Armstrong Reiver Trail
Do you want to explore the homeland of the Armstrong Clan? There's no better way to understand your heritage, and there's so much to see & do in Armstrong Country.
The Clan Gathering is a great way to explore the "Debatable Lands" with fellow Armstrong kin, if you can fit one into your schedule. If not, then there are several options for organised Border Reiver tours, or you may prefer to explore independently. You could even try "cyber-tourism" and explore these sites via the Internet.
The "Debatable Land" around the border of Scotland and Cumberland offers beautiful countryside steeped in Armstrong history, and you may want to travel a little further afield into Northumberland. If you do, you'll be rewarded with more remarkable Armstrong history and spectacular coastal scenery.
On this page you will find a small sample of our online interactive map and recommended itinerary for an Armstrong reiver trail tour. Members can follow the links to the full details, which includes all the information you need for a self-guided tour, The Armstrong Clan Association offers our detailed online interactive maps and full Armstrong reiver trail tour itineraries to members at no additional charge.
The Clan Gathering is a great way to explore the "Debatable Lands" with fellow Armstrong kin, if you can fit one into your schedule. If not, then there are several options for organised Border Reiver tours, or you may prefer to explore independently. You could even try "cyber-tourism" and explore these sites via the Internet.
The "Debatable Land" around the border of Scotland and Cumberland offers beautiful countryside steeped in Armstrong history, and you may want to travel a little further afield into Northumberland. If you do, you'll be rewarded with more remarkable Armstrong history and spectacular coastal scenery.
On this page you will find a small sample of our online interactive map and recommended itinerary for an Armstrong reiver trail tour. Members can follow the links to the full details, which includes all the information you need for a self-guided tour, The Armstrong Clan Association offers our detailed online interactive maps and full Armstrong reiver trail tour itineraries to members at no additional charge.
If you're an Association member then you can access the full version of this map, which includes detailed information on each site and additional markers to help you find nearby accomodation. If you have the password for the current edition of the Armstrong News then simply click here to use our interactive Armstrong Country map. It shows full details and links to the main sites and attractions, as well as some convenient hotels and B&Bs.
If you're an Association member then you can access the full version of this map, which includes detailed information on each site and additional markers to help you find nearby accomodation. If you have the password for the current edition of the Armstrong News then simply click here to use our interactive Armstrong Country map. It shows full details and links to the main sites and attractions, as well as some convenient hotels and B&Bs.
Our maps and tour itineraries are based purely on member recommendations. We don't have any commercial arrangements with any of these attractions or accommodations, but if you mention you're a member of the Clan Association you should get a warm welcome.
Armstrong Reiver Trail Tour
Several websites offer "reiver trail" tours for a fee. We do it for free!
We give our members free access to a self-guided tour that covers all the main Armstrong Border Reiver sites, so you can explore at your own pace and focus on the things that interest you most. You'll find an overview of our recommended itinerary below.
Association members can also access our detailed itinerary pages, with all the information you need to be your own tour-guide. This includes the background & history for each site and postcodes for your satnav. Wherever you choose to stay you should have no problems finding these sites.
Association members can also access our secure forum to discuss travel plans with other members.
Admission times and prices may vary, so our detailed pages include links to websites where you can check admission charges & opening hours. All of this information is freely available to Association members by clicking the buttons on the tabs below.
We give our members free access to a self-guided tour that covers all the main Armstrong Border Reiver sites, so you can explore at your own pace and focus on the things that interest you most. You'll find an overview of our recommended itinerary below.
Association members can also access our detailed itinerary pages, with all the information you need to be your own tour-guide. This includes the background & history for each site and postcodes for your satnav. Wherever you choose to stay you should have no problems finding these sites.
Association members can also access our secure forum to discuss travel plans with other members.
Admission times and prices may vary, so our detailed pages include links to websites where you can check admission charges & opening hours. All of this information is freely available to Association members by clicking the buttons on the tabs below.
CarlisleTo really appreciate the various sites you'll visit, you need to understand something about Reiver history and life on the borders.
Carlisle has a number of attractions that illustrate border history and will help orientate you, so you may wish to start with a visit to Carlisle's Tullie House Museum. The Border Gallery has several exhibits about the Border Reivers, and you can even hear the Bishop of Glasgow's famous Curse! Carlisle Castle is just across the road from the Museum, and features in The Ballad of Kinmont Willie Armstrong. The Castle is run by English Heritage so you may be lucky enough to visit during an historic re-enactment. |
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There's more to see and do nearby if you've any time left, including the famous Gretna Green Blacksmith's shop, or simply relax before Day 2.
LiddesdaleDay 1 of the tour was designed to help you understand a little about life in this ancient frontier territory, and the Border Reivers who lived here. Day 2 will take you deep into these frontier lands, into the heart of the Armstrong’s Reiver country. To make the most of this day, it's worth planning ahead and making some arrangements.
If you're travelling from Lockerbie, you will pass a number of sites en route to Gilnockie Tower. Gilnockie Tower is the "jewel in the crown" of Armstrong reiver country; it is habitable, and includes exhibits from Neil Armstrong's visit in 1972. If you want to visit the interior: you'll find full details on our Gilnockie Tower page. Leaving Gilnockie Tower, pass through Canonbie and drive up Liddesdale to Hermitage Castle. Liddesdale is packed full of Armstrong sites & memorials and offers spectacular views, so you'll enjoy plenty of stops and photo opportunities. Try to arrive at Hermitage early enough to visit inside - it's an eerie place. You'll probably be ready to return to your hotel by this time, but it is possible to press on across Tarras Moss and make this a circular trip back via Eskdale. It's a long drive on a narrow road, so we'd suggest that you save Eskdale for Day 3. |
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EskdaleGilnockie Tower makes a convenient starting point, and you'll know the way there from Day 2.
Following the A7 north from Gilnockie Tower you can visit Langholm and the infamous Carlenrig Cemetery. From Caarlenrig, you have to option of retracing your route or making this a circular trip by going east across Tarras Moss to Hermitage Castle. You'll probably have plenty of time and daylight left, so the circular route is a good option if you'd like to see Tarras Moss and/or missed anything from Day 2. That concludes our 3 day Armstrong Reiver Tour itinerary, but there's lots more to see and do a little further afield. |
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If you have a few more days to explore a little of Northumberland then you'll be rewarded.
There are several other sites nearby that are steeped in history, like Hadrian's Wall; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You may also be interested in Cragside Hall or Bamburgh Castle, the former homes of Lord Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong of Cragside; either of which is worth a full day visit.
There are several other sites nearby that are steeped in history, like Hadrian's Wall; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You may also be interested in Cragside Hall or Bamburgh Castle, the former homes of Lord Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong of Cragside; either of which is worth a full day visit.