Did you know there’s a giant in Tweedsmuir?
In the heart of Tweedsmuir, the Giant’s Stone stands at 5’2″ tall and has intrigued locals and visitors for centuries. First recorded in 1834, this enigmatic standing stone is believed to be part of a lost Druidic circle, possibly disrupted by agricultural changes. Two smaller stones nearby—just over 3 feet tall—hint at a once grander arrangement.
Legend has it that the stone marks the spot where a fearsome giant met his end. According to the Second Statistical Account (1845), a diminutive hero named Little John ambushed the giant from behind the stone, firing a deadly arrow across the River Tweed to protect the peaceful villagers from the marauding freebooter.
The nearby Giant’s Grave, a mounded area beside the A701 near Gala Wood and Gala Burn, is said to be the final resting place of this towering figure.
The landscape itself tells a deeper story. Southern Scotland’s glaciated valleys—known as hopes (like Gameshope and Carterhope)—left behind massive boulders, many of which were shaped into standing stones or burial cists by ancient peoples.
Visit tweedsmuir.scot for more fascinating local tales!
