Thornylee Viewpoint

The tale of muckle mou’d Meg.

Once upon a time there lived a girl called muckle mou’d Meg – or big mouthed Meg. Meg lived in Elibank Castle with her father, Sir Gideon Murray, her mother and her two sisters. Poor Meg had problems finding a husband because of her large mouth.

One night, a man named Willie Scott, the son of a nearby family, crept up to Elibank Castle with the aim of stealing cattle, but Sir Gideon had been forwarned against the raid and caught Willie in the act. He immediately locked Willie in the castle dungeon and promised to hang him in the morning. But Sir Gideon’s wife had other ideas. Willie was a fine young man from a good family - and a good potential husband for poor Meg.

Willie was given two choices; either marry muckle mou’d Meg or hang. The story goes that he took three days to reach his decision, but finally chose to make Meg his wife. Legend has it that they lived happily ever after – and that the writer Sir Walter Scott was a direct descendant of their marriage.

A sculpture at Thornylee Viewpoint celebrates this unusual tale, and interpretation panels tell the story of how the Tweed valley has evolved over time. Follow the signposts for a gentle stroll through the forest and enjoy a scenic picnic on your return.

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