Doors Open Day is on this year in Selkirk on 17th September.  There will be a free shuttle bus from Tweedbank Station to Selkirk running every 60 mins for the duration of the day to see the 21 buildings and events. Come and see Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom, the Auld Kirk & Graveyard, The Haining, Generals Tower…a vintage car display Selkirk Mills Walking Tour… too many to list. Click here for the pdf programme

There is a celebration of Innovation, Architecture and Design this month right across the Borders.  With over 120 events at 40 venues there is a such a broad selection of interesting events, I couldn’t possibly list them all.  The stand out ones for me are:

• William Wallace Guardian of Scotland – Medieval Camp, Procession and Lecture, The Haining, Selkirk
• The Great Polish Map of Scotland,  Eddleston, Peebles
• The Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre, Melrose
• The Art of Fishing, Hawick
• Robert Smail’s Printing Works, Innerleithen
• The Story of Eyemouth and the Cutty Sark, Eyemouth
• The Heritage of Dried Flowers – Workshop, Priorwood Garden, Melrose
• Walk The Roman (Trimontium Way), Melrose
• Upstairs Downstairs at Bowhill
• Selkirk’s Mill Trail
• Mozart on Tweed Festival, Ladykirk & Norham

These are just a few of what’s on so grab a programme from a local tourist office to see the full details.  There will be one in Laundry Cottage if you’re coming to stay!

Melrose RFC  Rugby Sevens 2016 will be held on 9th April this year.  The 24 team tournament will include international teams from Italy, France and Belgium.   The whole town of Melrose becomes a rugby celebration over the weekend!

Fruit picking yesterday at Border Berries, just off the St Boswells to Kelso road.  We thought it would be the tail end of the season but were pleasantly surprised to find fruit galore.   Raspberries and strawberries are our thing but you can also pick redcurrant, blackcurrants, goosberries and tay berries.

Just recently spotted this great little gem: The Tweed by KR Fergus, published by Pocket Mountains.

To quote the Synopsis… “One of the world’s great salmon rivers, the Tweed cuts through the heart of the Scottish Borders and, in part, forms the historic boundary between Scotland and England. Rising in the rolling hills near Moffat it weaves through a cherished landscape on its way to Berwick-upon-Tweed and the North Sea passing through the proud Border towns of Peebles, Galashiels, Melrose, Kelso and Coldstream on the way. There is no better way to discover the wildlife, architecture and history of this area of Scotland than to walk. Whatever your ability – walking at high or low level, following tough terrain or level paths – the 25 routes in this guide offer something for everyone.”