ROXBURGHSHIRE

In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle

The Leaderfoot Viaduct, also known as the Drygrange Viaduct, is a railway viaduct over the River Tweed near Melrose in the Scottish Borders. The viaduct is in good condition, having been renovated between 1992 and 1995. To the east of the viaduct is the Drygrange Old Bridge, dating from 1776, on which I was standing to take this photo. It is no longer used by traffic and has been superseded by a newer road bridge. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaderfoot_Viaduct

In the Scottish borders a line of Peel towers was built in the 1430s across the Tweed valley from Berwick to its source, as a response to the dangers of invasion from the Marches. Sited high on a rocky outcrop, Smailholm is a small rectangular tower set within a stone barmkin wall. This 65 ft (20 metre) towerhouse was built by the Pringle family.a well-known Scottish Borders family. In common with all Scottish peel towers, it was built to provide its occupants with protection from sporadic English raids. Today you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside from Smailholm Tower’s battlements. The last owner, the Earl of Ellesmere, handed the property into state care in 1950. It was restored in the 1980s, and now operates as a museum for Historic Scotland. We were very impressed with this site. It's beautifully maintained and the history is interesting. The PiP shows the view of the Scottish borders from the battlements.