MERLINS CAVE AND GRAVE

[@markscott9622]

Mark rest assured that YOU are the ambassador of the Borders and opened my eyes rich views and tales I could never imagine. Thank you!

[@katiemoyer8679]

Lovely to see you again my friend. Thank You for showing us this. ❣️💫🎉👌🎉💫

[@MarkNicol123]

Cheers Katie

[@HiddenGem02]

What a brilliant video! Came across it after having a conversation with someone today about lost knowledge and lost stories. I wont be able to brave the Border hills for a long time as I have young ones, so it is great to discover the Cave through your video. And sound myself shouting at the end "It was Murder!". So frustrating that ancient ways just got wiped out, all that knowledge. So many times in history. There might be other videos about the Borders on here but it doesnt suit everyone to watch them. Keep going!

[@helencarpenter9158]

Thank you Mark. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't know about Merlins connection to this area. Thank you. 🙏. As mentioned in other comments, I also admire your enthusiasm, dedication and passion. Wonderful. Looking forward to watching your next video. Hope the Scottish weather will be kinder to you.🌈 Take care

[@annawalker1750]

Good to see you back at it you have been missed. Love your passion and dedication to the history and beauty of the borderlands of Scotland. More please!!!

[@clemprice1501]

You’ve been missed. I love the way you put over your journey and adventures. Thanks as always for sharing your content 👍🏼

[@sheenajardine7730]

I love your videos. Your enthusiasm is infectious and you bring all these places alive by introducing us to all these ancient stories with some humour thrown in 😊. Many thanks for all you do, please dig further and keep going.

[@TplofScatjach]

Hi Mark, I found your channel whilst looking for info on border reviers, I continued to watch because your personal presentation stands head and shoulders above voice over documentaries, you have a wealth of knowledge and your passion is infectious. Keep going

[@shadowwitch4796]

I love the story of Merlin. The scenery as usual is fantastic, beautiful.

[@johnknottenbelt2727]

I have never witnessed anyone with the enthusiasm you have shown for your chosen subject & the heart & soul you put into the creation of your presentation. You certainly drew this fellow traveller into bygone tymes to walk on the path you took in this venture of discovery. The Spirits smile upon you.😊

[@lonasworld]

Your stories are so awesome! Don’t stop! I love the history you bring to life for us.

[@markmacthree3168]

Great video lad about our real history and thanks for taking the time to do it 💯.

[@ddarkins]

Great to see you making more videos, Mark. Your material is brilliant and your passion for the history always comes through. I'm a teacher and I use bits of your videos to teach secondary History. You also inspired me to begin my own KZbin channel a couple of years ago. Keep up the good work!

[@mandygarden3148]

Good to see you back Mark. Keep up the great work.

[@Lorwildrose]

Thanks Mark, I can see why a lot of Scott’s moved to Alberta and made lives here, the landscape you showed looks a lot like the area in Alberta I grew up in.

[@steviesvideos319]

Brilliant Mark, nice to see you back again.

[@MarkNicol123]

Cheers Steve!!😁

[@RickPop85]

thanks Mr nicol of another excellent video. please don't feel too down on your self, I've learned so much from your videos and prefer the borders as my favourite part of Scotland! my grandmother was a Somerville 😊 all the best from South Lanarkshire

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

Great to see you back out Mark, I was literally just thinking about you this morning, I was watching an old video of my own where I gave you a shout out and thought, I've not seen anything new from you in a while. The cave didn't seem to offer a great deal of shelter but hats off (or on) for braving the elements like that to show it to us. One day we should get together and do the Arthurian legend from start to finish. At the moment the tour is close to the legendary site of Arthur's first battle although I've not plans to visit it as part of the tour, but I noticed there is a public right of way that goes through the supposed battle site. There's a few possibilities for Camelot... Kemelpeth aka Chewgreen where Dere Street is known as the Camel's Path. Vindolanda and Housesteads are both surrounded by landmarks referring to King Arthur. I look forward to your next video. Take care, Alice

[@MarkNicol123]

Defo mate. Hopefully we can get together some day soon. Was in your territory looking for an Arthurian battle site one day, near the Till I think

[@NorthernWayfarer-Alice]

@@MarkNicol123 Where the R.Till meets the R.Glen... been thinking of visiting the place myself.

[@dougwilson4183]

Another great video Mark. Good to see you back. Keep them coming 👍

[@whichkatami]

Thank you for your travels and posting this. I never knew there was a Merlindale or a grave, it’s fascinating. Scotland is a unique country and of such stunning vistas, rich history, strong and brave people, I am very grateful to be related to. My father’s stories of our Scottish ancestors got me into the culture and history of your great lands. My father’s direct ancestors, (down through the Mellons and Carnegies, (many first born males in our family, first names, were and are Andrew), came here in the 1700’s to fight in the American Revolution. For their soldering they were promised and given lots of tillable lands with dark, fertile soils, in the Ohio Valley, (then dangerous Indian territory). Swaney is our last name, but it previously spelled differently in ancient times. My uncle was a Catholicos priest his pastime was documenting our Scottish ancestors, he traced his paternal line in ancient Scotland where the men were mainly traders in horses and stone cutters, much further back in time part of the family dwelled in caves along lonely, narrow, treacherous, coastal roads. My uncle told us of stories he came across when he visited Scotland for the umpteenth time, that a part of our ancestors that dwelled in those caves, were criminals, robbing travelers and if starving, consumed them, 🤮. 14:18 I had to laugh when he said it was 16 degrees Celsius, (60 F), he said he’s absolutely roasting, but he’s wearing a long sleeve shirt and a jacket. We live in central Virginia and it’s HOT in Summer, this summer it’s been over 90’s F, (32.C) , almost daily, it’ often reaches 100 F. Anyway, my dad was the only one of his 7 siblings to move out of the Ohio Valley, (late 1950s), to Northern Virginia, after he retired from the Marine Corps, he had a job offer in Washington DC at the foreign service. As my parents had more kids and money, dad moved us a bit further S, where farmland was affordable, today each of my siblings and I own large tracts of land. My dad grew up farming in Ohio, his dad and uncles used only horsepower. My grandfather’s two work horses, (among some riding horses and mules), were Crusher & Puller both Percheron Drafts. Dads job at age 5 was to feed the horses at 5:30 am, then after breakfast, all the kids rode the horses to a one room school house, (which still exists), the horses walked home on their own and back to the school to get the kids at 3pm. Dad love of horses transferred to us kids, he taught all my siblings and I to love, respect, ride and train horses when we were very little. All but one of us kids now breed, raise, train, show and SELL horses. I guess the love of horses comes directly from our Scottish heritage! If I lived in Scotland today, I’d never leave it, it’s simply magical.

[@jlmbuddyjm]

Great video Mark. Great to see you out and about again. Great history of the Borders 👍

[@keithrichardsom1898]

Your body of work is absolutely fantastic i absolutely love it well done Mark

[@davidlambie5276]

Awrite Mark. No seen yer vids for a wee while now. Great to have a wee binge session while making dinner brother. Hope you and family are all well and safe mate 👍 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[@dannyharvie7700]

Hi Mark, great video, there is a book by Nikolai Tolstoy which supports your placing of Merlin in Moffatdale. The book is called The Quest for Merlin.

[@KrisHughes]

Lovely to see all the great shots of the area.

[@keithrichardsom1898]

Absolutely brilliant Mark

[@tomjones7593]

Good to see you back-great footage- but Merlin (Myrddin) lived near me in Gwynedd at Dinas Emrys-mind you he could have travelled up to the Borders later, I suppose.....

[@MarkNicol123]

Walked to the wee ruins at the top of Dinas Emrys this summer. It was pouring rain but the forest there was spectacular. But Merlin was like me and just went down there for a wee holiday😂

[@tomjones7593]

@@MarkNicol123 I'm well impressed-so few people even around here have ever been up there- I hope you saw the 'magic well' on top. At least the weather suited you......!

[@RonaldPickering]

Hi Mark, have you ever considered visiting Edinburgh and documenting the Greyfriars Covenanters Prison and the ghost of George Mackenzie?

[@Pilrig1]

Hello Mark I enjoyed the video, it brought back memories of Drumelzier and Stobo ! Regarding Merlin's cave, Nicolai Tolstoy in his book The Quest for Merlin situates it at the chalybeate spring on a gully below Hart Fell . It's about a miles walk from the road, not a difficult path though rather isolated. The cave itself resembles a stone igloo shaped by erosion on the slope it's situated on.

[@caireengraham]

Great video ! 🤩

[@davidgraham9779]

Great video Mark, brilliant to see you back.

[@fambuild]

Good stuff!

[@peterkelly1665]

Been wondering where you were loved this vid especially the Scottish weather God who heard your comment on heat and took mercy on you at the cave

[@catmel]

I’d say he was rendered powerless by those in need of his power.

[@HouseofMelia]

Brilliant thanks

[@jamieT973]

Love your channel Mark>>>>>>I go to work and bring up stuff about Scotland so I can use what I’ve learned from you>>>>folk keep asking how I know so much>>>>>I gave in and told them about your channel>>>>>cheers man 👍👍. Can I ask what your filming with as the zoom is outstanding.

[@tormodmacleod9116]

Enjoyed watching just to see some of the Borders, With covid goin on i haven't been able to get back home.

[@derrickemptage854]

Hi mark I have the following book .HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS OF THE BORDER.BY ANDREW LANG ANDJOHN LANG .THE 1929 VERSION a lot of the history that pi cover in your KZbin volg is mentioned. Including all about Merlin and his death

[@MarkNicol123]

I’ll look that book up!! Cheers😁

[@elizabethlundie233]

Hi mark love your vids ,,,didn’t you do one on the battle of degsastan ,,,what vid was it ?

[@MarkNicol123]

Thanks for watching Elizabeth!! Thisone… kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4XCm5qLqNSkjrM

[@NSAJ33]

I wish you could find more about the Ainslie clan. I can’t find anything bro.

[@keithrichardsom1898]

Brilliant

[@markkuman4673]

Dude single-handedly vanquished every monster and beast from the dark ages. He was raw unbridled power. I'd be careful if I was you. Caution from Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

[@johnwightman7549]

mark you should listen to robin williamson's "five denials on merlin's grave"

[@MarkNicol123]

Will have a look at that

[@scotbotvideos]

Is that a hillfort at 13:26?

[@MarkNicol123]

It’s the remains of Tinnis Castle in Peeblesshire. Probably was a hill fort before the castle

[@scotbotvideos]

@@MarkNicol123 Thanks, Mark. I commented before you mentioned that in your video.

[@jumpinjack3506]

Bravo.😎😎

[@Electronicpoacher1]

great video mate, is it safe to assume you are no a christian ya self

[@MarkNicol123]

What makes you think that?😂 Cheers for watching!!

[@Electronicpoacher1]

@@MarkNicol123 sorry if I am mistaken mate may I ask are you of the christian faith ?

[@MarkNicol123]

I have faith, but prescribe to no religious doctrine.

[@Electronicpoacher1]

@@MarkNicol123 ok mate so just curious you have faith in what may I ask ?

[@MarkNicol123]

Faith that there is more to being than the profane and scientific.

[@almaxx9680]

First 😭🤣

[@naradaian]

Fuckin whispering. Give over