The Tweed Valley Blogger Podcast

Join me this week at Glentress Forest, the countries busiest Mountain Bike trail centre, as I tell you a little about Arthur Phillips whose 1980's vision kicked off the MTB business here in The Borders. Arthur seems to be a name that's become a little bit forgotten so here is a chance to learn more about this man and his story. You can read more about him on my blog, link below, and if you are int...

I'm at Neidpath Castle, just outside Peebles this week to tell you about the upcoming Night Tour where you can view this 14th century border tower as the lairds of the past would have - by candlelight! Tickets available on Eventbrite, use the link below: Neidpath Castle - The Night Tour 30 October The episode also reflects on the role Neidpath has taken as I have shaped my tour guiding career,...

This week I go back to the Victorian Era and the wonderful Innerleithen Alpine Club. We learn about the clubs polymath firs t President and local master builder Robert Mathison, as well as the excursions they undertook and the legacy left behind. I hope you enjoy this weeks episode and should you wish to learn more, you can find the Principal Excursions of the Alpine Club in the reference section...

Two exciting pieces of news from The Tweed Valley Blogger Podcast. Firstly, I am moving the podcast away from a pretty haphazard release schedule to weekly instalments. Still bite sized, still sharing my stories from The Borders but now a regular release every Sunday night. Hear more in the episode. You will also hear about my Winter Walk, in Innerleithen on Sunday 28 December. Tickets have sold w...

A bite sized recommendation for three Autumnal walks in the Scottish Borders, paired with a pub for a glass of whatever you fancy afterwards. This podcast is my wee response to our local newspaper missing out The Borders in its own pub walks guide. Let me know what I missed! Links to Walk Highlands for each walk: Halterburn circuit & the Schil, nr Kirk Yetholm   Neidpath Castle and the Tweed w...

From the sacred silence of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, to the small village of Newstead in the Scottish Borders before ending up at Melrose Abbey, this podcast dives into Medieval history, and brings it to the 21st century. I have been inspired to tell this story by the Newstead Village Community Trust and their first ever Sundials Festival (Saturday 7 September 2025). The community is rightly pr...

For the second in this short series of 'Wilson's New Tales of The Border', I add my own effort to the mythology, paying tribute to 19th century storyteller JM Wilson, with a very 21st century story. This is my version of an unlikely tale which played out by the River Tweed, across a number of years. An escaped domestic goose, who became an unofficial town mascot and source of comfort during the Co...

A new series of blogs and podcasts, ‘Wilsons New Tales of The Border’. Inspired by 19th century storyteller JM Wilson, I bring one of his tales up to date and add my own to the mythology of The Borders… In this first episode I travel to Elibank Castle, the gaunt ruin which sits romantically above the River Tweed, and re-tell one of Wilson's finest tales - 'The Wife or The Wuddy', better known as M...

Rounding off Season 1 of Tweed Valley Echoes with a festive trip to Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford.  It feels very fitting to be at Abbotsford to round off this season, as Sir Walter has come up in almost all of the previous episodes – such is his influence in The Borders.  It is also a chance to join me on a visit the house in all its Christmas finery, they do a great job of recreating the 1820’s...

Join me (Tweed Valley Blogger) on a journey to Berwick Upon Tweed, England's most northerly town. After stopping at Allanton Inn in Scotland's Berwickshire, I delve into the long and often violent history of Berwick, a history which saw it move between Scotland and England a dozen times. I consider the impact this has made on Berwick and the people of the town, who have a strong local identity. Be...

Join me ( Tweed Valley Blogger ) on a walk into the past at the charming Borders village of Ettrickbridge. I go in search of stories of Auld Wat Scott of Harden, ancestor of Sir Walter Scott and an infamous Border Reiver. I explore the village and hike out to Scott's old stronghold, Kirkhope Tower, now lovingly restored as a private residence. Along the way I discuss Scott's story, and the lawless...

Episode Four of Tweed Valley Echoes was recorded at Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve. The reserve is managed by The National Trust for Scotland and I hope you enjoy joining me to explore some of the quieter sections of the reserve... The Grey Mare's Tail is easily found on the A708 road between Moffat and Selkirk - one of the finest routes through The Southern Uplands. Enjoy the episode Links: Ko-F...

Welcome to Episode Three of Tweed Valley Echoes, and this week we visit Dryburgh Abbey, one of the four mighty, medieval abbeys of The Scottish Borders. Join me as I give my views on why this region of Britain has such a close concentration of these abbeys and dive into the life of the man credited with bringing them here - King David I of Scotland. I also touch on Sir Walter Scott and Earl Haig,...

Episode Two of Tweed Valley Echoes from Tweed Valley Blogger , released along with Episode One to get the series off to a bang! Join me in one of my favourite places to learn more about The Borders largest loch, and the special place it has in my heart. We touch on long forgotten stories, long distance footpaths and long term management of this special place. Enjoy! ko-fi.com/tweedvalleyblogger Th...

Episode One of Tweed Valley Echoes from Tweed Valley Blogger finds me at Old Gala House in Galashiels. Find out why I chose this place to kick off this podcast series, which aims to give you new insights into The Scottish Borders. I aim to share with you why I think The Borders is special and you should visit, or if you are local to show you that there may be more to The Borders than you think......

Welcome to this quick preview for Tweed Valley Echoes, the brand new podcast from Tweed Valley Blogger . Subscribe now for this exciting new series of podcasts, celebrating The Scottish Borders and all it has to offer. www.tweedvalleyblogger.com