Dig It! at Bedrule Castle 2026

We’re excited to share another of this year’s Dig It! competitions!

Three lucky winners will be heading to Bedrule Castle in the Scottish Borders on Saturday 15th August. Winners will be hosted by the team at HARP Archaeology and will be investigating the site of a medieval castle that played a vital role in the Anglo-Scottish wars of the 16th century.

During their Dig It! with YAC day, our winners will have the opportunity to experience a range of field-based tasks such as digging, processing finds, and learning other archaeological skills too – in fact, they’ll learn what being an archaeologist is really like!

What’s the history of the site?

HARP, in association with Archaeology Scotland, will be returning to the site of Bedrule Castle in the Scottish Borders in August to continue excavation at the castle site as part of Archaeology Scotland’s Towers of Rule project that has been running in the region for the past several years.

Bedrule Castle was once a stronghold of Clan Comyn, and later the Turnbulls. It was an important site in the Rule Valley and likely dates back to the 12th century. Bedrule Castle was witness to turbulent times during the Anglo-Scottish wars. It was raided by the Earl of Hertford during the ‘Rough Wooing’ (an 8-year war between England and Scotland, 1543-1551).

Whilst no above ground architecture remains, the undulating landscape and hints of some upstanding masonry below the surface have suggested substantial sub-surface remains. Previous work including geophysics and trial excavation, have revealed a significant site with substantial architectural remains. The most recent excavations revealed large masonry walls and evidence of late medieval use of the site; some of the stonework revealed the re-use of carved masonry, potentially removed from an older building (perhaps an earlier iteration of the castle or an early church).

What else will I win?

Once again, we will be offering every winner an £80 bursary made possible by the Marsh Charitable Trust to help cover the costs of travel, accommodation and/or subsistence (your lunch!). These bursaries are designed to break down barriers to participation by helping cover the cost of attending for young people engaging with archaeology, making it easier for them to take part in life-changing fieldwork opportunities.

And that’s not all! Each winner will also receive a satchel of archaeological tools, including your own trowel, brush, magnifier and everything you need to record your finds. This fantastic prize has been donated by our friends at Past Horizons.

How do I enter the competition?

To be in with a chance of winning you will need to answer the following question:

In which century was Bedrule Castle most likely first built?

  1. 12th century
  2. 16th century
  3. 19th century

Please Note:

  • Each winner must be accompanied by a responsible adult on the day
  • Winners must be aged 8-16 AND a member of YAC
  • Parental/carer permission is required to enter.
  • The deadline to enter is 12th July.

Please read our terms and conditions before entering.

Click here to enter the competition!

Good Luck!!!