This page provides information on local interest that is
readily available to the walker.
This section will continue to be developed and presently covers items
such as wild life, flowers, exhibitions, and local tourist attractions.
Any person with additional interest items can submit the details by
using this link.
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Along the banks of the Teviot heron and swan are easily seen. During
the month of August this family of Swans with their signets were
feeding close to the Monteviot Footbridge
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The hedgerows in the late summer are a mass of interesting colours.
This wild fushsia being particulary attractive |
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Lindisfarne - National Nature Reserve
This runs along part of the shore line amongst the sand dunes and
tidal areas. There is wild life and plants to be seen, be they Geese,
Sea Birds, Butterflies or wide plants. |
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Weetwood Moor
Weetmoor Moor is a Wildlife Conservation Area run under the management
of the Countryside Commission Stewardship Scheme. On this area there
are pre-historic remains including cairns and rock with cup-and-ring
markings. There is also a lot of heathered moorland affording wide
open views of the surrounding area. |
Harestanes is a centre run by the Scottish Border Council with nature walks,
woodworking and other environmentally sensitive activities. There are also outdoor play areas and a cafe and
shop area.
Within the centre there are natural meadow grasses and flowers
allowed to grow unaffected by today's more manicured standards.
Click on this link for more information on
Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre.
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The Scottish Gypsies
In 1540 reference is made to the Scottish Gypsies and their Court in
Yetholm. The Gypsy King at this time was
"Johnne Faa" and there have
been Faa royal descendants till 1902. A cottage in Kirk Yetholm, which
is still occupied, is know as the Gypsy Palace and this was the home
of the last Queen, Ester Faa Blytte.
An earlier Gypsy King was Patrick Faa whose wife Jean Gordon was to
become the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's Meg Merrilies in Guy
Mannering. Jean following the brutal death of her husband and sons
herself died of exhaustion after being stoned by mobs in Carlisle in
1746 for her known support of the Jacobites.
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In the centre of Kirk Yetholm on the Village Green there is a newly erected stone to commemorate
the Gypsy Community.
Just a few yards further up the road is the Gypsy Palace, now modernised and made an attractive dwellinghouse.
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Trimontium Exhibition
Trimontium was one of the Roman Forts on Deer Street. This is the huge "hidden" site at Newstead, just to the east
of Melrose and below the Eildon North Hill. There has been extensive
archeological work in the area and many of the artefacts are exibited
in the "hidden" Exhibition in the Ormiston Building in Melrose Square.
During the summer season there are also guided walks around the
site of Trimontium. From Roman boots and ringstones to wonderful views,
this is not to be missed.
Click
here to access the Trimontium Trust Website.
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Borders Abbeys Way
This walk is well established and links up the four Border Abbeys
of Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh. The walk has several common points with
the St Cuthbert's Way. St Cuthbert's Way starts at Melrose Abbey and passes close to Dryburgh.
Jedburgh is close to
Harestanes and many walker use Jedburgh as a stop over point. The
Abbey Way also briefly comes into contact with the St Cuthbert's Way at Newtown St Boswells and at Dere
Street on Day Two. For additional information of the Borders Abbeys Way
click on this link.
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Wallace Statue
Sir William Wallace (1270 - 1305) is regarded as one of the
greatest Scottish patriots. He won the battle of Stirling Bridge in
1297 but was defeated by the English at Falkirk the year later.
In 1305 he was betrayed to the English and taken to London where
he was tried for treason and subsequently hung, disembowelled and beheaded.
A large statue of him is sited above Dryburgh, overlooking the Tweed valley.
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Throughout the journey there are many forms of animal life, much of it
under the husbandry of the farmers. The site of Geese feeding on the
park close to Wooler Bowling Club did however appear somewhat unusual
and attractive.
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The countryside will clearly have changed since St Cuthbert's time, an
example being the Loch at Morebattle. There would be changes
in the trees and the cultivation of the area, but perhaps it is the
sounds that will have changed the most. |
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Throughout the walk you will regularly see and hear the low flying
aircraft. This is a favourite area for practising as they approach the
large Otterburn MOD range. |
Priorwood, Harmony and Abbey
Gardens
Within a few metres of Melrose Abbey there are three locations worth
visiting if you are interested in gardens, or you are just looking
for the chance to relax.
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