The Tweed Valley takes on a different character during the winter months. Glens and hilltops carry a dusting of snow, while there’s a satisfying crunch underfoot on frosty forest trails. Here’s our pick of the area’s natural riches – and wild events – to surprise and delight during this most evocative of seasons.
Wild Writers Festival, Peebles
After the highs of Christmas and Hogmanay, January can feel a little deflating but a brand-new event at the end of the month is guaranteed to keep spirits up! Celebrating the wealth of exceptional writing that explores our relationship with the living world – from nature writing and adventure to outdoor memoir – the inaugural Wild Writers Festival (27-29 Jan) at the Eastgate Theatre, Peebles features celebrated authors and photographers such as Cameron McNeish, Anna Fleming, Kevin Morgans, Leonie Charlton, Jenny Tough and Malachy Tallack. Full programme available here or via the Eastgate website.
Mountain Highs
The hills that shelter the Tweed Valley may not be quite as craggy and imposing as further north, but with a range of Donalds (hills above 2,000 feet) and Corbetts (hills between 2,500 and 3,000 feet) the area has some of the best hill walking anywhere in the south of Scotland. One classic circuit is the Glensax (or Dun Rig) horseshoe, a 23km stomp starting and finishing in Peebles. Like many local routes, it’s a serious proposition in winter, so make sure your winter walking kit and skills are up to scratch. For more ideas, visit our hiking page or jump over to Walk Highlands which offers an exciting selection of routes throughout the upper Tweed Valley.
Riverside Rambles
There’s no need to head high into the hills to experience the wilder side of Tweed Valley life – some of the area’s most popular walks take in riverside trails. In his recent round-up of winter walks, Tweed Valley Blogger, Stewart Wilson, highlighted the Neidpath and River Tweed loop as a seasonal favourite. Starting and finishing at Hay Lodge Park in Peebles, this 6km circuit takes in the majestic Neidpath Castle, a viaduct crossing and – for those brave enough – a disused railway tunnel! Look out for herons standing guard on the riverbanks, dippers bobbing on rocks, plus a range of overwintering ducks and waders. If lucky, you may even spot an otter or the bright blue flash of a kingfisher as it whizzes past.
Run Wild
Staying active in the colder months is often easier when there’s a goal in mind. Fortunately, the Tweed Valley plays host to two epic events that offer plenty of inspiration. The Glentress Trail Races (18-19 Feb) promise an energetic weekend of running with 10k, half marathon and marathon races through heather moorland trails and along sky-high ridges. And if happy to turn up the adventure levels a notch, the infamous Mighty Deerstalker (11 March) returns for a final fling later in the season – expect hellish climbs, waist-high puddles and an afterparty to rival all others! For more running inspiration, come and hear Jenny Tough and Ross Brannigan talk about their adventures as part of the Wild Writers Festival (27-29 Jan).
Snowdrop Season
Delicate snowdrops cover the banks of the Scrape Burn at Dawyck Botanic Garden in early February – their arrival never failing to bring cheer on a mid-winter day. Often featured in the Scottish Snowdrop Festival, these world-class gardens reopen to visitors from 1 February … perfect timing for galanthophiles! Before making way for later displays of bluebells and daffodils, a blanket of snowdrops can also be seen along the burnside walk at Kailzie Gardens further along the valley. With 15 acres of woodlands and garden to explore, this beautiful spot on the banks of the Tweed is one of the area’s richest natural wonders – and one to add to any winter snowdrop trail.
Explore Our Forests
Covered in a dusting of snow, the forests around the valley take on an alpine character in the winter months. But even without the white stuff, the Tweed Valley Forest Park is a place that invites exploration, with each of its seven forests having their own identity and appeal – be it for mountain bikers, walkers, nature spotters or historians. Cardrona, one of the lesser-known forests, is a place as rich in history and wildlife as it is dense in pine and larch. Explore along the diverted Pikes Knowe Trail to discover the remains of Cardrona Tower, a 16th century ruin and a thriving community of bats! Even the shorter Pen View Trail is rewarded with spectacular views across to Lee Pen and beyond.
Eagles are Landing
Winner of the Scottish Project of the Year in the 2022 National Lottery Awards, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project continues to go from strength to strength. Now entering its sixth year, the project team have successfully translocated a total of 27 golden eagles, bringing the population in the south of Scotland to almost 40 individuals – the highest number recorded here since the early 19th century. And with some of those birds believed to be pairing up and prospecting for nest sites, there’s now a better chance than ever of catching a glimpse of these remarkable predators. For much more on golden eagles, check out the Eyrie Information Point inside the Waterwheel Tearoom on the Philiphaugh Estate near Selkirk.
Fishy Tales
Gaze into the cold, dark waters of the Tweed during the winter months and it’s hard to imagine there is much going on down below. But there is life here too, with one particular fish attracting sport fishers outside of the more celebrated spring and autumn salmon runs. November to mid-March is prime season for grayling, an attractive fish with a distinctive red dorsal fin and shimmering silver scales. A relative of trout and salmon introduced in the 19th century as sport for the winter months, grayling thrive in the clean, well-oxygenated Tweed system. Discover more about the fish species that thrive in this stretch of the river on the Tweed Forum website.
Further info
There are so many ways to explore the Tweed Valley and plenty of excellent resources to help you do so. Have a nosey at our Activity & Adventure section, while for extra inspiration do check out content being produced by two local bloggers who are passionate about the area: Stewart Wilson (Tweed Valley Blogger) and Colin McLean (Mucky Boots).
Images: Sara Barnes; Ian Linton; Allan Wright; VisitScotland; Chris Knights.