Whitslaid Tower

Whitslaid Tower is a ruined tower house sitting on a steep hillside above Leader Water in the Scottish Borders, with thick stone walls and a vaulted ground floor built from greywacke stone blocks. The structure features a square defensive opening and retains an original ceiling made from quarried stone slabs.

The tower dates to the Middle Ages and was owned by the Lauder family over many centuries, with early records mentioning William of Whitslade in the early 1200s. It served as a fortified residence for multiple generations in the Scottish Borders region.

The tower shows how medieval Scottish families designed their homes to be both defended and lived in, with cramped stairs and raised rooms that were standard for the time.

You can reach the site via a dirt road that curves around the tower, offering different views of the remains from various angles. The ground is uneven with loose stones from the deteriorating structure, so sturdy footwear is advisable.

The ground floor ceiling is made from carefully cut greywacke slabs that have remained in place for centuries and show how medieval builders worked with local stone. This original construction is noteworthy because most similar towers from the period have lost such details.