royal burgh (town), Scottish Borders council area, historic county of Peeblesshire, Scotland, at the junction of Eddleston Water with the River Tweed. Peebles, which gained royal burgh status in 1367, grew up under the shelter of the royal castle, which was a favourite residence of the Scottish kings when they hunted in nearby Ettrick Forest. It is the historic county town (seat) of Peeblesshire. The modern town is an agricultural market centre and has mills producing tweed and knitwear. Its scenic setting at the centre of the Southern Uplands also provides a basis for tourism. Portions of the town walls still exist. The old market cross still stands, but little survives of Crosskirk, erected in 1261 to contain a supposed relic of the True Cross. Pop. (2001) 8,065.