Duns
The town of Duns in the Scottish borders has remained little more than a large village, with a market serving the sheep farmers of the surrounding Border hills. In 1551, after Berwick had become a part of England, Duns took its place as the county town of Berwickshire. Duns expanded somewhat in the 1990s and now has the largest shopping facilities in a 15 miles radius (24 km) and the Berwickshire Sheriff Court.
A stone at the summit of Duns Law, a 700 ft hill beside the small market town of Duns, marks the spot where the Covenanters, under General David Leslie, set up their standard in 1639. This marked the beginning of the fight for Scottish religious liberty, first against Charles I and later against Cromwell.
Jim Clark (1936-68), who lived at Duns, won the world championship in 1963 and again in 1965, but sadly died in a motor-racing crash in 1968.
Duns Castle is owned by the current Laird, Alexander Hay. The castle is not open to visitors but can be booked for weddings and functions. The surrounding parkland is accessible to the public.
Places to Visit Near Duns
Other Towns and Villages in South Scotland
Clovenfords, Coldstream, Duns, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Greenlaw, Lauder, Selkirk, Annan, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Dumfries, Gretna, Kircudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, Sanquhar
Select a Region
