Tweed Valley Blog

Playing wild

We’d heard about the newly spruced-up adventure playground at Bowhill House and Country Estate, so it was high time for a visit ...

Mmm, decisions, decisions. What to play on first … one of two zip-wires, a huge wooden fort, cargo scramble net, rope bridge, some serious slides, or fantastic selection of swings? My trusty adventure playground tester (aged four and a bit) was having a hard time deciding quite where to begin.

And I could see why. Set amongst the trees, the newly-revamped playground at Bowhill is really rather special. With sections to test and challenge even the most adventurous youngster, there’s something here for all ages. But it’s not all fast and furious. The playground also offers a change of pace with a selection of beautifully-crafted forest instruments, including a huge wooden glockenspiel.

It’s in a beautiful setting too, with trees all around and... Read more

The Mighty Deerstalker 2015

For once, mountain biking played second fiddle on Saturday as around 3,000 runners descended on Innerleithen for the 10^th Mighty Deerstalker adventure race – a fun, raucous and really rather challenging romp through the hills and rivers of this part of the Tweed Valley. Starting and finishing at Traquair House, around 500 or so opted for the shorter 5k (and a bit) race that was run in daylight, but still a challenge for many. The remainder donned their head torches for the epic 10k (and a lot more) race, run almost exclusively in the dark. With steep ascents and descents, multiple river crossings, fiendish obstacles, and more mud than it’s possible to imagine, participants more than earned their post-run beer at the end!

We hope you enjoy our mini-gallery of images from this year’s event! Read more

Jason Baxter, Photographer & Film-maker

Attracted by the light and the landscape, local photographer and film-maker Jason Baxter continues to gain inspiration from the Tweed Valley – so much so that he’s dedicated a film to the area

When did you first come to the Tweed Valley?

I came here from Edinburgh about seven years ago.

What is it about the Tweed Valley that does it for you?

I first experienced the Tweed Valley whilst on a shoot for the Scottish Consumer Council. The area struck me as being really quite scenic, more than I had imagined. A year later the opportunity arose to move, so I chose the Tweed Valley. For me, it’s the beauty, the quality of light and the ability to really feel outdoors in the wild without having to drive for hours up to the Highlands. Within 10 minutes of my house, I can be walking in the... Read more

When it snows ...

I love how snow transforms a landscape. It provides an instant hush – a muffled blanket across the land. Gentle hills suddenly look more like mountains, while even the most familiar walk becomes a step into the unknown. Hope you enjoy a few snaps from a stroll through St Ronan’s Wood above Innerleithen earlier today. With strong winds blasting exposed ground higher up, the snow was pretty deep in places. Read more

Q&A: Grant Ferguson, GB Mountain Biker

We were delighted to catch up with young Tweed Valley cycling star Grant Ferguson at the recent International Mountain Biking Conference at Peebles Hydro. He was kind enough to answer some questions about life on two wheels …

Why cycling – when did you realise it was what you wanted to do for a living?

I enjoyed riding the local trails and a lot of my friends would ride bikes. And then there were the weekend trips to ride races, plus the different trail centres really got me into the sport.

Where did you tend to do most of your riding when growing up?

I did most of my riding up at Glentress then, as I got older, I spent more time riding the trails at Innerleithen.

Do you have a favourite Tweed Valley trail?

I have two: Spooky Wood at Glentress, because I grew up riding that trail, and... Read more

Fun in the forest

It may have been a little wet and windy at times, but the recent Tweed Valley Forest Festival still got off to a fantastic start, with ghost walks, a wood market, food stalls, the annual Scottish Conker Championships and a Halloween Fun day all pulling in the crowds on the opening weekend.

Much of the action on the opening weekend of this 10-day festival was centred on Tweed Green in Peebles. This lovely site, set alongside a rather full River Tweed, was a hub of activity with a mini-food festival, a variety of stalls offering hands on displays – from wood whittling to chainsaw carving – and the serious business of the 8th Scottish Conker Championships.

Meanwhile, the nearby Community Centre housed a fabulous wood market, with the chance to buy a variety of wooden products, from toys to timber, driftwood clocks, carvings and high-end furniture. There was also plenty... Read more

Spooky Halloween at Traquair

And talking of events, things will soon be getting a little spooky over at Traquair House, with Historical Ghost Tours planned for the final two w/ends in October, plus a Halloween Fun Day on Sunday, 26 Oct. Come get spooked! Read more