Lauder: Trails, History and Historic Architecture

Lauder combines a well-preserved historic townscape with trails through the surrounding landscape. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage and seeking not just a base but also interesting discoveries will find a range of ways to plan their trip: depending on personal interests, local history, architecture, guided castle tours and walking routes can be combined.

Discover Historic Lauder on Foot

A good starting point is the Lauder Town Trail. The route is 1.25 miles long and gives visitors an additional way to learn about local history and the town’s development. The historic street pattern, with a main street and rear lanes to the east and west, has been preserved and defines the extent of the Lauder Conservation Area. This covers a considerable part of the settlement and is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of a historic burgh in Scotland.

The buildings also tell the story of the town’s development. Lauder Town Hall is a notable landmark and a good example of early or traditional civic architecture. A town hall or tolbooth has existed in Lauder since at least the middle of the 16th century. Lauder Church has a single-nave plan in the form of a Greek cross with arms of equal length, which is apparently unique in Scotland. It was built by John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, as a replacement for the original church outside the town near Thirlestane Castle.

Routes, Landscape and Castle Visits

For a range of day plans, Paths around Lauder offers ten routes ranging from 1 to 13 miles in length. Comparing the route lengths helps you choose one that suits your own travel plans, without assuming a specific walking time. From Lauder, the Southern Upland Way heads south-east into the grounds of Thirlestane Castle, opposite the police station. Lauder Common is connected to the path network via the B6363 Lauder–Stow road and the Burnmill car park.

Thirlestane Castle is a 16th-century castle in the Lauderdale Estate in the Scottish Borders and has been the home of the Maitland family for more than 400 years. The castle is open for guided tours; tickets can be booked online. Immediately north and east of Lauder lies the designed landscape of Thirlestane. It extends across the floodplain and the lower valley slopes of the Leader Water. The Leader Water and its tributary, Earnscleugh Burn, are designated as part of the River Tweed Special Area of Conservation because of their habitat value.

Traditions and Suitable Trip Ideas

The Lauder Common Riding adds a living tradition to the town’s history. Evidence dates back to the 17th century; the Common Riding originally developed as a religious ceremony to bless the lands, crops and affairs of the burgh. Families wishing to combine cultural discoveries with outdoor activity can incorporate this historical background into their plans alongside the Town Trail, a section of the longer routes or a castle visit. Those primarily seeking landscapes can instead focus on the routes around Lauder and the areas along the Leader Water.

When choosing accommodation in Lauder, the desired balance of local history, guided visits and walking experiences is therefore particularly important. A holiday apartment or holiday cottage can serve as a base for a stay whose programme you arrange yourself, combining short town trails, longer routes and cultural and historical attractions. Other places to include in your travel plans are Traquair, Selkirk, Eyemouth, Peebles, Roxburgh, Houndslow, Innerleithen and Ednam.

For the overview of the wider destination: The Scottish Borders.