Eildon Hills - an excursion - Revision history

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	'''By R.J.A. Eckford and W. Manson . From Scottish Borders geology: an excursion guide edited by A.D. McAdam, E.N.K. Clarkson, P. Stone. Edinburgh : Scottish Academic Press (for [http://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/ Edinburgh Geological Society]), 1992.'''		'''By R.J.A. Eckford and W. Manson . From [[Scottish Borders geology: an excursion guide]] edited by A.D. McAdam, E.N.K. Clarkson, P. Stone. Edinburgh : Scottish Academic Press (for [http://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/ Edinburgh Geological Society]), 1992.'''

JenniferFindlay1 at 09:11, 29 September 2015

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	=== Introduction ===		=== Introduction ===
	[[File:P000584.jpg\|~~350px~~\|thumbnail\|right\|The Eildon Hills, near Melrose, from the north-west. Roxburghshire. The hills are the denuded remains of a composite laccolith of trachyte rocks intruded into the Upper Old Red Sandstone in Carboniferous times. Much of Eildon Wester and Eildon Mid is formed by riebeckite-felsite disposed in two layers. The summit of Mid Hill is occupied by orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte overlying a sheet of augite-olivine-trachyte. Eildon Hill North consists of porphyritic and non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte. A laccolith is an intrusive dome-like mass of igneous rock which arches the overlying sediments and has a flat floor. If there have been several phases of emplacement of different materials then it is said to be composite. P000584]]Topographically, the Eildon Hills form a pleasing profile bordering the south side of the Tweed valley beside the romantic burgh of Melrose in Roxburgh District. The hills consist of three principal summits rising above the cultivated lands and groves of the countryside. Eildon Mid Hill reaches a height of 420 m above sea-level while the North and Wester hills attain heights of 402 m and 368 m respectively. A smaller hill, known as Little Hill, lies on the west side of the valley between the Mid and Wester hills. Geologically, the Eildons have been regarded as the remnant of a large composite laccolith consisting of several sheets of intermediate and acid rocks intruded into sedimentary strata of the Upper Old Red Sandstone and thus of later date, probably early Carboniferous. Little Hill is a small volcanic vent of agglomerate, with an intruded plug consisting of two types of basalt, and almost certainly of later date than the acid rocks of the Eildons. A quarry in the great volcanic pipe at Chiefswood, to the south-west of Melrose, and another quarry at Bowdenmoor usually have been regarded by the authors as part of their excursion to the Eildon Hills and are dealt with in this itinerary. A comprehensive account of the igneous rocks of the Melrose district was published by Lady McRobert in 1914 and quotations in the text are from her paper.		[[File:P000584.jpg\|400px\|thumbnail\|right\|The Eildon Hills, near Melrose, from the north-west. Roxburghshire. The hills are the denuded remains of a composite laccolith of trachyte rocks intruded into the Upper Old Red Sandstone in Carboniferous times. Much of Eildon Wester and Eildon Mid is formed by riebeckite-felsite disposed in two layers. The summit of Mid Hill is occupied by orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte overlying a sheet of augite-olivine-trachyte. Eildon Hill North consists of porphyritic and non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte. A laccolith is an intrusive dome-like mass of igneous rock which arches the overlying sediments and has a flat floor. If there have been several phases of emplacement of different materials then it is said to be composite. P000584]]Topographically, the Eildon Hills form a pleasing profile bordering the south side of the Tweed valley beside the romantic burgh of Melrose in Roxburgh District. The hills consist of three principal summits rising above the cultivated lands and groves of the countryside. Eildon Mid Hill reaches a height of 420 m above sea-level while the North and Wester hills attain heights of 402 m and 368 m respectively. A smaller hill, known as Little Hill, lies on the west side of the valley between the Mid and Wester hills. Geologically, the Eildons have been regarded as the remnant of a large composite laccolith consisting of several sheets of intermediate and acid rocks intruded into sedimentary strata of the Upper Old Red Sandstone and thus of later date, probably early Carboniferous. Little Hill is a small volcanic vent of agglomerate, with an intruded plug consisting of two types of basalt, and almost certainly of later date than the acid rocks of the Eildons. A quarry in the great volcanic pipe at Chiefswood, to the south-west of Melrose, and another quarry at Bowdenmoor usually have been regarded by the authors as part of their excursion to the Eildon Hills and are dealt with in this itinerary. A comprehensive account of the igneous rocks of the Melrose district was published by Lady McRobert in 1914 and quotations in the text are from her paper.

	The excursion starts from Melrose which lies by the River Tweed on the A72 road east of Galashiels, and near the A7 Edinburgh-Hawick road. For a party the best transport arrangement for this excursion is travel by private coach, and this account is described accordingly. A full day is required to complete the itinerary, but if a shorter day is desired one of the following abridged programmes is suggested:		The excursion starts from Melrose which lies by the River Tweed on the A72 road east of Galashiels, and near the A7 Edinburgh-Hawick road. For a party the best transport arrangement for this excursion is travel by private coach, and this account is described accordingly. A full day is required to complete the itinerary, but if a shorter day is desired one of the following abridged programmes is suggested:

JenniferFindlay1 at 09:10, 29 September 2015

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	=== Introduction ===		=== Introduction ===
	Topographically, the Eildon Hills form a pleasing profile bordering the south side of the Tweed valley beside the romantic burgh of Melrose in Roxburgh District. The hills consist of three principal summits rising above the cultivated lands and groves of the countryside. Eildon Mid Hill reaches a height of 420 m above sea-level while the North and Wester hills attain heights of 402 m and 368 m respectively. A smaller hill, known as Little Hill, lies on the west side of the valley between the Mid and Wester hills. Geologically, the Eildons have been regarded as the remnant of a large composite laccolith consisting of several sheets of intermediate and acid rocks intruded into sedimentary strata of the Upper Old Red Sandstone and thus of later date, probably early Carboniferous. Little Hill is a small volcanic vent of agglomerate, with an intruded plug consisting of two types of basalt, and almost certainly of later date than the acid rocks of the Eildons. A quarry in the great volcanic pipe at Chiefswood, to the south-west of Melrose, and another quarry at Bowdenmoor usually have been regarded by the authors as part of their excursion to the Eildon Hills and are dealt with in this itinerary. A comprehensive account of the igneous rocks of the Melrose district was published by Lady McRobert in 1914 and quotations in the text are from her paper.		[[File:P000584.jpg\|350px\|thumbnail\|right\|The Eildon Hills, near Melrose, from the north-west. Roxburghshire. The hills are the denuded remains of a composite laccolith of trachyte rocks intruded into the Upper Old Red Sandstone in Carboniferous times. Much of Eildon Wester and Eildon Mid is formed by riebeckite-felsite disposed in two layers. The summit of Mid Hill is occupied by orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte overlying a sheet of augite-olivine-trachyte. Eildon Hill North consists of porphyritic and non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte. A laccolith is an intrusive dome-like mass of igneous rock which arches the overlying sediments and has a flat floor. If there have been several phases of emplacement of different materials then it is said to be composite. P000584]]Topographically, the Eildon Hills form a pleasing profile bordering the south side of the Tweed valley beside the romantic burgh of Melrose in Roxburgh District. The hills consist of three principal summits rising above the cultivated lands and groves of the countryside. Eildon Mid Hill reaches a height of 420 m above sea-level while the North and Wester hills attain heights of 402 m and 368 m respectively. A smaller hill, known as Little Hill, lies on the west side of the valley between the Mid and Wester hills. Geologically, the Eildons have been regarded as the remnant of a large composite laccolith consisting of several sheets of intermediate and acid rocks intruded into sedimentary strata of the Upper Old Red Sandstone and thus of later date, probably early Carboniferous. Little Hill is a small volcanic vent of agglomerate, with an intruded plug consisting of two types of basalt, and almost certainly of later date than the acid rocks of the Eildons. A quarry in the great volcanic pipe at Chiefswood, to the south-west of Melrose, and another quarry at Bowdenmoor usually have been regarded by the authors as part of their excursion to the Eildon Hills and are dealt with in this itinerary. A comprehensive account of the igneous rocks of the Melrose district was published by Lady McRobert in 1914 and quotations in the text are from her paper.

	The excursion starts from Melrose which lies by the River Tweed on the A72 road east of Galashiels, and near the A7 Edinburgh-Hawick road. For a party the best transport arrangement for this excursion is travel by private coach, and this account is described accordingly. A full day is required to complete the itinerary, but if a shorter day is desired one of the following abridged programmes is suggested:		The excursion starts from Melrose which lies by the River Tweed on the A72 road east of Galashiels, and near the A7 Edinburgh-Hawick road. For a party the best transport arrangement for this excursion is travel by private coach, and this account is described accordingly. A full day is required to complete the itinerary, but if a shorter day is desired one of the following abridged programmes is suggested:

Scotfot: /* 5. Wester Hill: Riebeckite-felsite */

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5. Wester Hill: Riebeckite-felsite

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	==== 5. Wester Hill: Riebeckite-felsite ====		==== 5. Wester Hill: Riebeckite-felsite ====
	The whole of the Wester Hill (548 316) is composed of riebeckite-felsite which probably occurs in two layers. McRobert (1914, pp. 308-9) states that 'In the lower layer the rock is pink, with small dark patches of riebeckite. Under the microscope the riebeckite growths are minute, and largely altered to limonite. In the upper layers the rock is purplish grey, weathering pale pink or white, with conchoidal fracture. Fresh riebeckite is abundant in nests and irregular aggregates.' A good exposure of hard pink felsite with fine vertical jointing, of a columnar type, may be easily reached from Little Hill by following sheep walks about the 300 m contour to a small quarry 500 m to the SSE. The felsite of Wester Hill rests partly on Upper Old Red Sandstone rocks and partly on the basal sheet of sanidine-trachyte. It may be noted here that on the west side of the hill the basal sheet of trachyte passes into a feeder-like spur.		The whole of the Wester Hill (NT 548 316) is composed of riebeckite-felsite which probably occurs in two layers. McRobert (1914, pp. 308-9) states that 'In the lower layer the rock is pink, with small dark patches of riebeckite. Under the microscope the riebeckite growths are minute, and largely altered to limonite. In the upper layers the rock is purplish grey, weathering pale pink or white, with conchoidal fracture. Fresh riebeckite is abundant in nests and irregular aggregates.' A good exposure of hard pink felsite with fine vertical jointing, of a columnar type, may be easily reached from Little Hill by following sheep walks about the 300 m contour to a small quarry 500 m to the SSE. The felsite of Wester Hill rests partly on Upper Old Red Sandstone rocks and partly on the basal sheet of sanidine-trachyte. It may be noted here that on the west side of the hill the basal sheet of trachyte passes into a feeder-like spur.

	==== 6. Mid Hill: Riebeckite-felsite and Trachyte Sheets ====		==== 6. Mid Hill: Riebeckite-felsite and Trachyte Sheets ====

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8. North Hill: Varieties of Sanidine-trachyte

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	==== 8. North Hill: Varieties of Sanidine-trachyte ====		==== 8. North Hill: Varieties of Sanidine-trachyte ====
	At this point reference may be made to the rocks and structure of North Hill (~~553328~~). Lady McRobert has shown that this hill consists almost entirely of three sheets of sanidine-trachyte which give it a stratiform appearance. The lowest and topmost sheets arc porphyritic types while the central thicker sheet is mainly non-porphyritic. The lowest sheet lies on the pedestal of Upper Old Red Sandstone. In character it resembles the trachyte of the basal layer as found in other parts of the complex and in Bowdenmoor Quarry. On North Hill the basal trachyte is followed upwards by a thick sheet of non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte which, in places, contains much quartz. In the upper part of the sheet idiomorphic phenocrysts of quartz occur which suggest the presence of a sheet of quartz-porphyry but exposures are inadequate to make this certain. The summit sheet is highly porphyritic with phenocrysts of fresh sanidine and much quartz. Like Barron, Lady McRobert considered that the rocks of North Hill are petrographically distinguishable from those of the Mid and Wester hills and that they were part of a subsidiary dome to the laccolith. The summit area of North Hill has been successively an Iron Age fort and a Roman signal station and earthwork remains, these may still be seen.		At this point reference may be made to the rocks and structure of North Hill (NT 553 328). Lady McRobert has shown that this hill consists almost entirely of three sheets of sanidine-trachyte which give it a stratiform appearance. The lowest and topmost sheets arc porphyritic types while the central thicker sheet is mainly non-porphyritic. The lowest sheet lies on the pedestal of Upper Old Red Sandstone. In character it resembles the trachyte of the basal layer as found in other parts of the complex and in Bowdenmoor Quarry. On North Hill the basal trachyte is followed upwards by a thick sheet of non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte which, in places, contains much quartz. In the upper part of the sheet idiomorphic phenocrysts of quartz occur which suggest the presence of a sheet of quartz-porphyry but exposures are inadequate to make this certain. The summit sheet is highly porphyritic with phenocrysts of fresh sanidine and much quartz. Like Barron, Lady McRobert considered that the rocks of North Hill are petrographically distinguishable from those of the Mid and Wester hills and that they were part of a subsidiary dome to the laccolith. The summit area of North Hill has been successively an Iron Age fort and a Roman signal station and earthwork remains, these may still be seen.

	From the valley between the Mid and North hills the route follows the footpath down to the golf course. At a locality about a third of the way down (NT 558 327) sandstone is expose near some mounds of debris. The site is indicated on old maps by the word 'Bourjo' in old English lettering and tradition asserts that the Druids performed their sacrificial rites on these mounds. On the other hand it seems more probable the stones were quarried here for building purposes as there also traces of an old road way leading from the site towards Melrose Cross the golf course and rejoin the coach at the road near the club house for the return to Melrose.		From the valley between the Mid and North hills the route follows the footpath down to the golf course. At a locality about a third of the way down (NT 558 327) sandstone is expose near some mounds of debris. The site is indicated on old maps by the word 'Bourjo' in old English lettering and tradition asserts that the Druids performed their sacrificial rites on these mounds. On the other hand it seems more probable the stones were quarried here for building purposes as there also traces of an old road way leading from the site towards Melrose Cross the golf course and rejoin the coach at the road near the club house for the return to Melrose.

Scotfot: /* 6. Mid Hill: Riebeckite-felsite and Trachyte Sheets */

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6. Mid Hill: Riebeckite-felsite and Trachyte Sheets

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	'Two interesting rocks occur towards the top of the Mid Hill. The actual summit consists of orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte, while to the west of this occurs augite-olivine-trachyte. Hand specimens from the junction can be selected showing the two types intimately mixed.'		'Two interesting rocks occur towards the top of the Mid Hill. The actual summit consists of orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte, while to the west of this occurs augite-olivine-trachyte. Hand specimens from the junction can be selected showing the two types intimately mixed.'

	The cognate xenolith of riebeckite-granite described by Dr. Phemister (in Eckford and Manson, 1928) was collected near this junction. Again, 'The orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte is a very hard, compact, brown rock with a contorted fluxion-cleavage, recalling in appearance corrugated iron. Riebeckite is conspicuous in blue mossy aggregates. The augite-olivine-trachyte is a very hard, compact, grey-green rock, with good ~~felsparphenocrysts~~. It weathers to a buff colour, and has an irregular fracture.'		The cognate xenolith of riebeckite-granite described by Dr. Phemister (in Eckford and Manson, 1928)<ref>Eckford, R.J.A. and Manson, W. 1928. Note on a Xenolith in Riebeckitetrachyte, Mid Eildon, Roxburghshire. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc. 12, 143-146</ref> was collected near this junction. Again, 'The orthophyric riebeckite-trachyte is a very hard, compact, brown rock with a contorted fluxion-cleavage, recalling in appearance corrugated iron. Riebeckite is conspicuous in blue mossy aggregates. The augite-olivine-trachyte is a very hard, compact, grey-green rock, with good felspar-phenocrysts. It weathers to a buff colour, and has an irregular fracture.'

	'This augite-olivine-trachyte closely resembles specimens from Traprain Law and the Bass Rock (East Lothian)', (McRobert 1914, p. 3(9).		'This augite-olivine-trachyte closely resembles specimens from Traprain Law and the Bass Rock (East Lothian)', (McRobert 1914, p. 3(9)<ref>McRobert, (Lady) Rachel W. 1914. Acid and Intermediate Intrusions and Associated Ash-Necks in the Neighbourhood of Melrose (Roxburghshire). Quart. J. Geol. Soc. Land. 70, 303-315.</ref>.

	An indicator on the summit of Mid Hill shows the landmarks and features of interest visible on a fine day. It would be difficult to find a better vantage point from which to view the extensive panorama of the Borderland and feel the magic of its appeal. Sir Walter Scott claimed that he could point out forty-one historic sites from this summit and for him the Eildons were 'the delectable mountains'.		An indicator on the summit of Mid Hill shows the landmarks and features of interest visible on a fine day. It would be difficult to find a better vantage point from which to view the extensive panorama of the Borderland and feel the magic of its appeal. Sir Walter Scott claimed that he could point out forty-one historic sites from this summit and for him the Eildons were 'the delectable mountains'.

	==== 7. Valley between Mid and North Hills: Sanidine-trachyte and Baked Mudstone ====		==== 7. Valley between Mid and North Hills: Sanidine-trachyte and Baked Mudstone ====

Scotfot at 22:15, 8 March 2015

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	[[File:EildonHillsExcursionMap.jpg\|600px\|thumbnail\|Eildon Hills - excursion map.]]		[[File:EildonHillsExcursionMap.jpg\|600px\|thumbnail\|Eildon Hills - excursion map.]]
	==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====		==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====
	Follow the route from Melrose as described for locality 6 in the Border Abbeys Excursion ~~(p.110)~~ where there is a description of this partly infilled quarry (NT 339 542).		Follow the route from Melrose as described for locality 6 in the [[Building stones of the Border Abbeys - an excursion\|Border Abbeys Excursion]] where there is a description of this partly infilled quarry (NT 339 542).

	Although the quarry is situated near the margin of the vent no contacts are seen with the country-rock of Silurian strata, but exposed junctions of this kind occur in the nearby Rhymer's Glen. Red sandstones and marls of Upper Old Red Sand stone age, with some small felsitic intrusions, form a narrow strip bordering the vent-agglomerate on the south side of Quarry Hill. Near Chiefswood House, situated near the centre of the area of the vent, the agglomerate is cut by a quartz porphyry dyke. It is probable that this large vent and other smaller orifices in the district, at Faldonside, Little Hill ant Bowdenmoor, originated during the great period of vulcanicity which began in the south of Scotland in late Upper Old Red Sandstone times and reached a maximum of activity in the Lower Carboniferous. It is remarkable that no plug has so far been found in the Chiefswood vent and it is a matter for speculation whether or not lava was ever ejected from this or any of the vents referred to here.		Although the quarry is situated near the margin of the vent no contacts are seen with the country-rock of Silurian strata, but exposed junctions of this kind occur in the nearby Rhymer's Glen. Red sandstones and marls of Upper Old Red Sand stone age, with some small felsitic intrusions, form a narrow strip bordering the vent-agglomerate on the south side of Quarry Hill. Near Chiefswood House, situated near the centre of the area of the vent, the agglomerate is cut by a quartz porphyry dyke. It is probable that this large vent and other smaller orifices in the district, at Faldonside, Little Hill ant Bowdenmoor, originated during the great period of vulcanicity which began in the south of Scotland in late Upper Old Red Sandstone times and reached a maximum of activity in the Lower Carboniferous. It is remarkable that no plug has so far been found in the Chiefswood vent and it is a matter for speculation whether or not lava was ever ejected from this or any of the vents referred to here.

Scotfot: /* Introduction */

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Introduction

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	# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill).		# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill).
	# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill		# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill
			[[File:EildonHillsExcursionMap.jpg\|600px\|thumbnail\|Eildon Hills - excursion map.]]
	==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====		==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====
	Follow the route from Melrose as described for locality 6 in the Border Abbeys Excursion (p.110) where there is a description of this partly infilled quarry (NT 339 542).		Follow the route from Melrose as described for locality 6 in the Border Abbeys Excursion (p.110) where there is a description of this partly infilled quarry (NT 339 542).

Scotfot: /* Introduction */

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Introduction

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	# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill).		# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill).
	# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill		# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill

	~~Parties are warned that there are rifle ranges on the low ground west of Mid Hill and these arc sometimes in use on Saturdays.~~

	==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====		==== 1. Chiefswood Quarries: Agglomerate in Volcanic Neck ====

Scotfot: /* Introduction */

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Introduction

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	# Chiefswood and Bowdenmoor quarries - Little Hill.		# Chiefswood and Bowdenmoor quarries - Little Hill.
	# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill.		# Bowdenmoor Quarry -Little Hill -columnar felsite (Wester Hill-summit of Mid Hill).
	# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill		# Little Hill-summit of Mid Hill-North Hill

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	At this point reference may be made to the rocks and structure of North Hill (553328). Lady McRobert has shown that this hill consists almost entirely of three sheets of sanidine-trachyte which give it a stratiform appearance. The lowest and topmost sheets arc porphyritic types while the central thicker sheet is mainly non-porphyritic. The lowest sheet lies on the pedestal of Upper Old Red Sandstone. In character it resembles the trachyte of the basal layer as found in other parts of the complex and in Bowdenmoor Quarry. On North Hill the basal trachyte is followed upwards by a thick sheet of non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte which, in places, contains much quartz. In the upper part of the sheet idiomorphic phenocrysts of quartz occur which suggest the presence of a sheet of quartz-porphyry but exposures are inadequate to make this certain. The summit sheet is highly porphyritic with phenocrysts of fresh sanidine and much quartz. Like Barron, Lady McRobert considered that the rocks of North Hill are petrographically distinguishable from those of the Mid and Wester hills and that they were part of a subsidiary dome to the laccolith. The summit area of North Hill has been successively an Iron Age fort and a Roman signal station and earthwork remains, these may still be seen.		At this point reference may be made to the rocks and structure of North Hill (553328). Lady McRobert has shown that this hill consists almost entirely of three sheets of sanidine-trachyte which give it a stratiform appearance. The lowest and topmost sheets arc porphyritic types while the central thicker sheet is mainly non-porphyritic. The lowest sheet lies on the pedestal of Upper Old Red Sandstone. In character it resembles the trachyte of the basal layer as found in other parts of the complex and in Bowdenmoor Quarry. On North Hill the basal trachyte is followed upwards by a thick sheet of non-porphyritic sanidine-trachyte which, in places, contains much quartz. In the upper part of the sheet idiomorphic phenocrysts of quartz occur which suggest the presence of a sheet of quartz-porphyry but exposures are inadequate to make this certain. The summit sheet is highly porphyritic with phenocrysts of fresh sanidine and much quartz. Like Barron, Lady McRobert considered that the rocks of North Hill are petrographically distinguishable from those of the Mid and Wester hills and that they were part of a subsidiary dome to the laccolith. The summit area of North Hill has been successively an Iron Age fort and a Roman signal station and earthwork remains, these may still be seen.

	From the valley between the Mid and North hills the route follows the footpath down to the golf course. At a locality about a third of the way down (NT 558 327) sandstone is expose near some mounds of debris. The site is indicated on old maps by the word 'Bourjo' in old English lettering and tradition asserts that the Druids performed their sacrificial rites on these mounds. On the other hand it seems more probable the stones were quarried here for building purposes as there also traces of an old road way leading from the site towards Melrose Cross the golf course and rejoin the coach at the road near the club house for the return to Melrose.		From the valley between the Mid and North hills the route follows the footpath down to the golf course. At a locality about a third of the way down (NT 558 327) sandstone is expose near some mounds of debris. The site is indicated on old maps by the word 'Bourjo' in old English lettering and tradition asserts that the Druids performed their sacrificial rites on these mounds. On the other hand it seems more probable the stones were quarried here for building purposes as there also traces of an old road way leading from the site towards Melrose Cross the golf course and rejoin the coach at the road near the club house for the return to Melrose.

	===References===		===References===