Hirendean Castle

A short way up one of the Moorfoot Hills, Blackhope Scar, there lies a (very) ruined castle: Hirendean. It is little more than a tumble wall of ancient stone. Not much is known about Hirendean Castle, but since my book, The Moorfoot Tales, was written, I have discovered a shocking event from the castle’s history which relates directly to Meg Unes: an innocent Midlothian woman accused of witchcraft.

A nagging curiosity began to bother me the week that my book, The Moorfoot Tales, was due to be published. The ruins of Hirendean Castle began to call. I had read hints online that there was a legend left untold, and that it was to be found there. 

Intuition told me that it was something significant. I couldn’t get Hirendean out of my mind.

I embarked upon one last bit of research. I walked the hills. I began searching for information about Hirendean Castle again (I had looked into its history many times before, but discovered nothing). Finally, I came across a wonderful website, The Castle Guy, which made a great big lightbulb flash up inside my mind.

In 1624, Robert Kerr – the Earl of Lothian – resided at Hirendean Castle. One evening, he came home, grabbed a blade, and proceeded to stab himself frantically before slitting his own throat. 

Those in power never knew why the Earl of Lothian would do such a thing to himself. But as the years went by, it appears that they found an interesting explanation for his behaviour. 

I have checked (and double checked) various online sources. I have come to the conclusion that this Earl of Lothian must have been the same Earl of Lothian who, four years later, Meg Unes was accused of murdering. 

Suicide can paint shame upon the loved ones who are left behind. Perhaps by blaming Meg Unes for Robert Kerr’s horrific suicide, it brought some peace to his surviving family and friends, removing stigma. Perhaps they wholeheartedly believed that Meg had killed him through some sort of evil spell. Blaming a local woman who had already been accused of demonic activity would have been (in those times) a strange kind of common sense.

Within the first full story in my book of tales, Meg Unes comes alive upon Blackhope Scar. Somehow, I associated Meg with Blackhope Scar – the very hill where Robert Kerr committed suicide – from the moment I read about her (despite not knowing about Robert Kerr until after the book was first published).

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There is a beautiful walkway that I have discovered thanks to this final bit of curiosity. (After three years of exploring the Moorfoot area, there are still new walks to be found.) This several-mile stretch of pathway takes me to the foot of gentle hills, past old farm houses and over bubbling streams. 

As I walk, I remember that the source of the River South Esk is here, upon Blackhope Scar. I breathe in a new view of Gladhouse Reservoir, that great pool which supports so much birdlife. The jagged Pentland Hills rise beyond. 

As the path twists away from the Moorfoot Hills, back towards the reservoir, I see an old wall sitting upon the hill: the dark ruins of Hirendean. Wide open space and bleak history intertwine, as they so often do in Scotland. 

I bow, and move away. A spring breeze strokes my cheeks as I walk back towards the water.

Buy ‘The Moorfoot Tales’ here.

Find out about my eco-therapy wellbeing programme based on ‘The Moorfoot Tales’ here.