Tweed Valley Blog

Our Tweed Valley – Sarah Richardson, Bowhill House

As Visitor Services & Marketing Manager at Bowhill House near Selkirk, Sarah Richardson has an incredibly varied role. We caught up with her to find out about life at one of Scotland’s most impressive country homes and visitor attractions

How’s the summer been so far … nice and busy (and hot!)?

It’s been interesting! To go from snow at Easter to heatwaves in June/July and at the start of the school holidays has been fantastic.

Tell us more about your role at Bowhill

I’ve been here for 10 years now. My current role includes some of the day-to-day running of the attraction, including organising activities and events, weddings, purchasing for the shop and overseeing the tearoom. I’ve also just started doing the marketing for Bowhill, Drumlanrig Castle (near Dumfries) and Boughton House (in Northamptonshire).

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The variety! One day I could... Read more

Our Tweed Valley – Jennifer Allerhand, Cosaig Self-Catering

Jennifer Allerhand runs Cosaig – a delightful self-catering cottage overlooking Victoria Park in Innerleithen. We caught up with her to talk local attractions, catering for different needs and her love of greyhounds!

How would you describe Cosaig self-catering cottage in three words?

Ideally-located, cosy and well-equipped (ok, I cheated using hyphens!)

And in a few more words, paint a picture of Innerleithen and the surrounding area

Innerleithen is a small, vibrant and friendly town. There is plenty to keep you busy here without the need for a car. You can head into the surrounding hills for walking and mountain biking, or enjoy a more leisurely trip along the Tweed Valley Railway Path (a level, multi-purpose path suitable for wheelchairs). Elsewhere, there is a beautiful, 9-hole golf course on the edge of town, an alpaca trekking centre, plus some fascinating historical sites and houses. The town itself has a... Read more

Our Tweed Valley – Graham Adcock, Cleikum Mill Lodge

Graham Adcock is in his second season of running the already award-winning Cleikum Mill Lodge – a wonderful old building in Innerleithen that offers self-catering accommodation for outdoorsy visitors. We caught up with Graham to find out more

This is your second season running Cleikum Mill Lodge. What’s the experience been like so far?

Feedback from guests has been really encouraging, and it’s been great meeting so many like-minded people from near and far. There’s a fantastic community spirit locally, with lots of small businesses working hard and all so proud of the area. The buzz in Innerleithen on a weekend is fantastic. It’s great to see so many visitors enjoying it too.

What did you do before?

I was a site engineer in the construction industry working locally on projects such as the Edinburgh trams, Borders Railway, and the Selkirk flood scheme. I come from a... Read more

Scott's view

It’s not often that you get a chance to experience the splendour that inspired one of Scotland’s greatest writers, but that’s exactly what’s on offer for lucky guests staying in a special wing of Sir Walter Scott’s fantastical Abbotsford House near Melrose.

Originally a family residence, the Hope Scott Wing was home to Scott’s descendents who lived there until 2004, having kept the historic rooms of the main house open to the public since a few months after Scott’s death in 1833. By all accounts, Scott’s great, great granddaughters, the last of the family to live in the wing, were colourful characters who brought a warmth to the wing that can still be felt today.

When the wing was refurbished in 2013, a host of original features were retained as well as family belongings including original artworks and furniture. Now designed to accommodate groups of up to... Read more

Our Tweed Valley: John Matthews, Windlestraw

John and Sylvia Matthews are now in their third season of running Windlestraw – a magnificent Edwardian manor in Walkerburn that they have already turned into something very special. We spoke with John to find out more about their experience so far

You came to Windlestraw from Dubai, which is quite a change. What appealed to you about taking on this wonderful old building?

I’d like to say it was the weather that appealed to us! But no, having lived in Scotland years ago, returning here felt natural. We fell in love with Windlestraw. It’s a beautiful building and being a Ballantyne house has historical significance to Walkerburn and the wider area. We saw the potential of combining a wonderful home with a unique hospitality experience.

Tell us about your past experience in the kitchen

I trained first in Dublin and later in London. It was back in... Read more

Our Tweed Valley: Iain Ronaldson, Go Ape Peebles

The Go Ape Peebles aerial adventure course at Glentress has proved hugely popular since opening a few years ago. We caught up with Site Manager Iain Ronaldson to find out more about life in the trees

So, what’s a typical day like for you?

Open up the cabin; prep paperwork for the day ahead; oversee opening of the course; oversee all health and safety for both customers and staff; see the staff get fed; and repeat!

Why do you think people love Go Ape so much?

It’s just not something people do in their everyday lives. Families & friends can play together equally.

Go Ape has a variety of courses around the country, but how would you describe the one at Glentress … any special characteristics?

We have the highest zip line in the company – it’s 150ft above the small reservoir below, with amazing views across the... Read more

Our Tweed Valley: Guy & Lesley Wotherspoon, Glede Knowe

Following a lengthy stint working in corporate jobs down south, Guy and Lesley Wotherspoon returned to Scotland last year to take over the running of Glede Knowe Guest House in beautiful Innerleithen. We caught up with them to find out just why living and working here has proved such a breath of fresh air

You’ve now spent a couple of seasons running Glede Knowe – how has it gone so far?

Our first two seasons have been great fun, and flown by. In the first year, we didn’t really know what to expect in terms of booking patterns, but we were pleased with what we achieved. In November last year, we redesigned the website to better showcase the house and the beauty of the Borders countryside and have seen an increase in bookings as a result.

What do you offer guests to make the Glede Knowe ‘experience’ really... Read more

Learning to fly

When one of Scotland’s leading mountain bike tuition companies offered the chance to join other riders on a course to improve technique and boost confidence on jumps and drops, I couldn’t resist a shot. But, as we all discovered, first we had to unlearn a few things …

It’s not often that you have an opportunity to learn from an elite rider, but that’s exactly what is on offer as we gather at Glentress Forest for a ‘Jumpstart’ course run by Tweed Valley-based mountain bike tuition business Ridelines.

And as one of those rather less than elite riders who tend to just hang on and hope when it comes to jumps and drop-offs, I’m desperately in need of some pointers. I’ve always marveled at how better riders seem to ‘pop’ up as they hit jumps, a serene look on their faces as they trace a perfect arc through the... Read more

Historic houses and gardens – five to try

As befits an area with such a rich and varied history, the Tweed Valley is home to a variety of historic houses, often with outstanding grounds and gardens. Here are five houses and gardens that you really must visit this summer

Bowhill House and Country Estate

The Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch displays an outstanding art collection, with works by Canaletto, Claude, Raeburn, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Ruysdael, while the wider, heavily-wooded estate offers a variety of peaceful walks for all ages and abilities. And if walking is not enough, visitors can always try the recently upgraded adventure playground, while the Bowhill ranger service also offers a series of fun activities for children and families. Look out too for the attractive Courtyard, which includes everything from a Victorian kitchen to a gift shop, tearoom and soft play for wee ones.

Abbotsford House

Situated on... Read more

New member profile: Colin Semple Furniture Design

Visit Tweed Valley is delighted to welcome Colin Semple Furniture Design as its latest local business member. From a studio housed in the old school at Stobo near Peebles, Colin designs and makes an exquisite range of original furniture using locally-sourced Scottish hardwood. We caught up with him to find out more

What do you love most about what you do?

I love the journey from a rough idea that gets refined over time with the client, then designed in detail before selecting wood and making the finished piece. No matter how many times I do it, it is a real thrill to see the final article develop. I also love the variety. No two projects are ever the same.

Tell us about some of the recent items you’ve worked on

There's been a great selection of projects recently. In the last few months, I completed a large-scale kitchen... Read more