Innerleithen, Area Highlight

Innerleithen is a charming mix of contemporary and historical surroundings. The town is served by ample amenities including a local supermarket, library, health centre, pharmacy, post office and several independent shops including greengrocers, bakeries and a butcher. A selection of eateries is also on offer, whilst further amenities can be found a short drive away in the charming market town of Peebles. In addition to its vibrant high street, Innerleithen in steeped in rich history. Remains of an Iron Age hill fort are visible from the top of Caerlee. At the top of Pirn Hill, the site of a further Iron Age hill fort, you will find a highlight of Innerleithen: an installation sculpted by Mary Kenny in 2001. The sculptural installation consisting of seven stone plinths and topped with Doddington sandstone bass relief panels depicts and celebrates the history of Innerleithen. Innerleithen has hosted the annual St. Ronan’s Border Games since 1827 when they were founded by poet James Hogg, ‘the Ettrick Shepherd’.

Close by, Traquair House is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland.

Primary and nursery schooling is provided locally, followed by secondary education in Peebles. Commuting to Edinburgh takes approximately an hour by road, whilst Galashiels – a 20 minutes drive – provides fast and frequent rail connections as part of the recently re-opened Borders Railway.

Like many other Borders towns, the foundations of Innerleithen’s success lie in wool and knitwear, but its fame flows from its fabled health-giving spring. St. Ronan’s Wells was a well-known spa where people came from near and far to drink the water from the sulphurous spring to help with their ailments. In May 1787, the poet Robert Burns noted in his travel journal that he had visited “Inverleithen, a famous Spaw.” The spa’s name comes from the founding legend of a roaming pilgrim monk called St Ronan, who came upon Innerleithen on his journey up the River Tweed. Sir Walter Scott also frequented the spa as a boy and in 1823 he wrote a novel about a town called ‘St Ronan’s Well’, residents of Innerleithen were quick to attribute this novel to their town.

Innerleithen truly is one of the treasures of the Scottish Borders.

Where the pools are bright and deep,
Where the grey trout lies asleep,
Up the river and over the lea,
That’s the way for Billy and me.

Where the blackbird sings the latest,
Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest,
Where the nestlings chirp and flee,
That’s the way for Billy and me.

Where the mowers mow the cleanest,
Where the hay lies thick and greenest,
There to track the homeward bee
That’s the way for Billy and me.

“A Boy’s Song” by James Hogg