Reflections from The Borders

This longer than usual episode follows my 20 plus mile walk from Innerleithen to Ettrick Kirk, a personal pilgrimage in honour of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd and founder of St Ronan’s Border Games. The route carried me through the landscapes that shaped his imagination from the very familiar Leithen Valley, on to the Southern Upland Way, across moor and forest to the wide Yarrow valley where I dodge cows and grab lunch before finally reaching the pastoral beauty and absolute peace of Ettrick. Along the way I reflected on Hogg’s poetry and the legacy he left both on the page and in the life of our community.A huge part of this journey was guided by the James Hogg Poetry Trails booklet, created by Sue Briggs and everyone involved in the project. It was my companion mile after mile, a wonderful piece of work that helped me connect the physical landscape with Hogg’s words and spirit. I think more people should be aware of this booklet and hope this walk can help with that. I also used the walk to raise funds for St Ronan’s Border Games, contributing around £250 toward the future of the event Hogg founded. With the Games approaching their remarkable 200th anniversary in 2027, it felt important to give something back, a small gesture of gratitude to the tradition he started and that continues to give Innerleithen much of its identity.I hope you enjoy joining me on this walk, following the footsteps of James Hogg.

Turning Threads to Treads - three Scottish Borders walks inspired by the Great Tapestry of Scotland.This episode is an audio version of a blog I was invited to create for The Great Tapestry of Scotland. The piece explores some of my favourite walks across the Scottish Borders and how they connect with the stories told in the Tapestry itself.The Great Tapestry of Scotland is one of the country’s most remarkable works of storytelling, and it was a privilege to contribute to their series. You can read the original blog on their website here (it includes additional links, including more details of the walks and the tapestry panels featured)https://www.greattapestryofscotland.com/stories/walks-in-the-scottish-borders/If you enjoy this episode, I’d encourage you to visit the Tapestry in Galashiels, it’s a place where Scotland’s story comes alive all in one colourful room!

This short episode is something a little different. Each month I send an email to my subscribers and for the first time, I’m sharing an audio version :)In this edition I look back at May and talk about recent reflections on my business, Galashiels BID, Peebles Guided Walks, the closure of Haus & Co in Innerleithen and the pride of Hawick Common Riding.It’s a more reflective piece than usual shaped by observations and small details I pick up while travelling across the region. If you enjoy hearing these thoughts in audio form, let me know as I may make it a monthly feature :)Read the written version and explore blogs, podcasts, events and tours at tweedvalleyblogger.com Subscribe to the monthly reflections email for early accessTickets for Peebles 900 Years in 90 Minutes Walks

This short episode sets the scene for my summer walking tours in Peebles - 900 years in 90 minutes. We begin with the sound of the town itself the quarter bells and the ten strikes of 10am, transporting you to this great town by the River Tweed...If you’d like to join me on a tour, you’ll find booking links below.Eventbrite My website

I’m back on the mic as the tour guiding season kicks into life. In this episode, I share the key insights I took from the recent SSDA (South of Scotland Destination Alliance) Conference — and why they’ve left me feeling optimistic about the future of the visitor economy in the Scottish Borders.There’s a real energy building behind tourism here. You could feel it in the room at the conference, and it’s echoed in the conversations I’ve been having across the region over the past few weeks. In this episode I dig into what’s shifting, why I think it matters to everyone and why the Borders should feel confident and excited about the road aheadMy SSDA Conference Presentation Catriona McAllister (Live Borders) SSDA PresentationStuart Holmes (Historic Environment Scotland) SSDA PresentationRaj Singh-Dehal (Center Parcs) SSDA Presentation

In this episode I continue my Go All In month, celebrating the UKs National Year of Reading. It is a love letter to bookshops - the home of books, ideas, knowledge and fun. Places I have always been happy in, this week I wanted to celebrate them and the people who work in them. This is my third and final podcast on the Go All In theme, thanks to everyone who has engaged so far - keep reading!This episode was recorded in St. Boswells, and at Innerleithen. Huge thanks to Ros and the team at Mainstreet Trading Company for allowing me to record some audio in the café and bookshop for this episode. CORRECTION: Of course it wasn't WH Smith I went to as a child in the 80's and early 90's - it was John Menzies!! This hit me when I was editing ;)

This month I’m celebrating Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading 2026. It’s a campaign that’s encouraged me to talk more openly about my own reading, which is something that underpins all my work and has shaped who I am.  With half of UK adults no longer reading regularly, and almost half of young adults now “lapsedreaders”, the need to champion reading has never felt more urgent.In this episode, I’m turning my attention to libraries,these warm and generous public spaces that offer far more than most people realise. From Innerleithen to Peebles, Gala, Hawick and Melrose, the libraries of the Scottish Borders are an important part of my life and civic spaces that still matter and are worth fighting for.In this bite sized episode explore why libraries remain vital in 2026, how they support wellbeing, community and access, and why they deserve far more love and particularly promotion. I also share twelve ways libraries make life better, drawn from my own experiences and the brilliant services available across Scotland.If this episode prompts you to visit your local library,borrow a book, or simply enjoy a quiet hour in a warm public space, then it’s done exactly what Go All In hopes to inspire — reading with confidence and joy! This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.⁠National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In⁠

This episode is a little different for me. I don’t usually talk about my own reading or personal life in such a direct way, but reading underpins everything I do as a guide, storyteller, blogger and above all a human being.I’m sharing the ten books that made me who I am: the ones that shaped my imagination, my values, my work and the way I see the landscape around me. I have to be upfront and say these aren't an attempt to impress. They’re honest, sometimes surprising, occasionally slightly cringy and absolutely true to my lifelong relationship with books.This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme for the National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All InAcross February, I’m exploring what reading means to me through blogs, podcasts and social posts. This episode is the first step - a frank, personal journey through the books that have shaped my life so far.If it encourages you to think about the books that made you, or nudges you or someone you know back toward reading for pleasure, then it’s done its job :)

Join me on a journey through the landscapes and stories of the Borders, retracing Robert Burns’ 1787 tour. Often overshadowed by his famous Highlands trip of the same year, this episode shines a light on the places, people and impressions Burns gathered closer to home. With atmospheric soundscapes to bring the hills, rain and towns alive, I explore how the Bard’s footsteps connect with our heritage today, and why the Borders deserve their place in the Burns story. I finish with a piece of Burns poetry which is very close to my own heart. I am indebted to the following sources of information:Robert Burns Birthplace museum (Alloway), The Border Magazine (dated 1905, and shared via Electric Scotland), Glasgow University for their excellent online maps of the tours), Lammermuir Life.co.uk and my friend and inspiration Ted McKie for his piece on Burns visit in ‘Cleikum Kist 2’ (2017).  This was originally shared on my blog on the 22 January 2024. Read the original post by clicking here.Sound Effects from Pixabay - thank you to Freesound Community, Eryliaa, Alex_Jauk, Universefield, Fronbondi_Skegs, loswin23Cover Image - Robert Burns statue, Dumfries. Thank you South of Scotland Destination Alliance/Duncan Ireland.

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing a special live recording from Traquair Film Club: a twenty minute version of my longer talk on the history of mountain biking in the Tweed Valley.  In the talk I explore how a relatively quiet corner of the Scottish Borders became a global riding destination, shaped by the landscape, local pioneers and a strong community.I also touch on the exciting news that the Tour de France will be coming to the Borders in 2027 - a moment that feels like a natural continuation of the story this region has been writing now for decades.If you want to dig further into the timeline of Mountain Biking in the Tweed valley (and see all the people and events I missed in this talk!) then you can see my timeline here:Mountain Biking in the Tweed Valley If you’d like to explore the Borders with me in person, my Border Abbeys micro‑group tours are now bookable on Eventbrite, link to the first date of 14 February below:Border Abbeys Guided Tour - 14 FebruaryThanks for listening, and for supporting stories from this often overlooked but endlessly fascinating part of Scotland...