Peebles, 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. Though known historically for the production of tweed and knitwear, Peebles has undergone economic restructuring with the decline of the textile industry. A growing arts presence has made retail a key sector of the local economy. The town’s scenic setting at the centre of the Southern Uplands and attractions such as Glentress Forest, which features celebrated mountain bike trails, provide a basis for tourism. Portions of the town walls still exist. The old market cross still stands, but little survives of Cross Kirk, erected in 1261 to contain a supposed relic of the True Cross. Pop. (2001) 8,130; (2011) 8,380.