BLACK MIDDENS BASTLE HOUSE

A fortified farmhouse with thick stone walls, of a type distinctive to the troubled 16th century Anglo-Scottish borders. The living quarters were only accessible at first floor level.

Read more about the history of the bastle house.

BEFORE YOU GO

Access: The site is a 180 metre walk from the car park over uneven grassland. 

Parking: There is a small car park on a minor road - please follow the brown signs.

Dogs: The are is grazed by livestock, so please keep dogs on leads.

PLAN A GREAT DAY OUT

Black Middens is about half an hour north of Hadrian's Wall, in a remote spot in Northumberland. As is typical in this region, there are other bastle houses nearby, for added mutual security.  It is possible to view several of these on the Tarset Bastle Trail.