of the Kers of Cessford, raised from the middle of the 1400s in farmland between Jedburgh and Kelso.14 miles 26 min by road
  5. The River Teviot seen from Monteviot Gardens, framed by red and orange azaleas and green trees in early summer.Monteviot GardensGardens round Monteviot House near Jedburgh, the home of the Kerr family and the Marquis of Lothian for almost four centuries.15 miles 24 min by road
  6. Stone tower overlooking patchwork farmland and a winding river valleyFatlips CastleA small 16th-century peel tower of the Turnbulls on top of Minto Crags above Teviotdale, restored from ruin between 2011 and 2013.18 miles 26 min by road
Directions
The Capon Tree in winter, a broad bare oak on wooden props in a green field, with its fingerpost sign in front under a blue sky.AttractionsThe Capon Tree9.3 miles
The deep green shopfront of Heron & Willow on the Canongate in Jedburgh, its two windows filled with books under painted willow leaves.ShoppingHeron & Willow11 miles
Path lined with flowerbeds leads towards a turreted stone tower houseAttractionsMary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre11 miles
Wooden tables outside Simply Scottish eaterie and coffee house, serving beers, wines and spiritsRestaurantsSimply Scottish11 miles
The House in the Hill at dusk, its turf roof over walls of local stone and glass, a bedroom lit inside and the hot tub at the corner.JedburghThe House in the HillSleeps 4 · 12 miles

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The Daily for 25 October, from Scotland with love. bare tree stumps standing in an autumn loch, forested hills reflected in the still water

The Daily

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A free morning email to see what’s on this week, catch up on what’s happening in Scotland and find somewhere new to go.

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the Border, and when each is next free.

The House in the Hill at dusk, its turf roof over walls of local stone and glass, a bedroom lit inside and the hot tub at the corner.The House in the Hill
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Jedburgh
  • 8 miles from Carter Bar
Free 29–31 OctPlaces to stayEvery stay in the Scottish BordersAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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