The Story of Tam Lin
The Ballad of Tam Lin is a Scottish song from the mid 1500's. It is set in the woods of Caterhaugh near the joining of two rivers, the Ettrick and the Yarrow. Such places are renowned for enhancing magic and the supernatural.
The Origin Story
Tam Lin is out riding and falls from his horse. The Queen of the fairies sees this and takes the opportunity to capture him for trespassing in her territory. The Queen binds him to her so she can take him back to the fairy realm and make him become a fairy knight. Some versions say she falls in love with him. Tam Lin patrols the rose garden in the woods to stop anyone else from falling victim of the fairy Queen. One day he encounters a young noble woman called Janet. He tells her that she should not be here, but she tells him it is her fathers land and she has every right to be there.
Of course, Tam Lin and Janet fall in love. He confides in her how trapped he is in his predicament with the fairy Queen and Janet determines to rescue him. Unfortunately the Queen has found out about Tam Lin's love for Janet and so she decides to sacrifice him. But Janet comes to his rescue as Tam Lin is being led to his death. She jumps out from the trees and grabs tight to Tam Lin. The Queen magically makes him change shapes through various beastly incarnations to try to get Janet to let go of him. But Janet is undeterred and holds on tight breaking the Queens spell over him and releasing him.
Key Locations
Caterhaugh (or Carterhaugh) is a real wood and farm in the Scottish Borders. It sits near Selkirk, Scotland, right where the Yarrow Water and Ettrick Water rivers flow together. The area features Tam Lin's Well, a roadside spring linked to the legend of Tam Lin.
Caterhaugh
Newark Tower is a large, ruined tower house standing in the grounds of Bowhill House, in the valley of the Yarrow Water three miles west of Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. In addition to the keep, sections of a gatehouse and wall survive. It has been designated a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland. This dramatic ruin overlooks the Yarrow Water and is traditionally linked to the heroine's home in the Tam Lin ballad.
Newark Castle
Bowhill House is a historic house near Bowhill at Selkirk in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is a member of the Historic Houses Association, and is one of the homes of the Duke of Buccleuch. This grand estate near Selkirk offers beautiful woodland walks, gardens, and access paths toward the nearby river valleys.
Bowhill House