Destination Tweed UK

10/06/2026

📮 We’re collecting stories from along the River Tweed and you can be part of it!

Have you spotted one of our Tweed Stories postboxes recently? You can drop in your handwritten story to our postbox and we’ll upload it to our online archive for you.

✨ Share a favourite riverside memory
✨ Tell us about your go-to walk or picnic spot
✨ Pass on a local legend
✨ Or even send us a drawing inspired by the Tweed

Your story could help inspire others exploring the River Tweed Trail when it opens in 2028 🌿

📍 Find a post box at:

• Moffat Museum
• The Wee Crook Cafe, Tweedsmuir
• GO Tweed Valley Visitor Information Centre, Peebles
• Paxton House
• Berwick Library

👀 More locations coming soon!

Prefer to share online? Submit your story here:
👉 https://destinationtweed.org/share-your-story/

Or explore stories already shared:
👉 https://destinationtweed.org/stories

08/06/2026

Did you know…there’s a gate in the Scottish Borders which hasn’t been opened in over 250 years? 🤔

The bear gates at Traquair are said to have been closed since 1745 when the 5th Earl, Charles Stuart, shut the gates after Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through them. A staunch Jacobite supporter, the Earl vowed that they would never be opened again until a Stuart king was on the throne!

🐻 The gates were installed in 1738 and the stone bears added in 1745, sculpted by George Jamesone at Penicuik quarry. The 5th Earl would later be imprisoned for his support of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. On his release, he was confined to his estates where he spent a lot of his time remodelling the interior.

Alternatively, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) states that the gates were sealed in 1796 on the death of the Countess of Traquair, with the 7th Earl vowing to keep them sealed. (Peeblesshire vol.2, inventory of historic buildings, p.325, RCAHMS published by HMSO)

Whatever the truth, these gates have stood the test of time and remain a monument to the history of Traquair. 🏰

Image © Copyright Ralph Greig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Reuse Image :: Geograph Britain and Ireland.

05/06/2026

✨ Friday Feature – Looking after our river 🌊

As a project, we resonate with this year’s theme – Inspired By Nature. For Climate. For our Future. 🌎

Our Destination Tweed projects work to restore and enhance the river environment, improving climate resilience, access to nature and supporting sustainable environmental practice for nature, communities and the river.

From habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancements, to tree planting, invasive species control, and supporting community green initiatives, every step along the Tweed shows how working with nature, not against it, is key to tackling climate challenges. 🙌

🌳For example, our projects planting riparian woodlands, where trees and shrubs are established along rivers and burns, help to increase infiltration and cool rising river temperatures. This improves habitats for fish and wildlife and helps to reduce flood risk.

This World Environment Day, we’re reminded that our future depends on the choices we make today. By investing in nature-based solutions like those used across the Destination Tweed projects, we can create a greener, more sustainable future for all.

Find out more about our work along the River Tweed at destinationtweed.org 🌿

📸 Woodlands for Wildlife and Water planting at Lyne. Credit: Airborne Lens.
📸 Volunteers at Berwick Marine Reserve participating in an invasive species control day. Credit: Tweed Forum.
📸 Planting with Borders Forest Trust at Talla in the Upper Tweed. Credit: Airborne Lens.
📸 The River Tweed through Cardrona. Credit: Airborne Lens.

03/06/2026

Stay connected with our projects along the River Tweed 🌊

From project updates and local stories to events, our latest news and stunning river inspiration – our Destination Tweed newsletter brings it all straight to your inbox.

👉 Sign up today for our June newsletter, out later this month: http://eepurl.com/hzrcaH

📸 Sunrise over the Tweed near Walkerburn. Credit: Airborne Lens.

01/06/2026

🌟 Celebrating Our Incredible Volunteers! 🌟

It’s in the UK, and we want to take the opportunity to thank the amazing volunteers who have supported Destination Tweed over the past two years! 💚

Volunteers from across the Tweed Catchment and beyond have made a huge impact:

🌳 50,000+ trees have been planted with Borders Forest Trust across Wild Heart sites in the Upper Tweed – that’s an incredible 107 days of planting!

🐝 Pollinator habitats have been created at 33 sites (and counting!) along the River Tweed as part of Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust’s Pollinators Along the Tweed project, with volunteers also helping to monitor and manage wildflower-rich habitats through FIT Counts and seasonal maintenance work.

🌿 Individuals and community groups have helped to protect biodiversity along the river by tackling 5 target invasive species through survey work, data gathering, and direct control as part of Tweed Forum's Invasive Non-Native Species project.

🏺 With AOC Archaeology Group and the Uncovering the Tweed project, volunteers have unearthed hidden history at excavations at Adie’s Brae and Fairnilee, as well as taking part in building surveys, mapping workshops, and artefact analysis, adding to our knowledge of past communities living by the river!

We want to say a big thank you to all of our volunteers! 👏 Your time, passion and energy are helping to restore the river environment and celebrate its rich heritage.

💡 There’s so much more to come, with plenty of opportunities to get involved with our projects over the next two years.

If you’re interested in getting involved, check out destinationtweed.org or drop us an email at [email protected].

📸 Airborne Lens; C Patience; Tweed Forum.

29/05/2026

✨ Friday Feature – TweedWATCH Education Pack launched! 💧📚

The pack was created by Tweed Forum Education Officer Jenny Holmes and is a brilliant outdoor learning resource designed to support KS2 and Second Level learners to explore the river’s wildlife, landscapes and heritage through hands on adventures and curriculum linked activities.

From discovering river creatures and riverside trees, to learning about flooding, climate resilience, archaeology and river wildlife, learners gain a deeper understanding of how the Tweed works and why it matters. 🌿🐟

The pack also introduces learners to real world environmental challenges like invasive species control and pollution, while highlighting nature based solutions such as tree planting and natural flood management.

Although inspired by the Tweed, the resource is flexible enough for schools to use in their own grounds or alongside any local river or greenspace, making outdoor learning more accessible than ever.

Developed through Destination Tweed and EU LIFE WADER, this resource supports teachers to build confidence, teamwork, wellbeing and a lifelong connection to nature.

👉 A fantastic step towards inspiring the next generation of river guardians!

Check out our website for information on how to download this resource: https://destinationtweed.org/tweedwatch-education-pack/

📸 Phil Wilkinson.

The TweedWATCH project was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland, Northumbrian Water and EU LIFE WADER.

27/05/2026

👉 Spaces available to join AOC Archaeology Group online for our Uncovering the Tweed Mapping Workshop and step into the fascinating world of historic maps! 🗺️

The workshop will include an introductory talk exploring key online resources and how to use them, using examples from the Lower Tweed and the St Cuthbert’s landscape project. You’ll then have the opportunity to put your new skills into practice with a guided, hands-on exercise.

Whether you’d like to investigate your own area of interest or simply follow along as the facilitator demonstrates each tool, you’ll gain practical experience and confidence in using these resources independently.

🌊 All you need is an internet connection – a laptop or desktop is best if you’d like to join in the practical session.

Book your space now: https://destinationtweed.org/event/mapping-workshop-online/ 🙂

The Uncovering the Tweed project was made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Fallago Environment Fund and other funders.

Join AOC Archaeology online for an Uncovering the Tweed Mapping Workshop where we'll explore the fascinating world of historic maps together!

25/05/2026

Sharing a Tweed Moment 📸

Patiently waiting by the river for that tropical heat to arrive! 😉 With temperatures in the 20s this week, our must-haves are sun cream, cold drinks, and a perfect riverside spot to relax and soak up the sunshine ☀️

We’d love to see how you’re enjoying this beautiful weather along the river - share your with us 📸

Stay safe in the sun, keep hydrated, and enjoy every minute while it lasts!

22/05/2026

✨ Friday Feature - Towers of the Tweed 🏰

Did you know the Tweed was once lined with over 40 fortified tower houses? 🤔

Built between the 14th and 17th centuries to defend against raids during violent times, these weren’t just places of refuge, they were symbols of power and status in the landscape.

Today, many of these towers survive only as ruins or subtle traces in the landscape.

Our community archaeology programme, Uncovering the Tweed, delivered by AOC Archaeology Group, aims to explore a sample of these defensive structures surveying the architectural development of different features of these tower houses as they were built, occupied, abandoned/altered to shine a light on their individual stories.

🏰 Unlocking the secrets of Cardrona Tower

Thought to date from the mid 16th century, Cardona Tower was likely built as a fortified home following laws that required landowners to defend their estates during an era of raids and unrest.

👉 Fast forward to 2026, and the story of Cardrona is still unfolding. As part of the Uncovering the Tweed project, a new programme of recording brought participants on site to learn key historic building recording techniques like photogrammetry and laser scanning, helping create detailed digital records of the tower and preserve it in the archaeological record for future generations.

This survey built on previous recording undertaken by AOC in 2011 for Forestry and Land Scotland which employed laser scanning to generate a high-resolution 3D model of the structure, alongside traditional elevation and plan drawings that provided a comprehensive record of the building’s form and features.

The survey revealed a remarkably intact structure: a simple rectangular tower with a vaulted ground floor, first-floor hall, and stair turret built in a single phase and likely occupied for over a century.

Cardrona was eventually abandoned in favour of a new residence nearby. Left largely untouched, it has remained a powerful snapshot of Border life which you can visit today.

👉 Want to explore the story behind Cardrona Tower and the work uncovering its past?
🔗 Learn more: https://destinationtweed.org/archaeology/cardrona-tower/

📸 AOC Archaeology.

This project was made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Fallago Environment Fund and other funders.

21/05/2026

It's and what better way to celebrate than highlighting our amazing TweedWATCH education programme, led by Tweed Forum, which encourages learners to explore, discover and connect with the natural world. 🌿🌊💙

Check out the post below 👇

We're celebrating Outdoor Classroom Day!

Outdoor learning gives children the chance to explore, discover and connect with the natural world through real experiences. From building confidence and curiosity to supporting wellbeing and teamwork, learning outdoors can have lasting benefits both in and beyond the classroom.

Through our TweedWATCH education programme, learners are encouraged to explore local rivers, woodlands and other green spaces through hands-on, place-based activities that help bring nature and environmental topics to life.

Whether minibeast hunting, identifying riverside plants or discovering what makes a healthy river, outdoor learning helps foster a deeper connection with local places and encourages learners to care for the environment around them.


LIFE WADER Destination Tweed UK Outdoor Classroom Day