WALKING THE TWEED VALLEY 4TH - 12TH SEPTEMBER 2010 www.borderswalking.com Welcome Caption Southern Upland Way, near Traquair (Giles Etherington) 2009 saw the Scottish Borders Walking Our rangers and volunteer walk leaders Festival taking strides towards an will share with you their knowledge of ambitious new approach to celebrating the Scottish Borders’ rich culture and our local natural and cultural history. history and our varied programme of Linking events to Homecoming Scotland social events celebrates the region’s and to our reiving history gave the walks excellent food, skilled musicianship, a novel flavour and attracted a new and artists and innovative businesses. younger audience. We sincerely hope that you will come and This year, we plan to build on the experience what we have to offer and go successes of last year and, as Convenor home with good memories of your time of the Southern Uplands Partnership, here. Please let us know how we could it gives me great pleasure to introduce improve things because we are keen to you to the 2010 Scottish Borders Walking ensure that the Scottish Borders Walking Festival. Festival remains one of the best of its kind and your feedback would be much The 2010 Festival is centred on the appreciated. wonderful Tweed Valley and again we are offering a range of walks and activities to suit all ages and levels of experience. The walks will take you along ancient byways and drove roads into Sir Michael Strang Steel Bt. CBE Front Cover: Gypsy Glen, above Peebles (Alan Dewar) some of the best scenery in Scotland. Peebles from Drove Road (David Baird) www.borderswalking.com TV Walking Guide Ad A5_Final:Layout 1 25/3/10 11:30 Page 1 VISIT The Tweed Valley For adrenalin junkies, the 7stanes mountain bike trails offer some of the best mountain biking in the UK - with the award winning Glentress probably the best biking centre in Britain. The River Tweed is ranked as one of the top salmon rivers in the world and the festival is well timed to catch the best of the Upper Tweed’s salmon season. There is also a variety of challenging golf courses in the Tweed Valley and VisitScotland’s ‘Freedom of the Fairways Passport’ provides great value. A host of other visitor attractions and places of historic interest provide additional things to do in the area. Glensax, south of Peebles (David Baird) Peebles is ranked as the Top Independent Retailing Town in Scotland and is second The Scottish Borders Walking Festival is in the UK for its range of independent the longest established walking festival shops and ‘home town’ identity. in Scotland. It takes place in a different part of the Scottish Borders each year and 2010’s theme is ‘Walking the Tweed adventure some of the best mountain bike trails Valley’. experience some Based in the Royal Burgh of Peebles, activityof the best walking the Festival will celebrate the area’s stunning scenery with walks taking place some of the most stunning in and around Peebles, Innerleithen, landscapes in Scotland Walkerburn, West Linton and Selkirk. tranquility Peebles (David Baird) There is something on offer in the Tweed Valley for everyone. The walking is, of So, if you love walking but the important culture packed with history, castles and historic sites course, superb and we will introduce other half or the rest of your family enjoy you to a wide range of walks during alternative pursuits, come together. Where to sleep and eat...what to do and see... the Festival, but for those travelling The Tweed Valley really does offer the for the insider’s guide to the Tweed Valley with partners or family that have other perfect break for everyone. interests there is something to do for To find out more about the area visit www.visittweedvalley.co.uk everyone. www.visittweedvalley.co.uk THIS PROJECT IS BEING PART-FINANCED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SCOTTISH www.borderswalking.com BORDERS LEADER 2007-2013 PROGRAMME A walker from every county E 10 20 R R TH BE ALLEY EM V NG NG PT SE TH LKI EED EED 12 - - TH TW WA 4 www.borderswalking.com Dun Rig, above Glensax (Mike Baker) With its purple hills and lush valleys, the Tweed Valley is a fantastic walking destination - a real hidden gem. In an attempt to put the area on the Specialists in tracing your Scottish Ancestry national walking map, we are hoping to (Giles Etherington) attract a walker from every county in the Our Services Include: UK to take part in this year’s Festival. Full Family Tree Projects And you can help. If you have walking friends in other counties (or indeed other Tracing individual records countries) why not invite them along to Further Research into an existing family tree the Festival? It’s the perfect opportunity Census Search to meet up. We have included the postcard opposite Missing heir/ beneficiary and relatives traced for you to send on to your friends. We’ve Burial locations traced near Traquair Southern Upland Way, left some space on the back, for you to write a personal message. Military Records Legal documents traced (civil and criminal) Unit 122,Ettrick Riverside Business Centre Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, TD7 5EB Tel:01750 50 5224 www.borderswalking.com in September. join them at the Festival. look We forward to seeing you all This postcard has been sent to you by a friend as an invitation to take part in this year’s Festival. are hoping to attract a walker from every county in the UK to In an attempt to put the area on the national walking map, we fantastic walking destination - a real hidden gem. With its purple hills and lush valleys, the Tweed Valley is a 4th September, - 12th in Peebles, in the heart of the Tweed Valley. The Scottish 16th Borders Walking Festival will take place from Cotswold Outdoor For all your outdoor clothing and equipment needs. New range in store now. Glasgow, West End Glasgow, Silverburn Livingston Aberdeen STAMP AFFIX HERE Tel: 0141 357 5353 Tel: 0141 881 6573 Tel: 01506 430 701 Tel: 01224 593 639 For full store details visit www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/stores 2024_Scottish_Borders_Ad_A5.indd 1 16/3/10 10:16:57 Festival Information www.borderswalking.com Walk Grading A number of the walks featured in Walk Numbers Please note that advance bookings the programme do follow similar will not be taken at the walk routes throughout the Tweed Valley. registration centre. Walkers who wish Festival walks have been graded as For safety and logistical reasons, to pay on the day, may turn up at follows: To enable you to best plan your walk places are limited to a maximum the walk registration centre but are itinerary, route maps for most walks of 30 people per walk and some Easier: Up to 7.75 miles / 12.5 reminded that spaces will be subject are available to view and download walks will have fewer places kilometres distance with up to 820 to availability. from www.borderswalking.com feet / 250 metres of ascent. No steep available. This year, tickets will not be issued for gradients and minimal rough terrain. Booking is therefore essential to ensure walks or events. Please ensure that These walks are suitable for most, a place on the walks of your choice. you bring your booking confirmation including those with limited walking Symbols with you, as you will need this at ability and families with children. the walk registration centre and for Moderate: Up to 10 miles / 16 Full Hill Walking Gear Booking proof of payment at social events. kilometres distance with up to 1,700 Where this symbol is shown, Payment may be made by credit or feet / 520 metres of ascent. There warm clothing, waterproofs debit card (by phone or on-line only) may be some short sections of steep Staff at VisitScotland look forward and hill walking boots are and by cheque. Please note that gradients and some rough terrain. to taking your booking by the advised. Good, comfortable VisitScotland cannot accept cheques These walks are suitable for most following methods: footwear is recommended for over £100. people of average fitness. On-line: New and improved on-line all walks in the programme. booking is available at For all Scottish Borders Walking Long: Up to 13 miles / 21 kilometres www.borderswalking.com Festival booking enquiries please distance with up to 1,650 feet / 500 Coach Service – Outward contact VisitScotland: metres of ascent. There may be some By Post: A booking form can be 30 mins Where this symbol is shown, found in this programme. Please short sections of steep gradients and @ [email protected] some rough terrain. These walks are coach transport from the return the completed form by post suitable for people who can manage walk registration centre will to the VisitScotland Information Q 01835 863170 distance but not too many ascents. be provided. Centre, Murray’s Green, Abbey Place, Jedburgh, TD8 6BE. Postal bookings Strenuous: Up to 15 miles / 24 must be received by Friday 27th kilometres distance with up to 2,830 Coach Service – Return 30 mins August 2010. Ticket Prices feet / 870 metres of ascent. There Where this symbol is shown, will be some steep gradients and coach transport back to the By Telephone: Please call 01835 863170 We have tried to keep things simple rough terrain. These walk grades walk registration centre will to speak to a VisitScotland Advisor. together with the walk length, when pricing walks. be provided. In Person: From 4th-11th September ascent (where this is significant) and Some walks are free, Paths to Health you can book places on walks and description will enable you to select walks are £3, walks which do not Packed Lunch events in person up to 4pm on the a suitable walk for your capability day before your proposed walk(s) require transport are £6 and walks and interest.