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The original building dates from around 1360 and was more of a fortified manor house than a castle. It consisted of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by living quarters. At the end of the 14th century the Douglas family incorporated the building into a great tower. Square towers were added later at each corners. Two great flying arches to east and west connected the projecting towers. Finally a rectangular wing was added to the south-west. Few openings broke the line of the dark sandstone walls which rose sheer and imposing from the grassy earthworks. At the very top of the castle a series of doors led to a wooden fighting gallery that once projected from the castle.
A few hundred yards from the castle is the remains of the hermitage that gives the castle its name. In its strategic position on the Borders the castle passed from Scottish to English hands on many occasions. However, the castle is more notorious for individual villiany. Lord Soulis, an early owner and one of the important hereditary King's Butlers of Scotland, drowned a fellow knight by holding him under the waters of the Hermitage Water, a river flowing south of the castle. After a life of misdeeds Lord Soulis was boiled to death in a caldron of water.
In 1342 a later owner, Sir William Douglas, had his enemy, Sir Alexander Ramsay, starved to death in a pit, similar to the dungeon still visible in the north-east tower of the castle. When he joined the English, Sir William, forfeited his castle and his life to its new owner.
The castle's most famous association is with Mary, Queen of Scots who in 1566 rushed to the castle to be at bedside of her wounded lover, the 4th Earl of Bothwell.
By the end of the 16th century the castle had reverted to the crown and under the following ownerships the castle's military history came to an end.
The castle fell into ruin but in 1820 the Duke of Buccleugh carried out an extensive restoration. Today the building appears much as it did in the 15th century, one of the most dramatic border castles .
Neidpath castle stands on a steep rocky crag above the River Tweed. The massive L-plan tower was constructed in the latter half of the 14th century following Scotland's independence from England. At this time it was essential for local lairds to assert their authority over their lands and maintain law and order. Thus castles were built not only as a defence against attack but also to ensure the land-owner had a strong control over his domain.
Neidpath Castle is unusual in that both sides of L-plan tower are parallelograms rather than rectangles. Also the castle's corners are rounded and not square. The castle has four storeys but mezzanine floors give the tower many chambers and passages at different levels. The lower floor served as a pit prison.
During the 17th century the upper two floors of the castle were remodelled. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at the castle, as did James I and James VI.
The castle was a stronghold for Charles II and the walls still bear damage caused when it was besieged by Cromwell's troops.