While we were planning our first visit to Scotland, I discovered the website for Neidpath. Honestly, I had some reluctance to commit to a day and evening away from Edinburgh (we were only in the country seven days). But, in many ways our stay at Neidpath turned out to be the high point of our entire trip.
Following an easy one hour trip down from Edinburgh (You can drive or take a taxi, of course. But, we took a bus from New Town. The service is easy to navigate, runs often and gives you an opportunity to enjoy the countryside as you travel), we stopped in Peebles for lunch and then hiked along the Tweed River to the castle. (I don’t recommend this for everyone. The hike is quite pleasant. However, the castle rests on a steep hill above the river so the last bit took some effort. You can instead choose an easy walk from town along paved streets with little change in elevation).
We were greeted warmly at the door by Katarina, a member of the staff, and given a brief tour. Without overwhelming us, she managed to touch on major time periods in Neidpath’s history and its evolution over the centuries. (I urge you to read up on the castle’s history beforehand. It’s fascinating!). She also let us know critical details for our enjoyment during our stay and, upon giving us the key, wished us a good night.
Then, we were on our own…
We explored the several floors. Some, like the Queen Mary suite, are furnished to be both comfortable snd evoke a certain period of Neidpath’s history. Others, particularly the very upper floors, are in a rougher state. Either way, every inch of the place is a fascinating look into the past and shouldn’t be missed by anyone with an interest in history. We took many photos and had a wonderful time.
Later that evening we broke out the provisions we brought with us for dinner: some nice cheeses, fruit, a baguette and bottle of wine. A pretty intense rain storm came along, We lit the fire in the main sitting room. It was a good night to be safe and warm by the fire in your own castle in the Scottish countryside…
The next morning we awoke, enjoyed views of the foggy river and surrounding hills and had some of the breakfast left for us by Katarina the day before. As we were closing the castle door behind us, we happened to run into Ms. Benson. Our host’s charm, humor and friendliness (even offering us a lift into town) was a nice send-off before starting our journey back to Edinburgh.
Honestly, this was a wonderful time. If ever an opportunity to visit again comes our way, we will do so. We left wanting more time to enjoy the castle, the surrounding countryside and the nearby town of Peebles.