While people and their activities have influenced the upper Tweed Valley for many centuries, this area is one of great natural beauty and home to a diversity of wildlife.
For bird-watchers the highlight is probably the osprey. Several pairs nest in the Tweed Valley and you can watch them on camera at the Osprey Watch Centres at Glentress [1]and Kailzie Gardens [2], near Peebles. They also have cameras on nests of other birds such as swallows, nuthatches, jackdaws etc. Elsewhere in the area look out for hen harriers, dippers, kestrels and buzzards. Or walk along the banks of the river to see grey herons and kingfishers.
While not all residents of the Upper Tweed are so easy to view, otters being particularly secretive, on any walk you will certainly be able to enjoy the variety of shrubs, wildflowers, butterflies and insects that thrive here. The Glenholm Wildlife Project [3] near Broughton is working to find ways of bringing wildlife closer to people. There are way-marked walks, a pond and hide and a child friendly wood as well as a tea room from which you can watch the birds on the feeders.
The award winning visitor centre at Philiphaugh [4] provides a unique glimpse into the fascinating lifecycle of the salmon and their annual migration from the sea to spawn and offers education and entertainment to both adults and children.
And with Scotland being home to over 75% of Britain’s endangered red squirrels with the country representing one of the last strongholds for the species in the UK you can see them at Cardrona Forest [5].
(Photo credit: Tweed Valley Osprey Project)