Robert Smail's Printing Works

Robert Smail's Printing Works

Gen Harrison is property manager at the Robert Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen. It's easy to see why she loves the property as she gives you a quick guided tour around the UK 's only operational Victorian letterpress printworks.

Lasting Impressions: Robert Smail's Printing Works

2008 was the 500th anniversary of the printed word in Scotland, and in this tour we look at the fascinating Robert Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen, a letterpress printers which has been restored to full operation just as it was a century ago.

Places to see in ( Innerleithen - UK )

Places to see in ( Innerleithen - UK )

Innerleithen is a civil parish and a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders. It was formerly in the historic county of Peeblesshire or Tweeddale. The name Innerleithen comes from the Scottish Gaelic meaning confluence of the Leithen, because it is here that the river joins the Tweed. The prefix Inner-/Inver- (Inbhir-) is common in many Scottish placenames, such as Inverness. At this confluence, the Tweed flows approximately west-east, and the Leithen flows from the north.

The layout of the town is dominated by the surrounding hills. To the north the peaked hill of Lee Pen (502m), and its southerly spur Caerlee Hill (258m). To the east the rounded hill of Pirn Craig (363m) - locally known as Rocky - and its townward spur of Windy Knowe (155m), also known as Pirn Hill, and to the south, beyond the Tweed, the extended of ridge of Plora Craig rises sharply from the southerly bank. Thus the town has grown in an inverted 'T' shape north up the valley of the Leithen and east-west along north bank flood plain of the Tweed.

The town is said to have been founded by an itinerant pilgrim monk called St. Ronan in A.D.737, who came to Innerleithen via the River Tweed in a coracle. Monks would certainly have travelled the natural route of the Clyde and Tweed valleys on their way between the religious centres of Iona and Holy Island. A Celtic stone carved with cup and rings/channels, known as the Runic Cross (although there are neither runes on it, nor any evidence that it was a cross shaft) was found on the slopes of the Leithen valley suggesting that a church existed during the Early Middle Ages. The stone can be viewed in the courtyard of the parish church on Leithen Road.

Tourist attractions within the town include Robert Smail's Printing Works and St. Ronans Wells, and nearby Traquair House. Popular tourist activities in the area include golfing (the town has a 9-hole golf course), walking and mountain biking with 2 excellent routes including a world standard downhill route. The area is famous for fly fishing (both trout and salmon), and there is a fish ladder near the golf course, just outside the town boundary on Leithen Road. This proves a popular stopping point for locals and visitors to watch the autumn and winter runs of salmon.

The town has several small hotels including the Traquair Arms Hotel and the St. Ronans Hotel. There are also numerous private houses offering bed and breakfast, a camp site and a caravan site.
The town hosts the annual Innerleithen Music Festival in the Memorial Hall. In addition, it has an active amateur operatic society which stages an annual production.

To get to Innerleithen from Edinburgh, follow the A701, then A703 south from Edinburgh, and at Peebles turn east onto the A72. The town is also served by the First Bus no. 62 service which runs between Edinburgh and Melrose via Penicuik, Peebles, Innerleithen and Galashiels. Innerleithen has several bookshops, the largest of which holds nearly 19,000 titles and is one of the largest in the Scottish Borders.

Innerleithen is also popular for mountain biking and, together with Glentress, forms one of the Forestry Commission's 7 Stanes. It is very popular with downhill bikers and has hosted national events since the early 1990s. Current gems include the Matador and Make or Break. In addition to the downhill trails, there is a long cross-country loop that climbs to the top of the Minch Moor before descending through some excellent trails. The Innerleithen XC trails are more demanding than those found at Glentress.

( Innerleithen - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Innerleithen . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Innerleithen - UK

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Over the Scottish Borders

The road over the moors from St. Mary's Loch/Yarrow/Gordon Arms to Innerleithen. Filmed on a GoPro Hero 2.

Step into the Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders is bursting with picturesque valleys, landscapes and rolling hills that will transport you back in time to a world full of history and heritage.

Uncover the historic heartland of the Scottish Borders through atmospheric Abbeys, grand stately homes and historic castles. Explore Jedburgh, Kelso, Dryburgh and Melrose Abbeys for a lesson on the region’s turbulent past, or join in with traditions at the popular Common Ridings in Kelso, Hawick and Selkirk.

Venture to the adrenaline-filled outdoors for mountain biking at 7stanes in Glentress & Innerleithen and Newcastleton, try your luck fishing in the River Tweed, or enjoy sailing, fishing and walking at St Mary’s Loch.

Taste some of the area’s local produce at restaurants, such as Hergés on the Loch, Firebrick Brasserie, and Seasons! Or explore the region’s historic breweries and try a beer at Born in the Borders, Tempest Brewery, Traquair Brewery, or Broughton Ales.

Take a trip on one of Scotland’s Great Scenic Railway Journeys – the Borders Railway – to witness some of the Borders’ most picturesque sites. Onward bus travel from Galashiels allows you to explore more of the Scottish Borders, giving you the perfect view of the passing countryside.

For adventure, historic sites and beautiful landscapes, step into the Scottish Borders!

Scottish Borders:
Abbotsford House:
Melrose Abbey:
Kelso Abbey:
Dryburgh Abbey:
Jedburgh Abbey:
Dawyck Botanic Garden:
Thirlestane Castle:
Bowhill House and Country Estate:
TweedLove Bike Festival:
Kailzie Gardens:
St Mary’s Loch:
St Abb’s Head NNR:
Return to the Ridings:
Heritage Hub:
Border Textiles Towerhouse:
Hawico Cashmere:
Lochcarron of Scotland:
Hergés on the Loch:
Born in the Borders:
Firebrick Brasserie:
Seasons:
Cocoa Black:
Giacopazzi’s Ice Cream:
Borders Railway:
Gunsgreen House:
River Tweed Fishing:
Teviot Game Fare Smokery:
Broughton Ales:
Traquair Brewery:
7stanes Glentress:
7stanes Newcastleton:
Robert Smail’s Printing Works:
Borders Book Festival:
Velvet Hall Alpacas:
Lindean Mill Glass

Scottish Borders Art Glass


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