TWEEDSMUIR PARISH HISTORY.
11.1. Ericstane and Old Roads at Devil's Beeftub.
There were many old roads traversing the area of the Beeftub at the south end of Tweedsmuir Parish. The earliest would be the probable pre-Christian track to the head of the Fruid valley via the Resting Stone at Ballaman Hill. This track traversed the slope of the Devil's Beeftub at its eastern end - more about this on page 11 Pilgrim's Ways, Chapels and the Expansion of Christianity. The Romans were the next to leave their mark c100 AD- their engineering skills evident in the remains of Roman roads and associated signal stations of which can still be found - see following map. Following the alignment of the roman road indicates that the road must have continued going north-west on the higher ground between the Clyde and Tweed valleys. The Upper Tweed valley must have been impassable at that time , except for pedestrians due to dense forest and/or posibly the presence of hostile local tribes. This Roman road would subsequently be used by pilgrims until a better route would emerge from the various tracks used at different times to reach the top of the Devil's Beeftub from Moffat. This new route would be the one via Tweeds Cross see page 12 Tweed's Cross located between Flecket Hill and Annnandalehead Hill - just east of the centre fold line on the following map..
Just south of the site of Tweed's Cross is where in 1746 a captive highlander ecaped by rolling down into the Devil's Beeftub. For more on this story see page 14 Maclarens Leap.
The areas of Ericstane and Ericstane Hill (Brae) are mentioned in old documents/poems. It was at this spot in 1305/6 Robert Bruce - the future King on his way north was met by the young James Douglas. Douglas was carrying a message of support from the Bishop of St Andrews. Douglas pledged his loyalty to the would be king - a promise he kept and he became a life long friend and comrade in arms.(1) This historic meeting place to the west of Ericstane Brae is on the eastern section of The Robert the Bruce Trail where there is a commemorative plaque see below.
At Ericstane a part of a Roman gold fibula - roman brooch, was found by a peat digger in 1787. More details on page 4 Romans in Upper Tweed page.
Reference.
1) Barbour, John, Translation by A A M Duncan; The Bruce, Cannongate, Edinburgh 2007. Book 2, p87.
or return to Tweedsmuir History Page.