Hiking Eildon Hills

Today we hiked to the top of the Eildon Hills near Melrose. Everywhere we go, Ed Miller knows songs and how they are informed by the stories, traditional customs, and language. Today, as we overlooked the farmlands surrounding the Eildon Hills, Ed talked about earlier farming methods. When he mentioned rigs as mounds of raised soil with water running between them, I asked if this was the same kind of rig as in the song “The Lea Rig”. Ed nodded and added that the lea rig would be the one left fallow or resting. So it would be undisturbed and could have some long uncut grasses for romantic privacy.

We sang a song about a “Roving Laddie” which connected to the writer’s belief about the land being for all people, not just the rich lairds (lords, land owners). About eight years ago, a law was passed in Scotland which allows people to hike across all lands (respectfully) without it being considered trespass.

At the bottom of the hill, we saw the stone which marks the Eildon Tree where Thomas the Rhymer, fell asleep, and was enchanted by the Queen of the Fairies. He was taken for three days to live with the Fairies and entertain them (probably with harp playing and singing). When he was returned to his world, many years had passed. He was given the gift of making prophesies which events which did come to pass. Thomas the Rhymer was a real person who lived in the late 1200’s.