Roxburgh Castle stands as a grassy mound at the junction of the Tweed and Teviot, within the grounds of Floors Castle about two miles west of Kelso town centre. There is almost nothing left standing — just earthwork ramparts and scattered stone fragments — but the site repays the walk for anyone interested in medieval Scottish history, because this was once one of the most contested fortresses in Britain.
The original castle is thought to have been founded by David I around 1128, the same king who established Kelso Abbey. Throughout the Wars of Independence it changed hands repeatedly between Scotland and England. In 1460 James II came here to press a siege and was killed when one of his own bombards exploded beside him. His queen, Mary of Guelders, ordered the castle demolished after the Scots finally took it, to ensure the English could never use it again. What you see today is the consequence of that decision — a deliberate erasure. The site is accessible on foot from the riverbank path. The ruins lie within Floors Castle's private estate, so access may depend on whether the estate is open.