Podcasts about Scottish Borders

In today's episode, Paul & Megan are joined by solicitor Jill Andrews to discuss the challenges and trends for foreign nationals looking to buy property in Scotland in 2025. Here's our jargon-busting guides to buying a property in Scotland:What is a Closing Date? What is a Home Report?How to read a Home Report?Appointing a solicitor in ScotlandWhat is LBTT? How to make an offer on a property in Scotland? Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

The men from the North - a blether about the Vikings and their effect on the Scottish Borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is a special one - Paul & Megan are joined by four ESPC solicitor estate agent member firms to discuss the current property market. From the properties that are in high demand to the best places for first-time buyer as well as the current climate for landlords and the issue with conveyancing - they leave no stone unturned. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a comment below and remember to subscribe to our channel.  Skip to the part that's relevant to you:0:00-1:08 Introductions1:08-3:47 Have there been any surprises in the recent property market?3:47-5:28 One word to describe the property market right now5:28-8:20 What properties are in high demand?8:20-11:20 Sales volumes are high, but closing dates are getting rarer11:20-15:18 Managing sellers expectations 15:18-15:30 Are properties selling for over Home Report valuation?15:30-17:30 Hotspots for properties right now17:30-22:03 Biggest concerns for first-time buyers22:03-23:08 First-time buyer friendly areas in Edinburgh23:08-25:44 Are we seeing landlords return to the market?25:44-29:09 Best places to invest £250k in a property29:09-33:10 One change that's needed in the property market33:10-36:21 Predictions for the rest of 2025's property marketGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

otato Enthusiast Bob Donald talks to Rachel about a community growing project in Aberdeen which has led to libraries in the north east handing out seeds and seed tatties.Mark speaks with volunteers from a walking group in Govan, who share their personal experiences with homelessness and social hardship. They're now involved in an innovative project that aims to turn them into city tour guides.As we enter British Summer Time, Professor Danny Smith from Edinburgh University joins us to explain the importance of daylight for our body's circadian rhythm and its impact on our wellbeing.Phil Sime, who is completely blind, offers his perspective on life without the ability to tell if it's light or dark, shedding light on the challenges of navigating the world without sight.Helen Needham heads to the Scottish Borders to meet writer and outdoor enthusiast Kerri Andrews, who shares insights from her book about motherhood and the identity shifts that come with it.Mark talks to young farmer Nicola Wordie about the pressures and demands of farming during lambing season. Nicola also discusses her involvement in a project aimed at tackling isolation within Scotland's farming and crofting communities.Rachel visits St Fillan's Cave in Pittenweem, where she uncovers the history behind the cave's name and discovers that Christian services are still held at its ancient stone altar today.Mark speaks to Mike Vass, Director of the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, to hear about his journey of blending music with maritime experiences, following an illness in 2013 that inspired him to compose music drawn from the high seas.

In this episode of the ESPC Property Show, Paul and Megan are joined by returning guest Nicky Lloyd, Head of Lettings at ESPC Lettings. They cover some new ground in this discussion including advice for new landlords, why more and more homeowners are opting to rent their properties instead of sell and how much rent should be priced at.Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

On this week's episode of the podcast, Paul & Megan are chatting through the latest updated from the local property market including the rapid speed that Dunfermline homes are selling at, as well as the outlook for house prices across the rest of the year, and a deep dive into the proposed Seafield regeneration plan. Resources mentioned:ESPC House Price ReportSeafield regeneration plan"Call for Edinburgh's south suburban rail line to reopen to passengers after 60 years"Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

This is Wild for Scotland, a show with immersive travel stories from Scotland.Wild for Scotland helps you connect with Scotland, its people, wildlife, landscapes and histories. In each episode, I take you on a journey to a different place in Scotland. I either whisk you away on an inspiring adventure, or introduce you to passionate locals and their stories.Apart from stories and interviews, I also share my top tips for your own Scotland trip, and how to follow in my footsteps.If this is your first time, listening to Wild for Scotland - welcome!

We're in Scotland today and Ben's guest is Matthew Anderson who until recently was farming with his Father and brother over three farms in the Scottish Borders over 660 Ha all grassland and hill land, half owned and half rented. He has now started a new farming business with his brother on about 330 ha of mostly rented ground. And to see what this looks like you can check out his youtube channel at Borders Farm Life. Today we'll talk about his farming journey so far, we'll talk about improving hill farm land and selecting cattle for low maintenance outwintering. Meet the Farmers is produced by RuralPod Media, the only specialist rural podcast production agency. Please note that this podcast does not constitute advice. Our podcast disclaimer can be found here. About Ben and  RuralPod MediaBen Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk If you have a business interested in getting involved with podcasting check us out at RuralPod Media. We'd love to help you spread your message. Please subscribe to the show and leave us a review wherever you are listening. Follow us on social mediaInstagram @mtf_podcastTwitter @mtf_podcastWatch us on Youtube here

Kate McClorey made the bold transition from a career in IT to becoming Assistant Head Gardener at Floors Castle in the Scottish Borders, and she is back on the podcast to share her experiences over the past few years, including studying a diploma course in garden history at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.  Kate discusses her motivation for understanding garden history, particularly in the context of her work at Floors Castle, and how this knowledge has deepened her appreciation for garden design. Kate reflects on her favourite historical gardening periods and the fascinating plant hunters of the Victorian era.  Whether you're a gardening enthusiast or simply curious about the rich tapestry of garden history, this episode promises a wealth of inspiration and knowledge. Welcome to the Scotland Grows Show, the podcast which celebrates everything that is good in Scottish gardening, as we join gardeners around the country to find out what grows well where they are, and pick up tips and stories along the way. -------------------------------------------- Be sure to sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know when new episodes are published. Scotland Grows magazine is our digital title which celebrates Scottish gardening, and drops into your inbox 6 times a year. If you would like to receive a copy, just follow this LINK. You can follow Scotland Grows on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, we'd love to have your company there! And of course, you can always find your share of gardening goodness on our website at scotlandgrowsmagazine.com. -------------------------------------------- This series is sponsored by ROOTS, a subscription from the National Trust for Scotland which helps both your garden and Trust gardens thrive. For £7 a month you will be sent a ROOTS pack every six weeks, with gardening gifts, including Scottish seeds six times a year, stories about Scotland's plant life, and tips from  expert Trust gardeners, as well as an invitation to two exclusive ROOTS events a year with the Trust gardens team. Whether you buy ROOTS for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, your £7 a month will go towards supporting Trust gardens and designed landscapes in Scotland. Sign up today at nts.org.uk/roots and use the code Grows25 to receive an extra packet of seeds in your first pack.

Is a 5% deposit still enough for first-time buyers to get on the ladder? How much do you need to earn to qualify for a million pound mortgage? Will the Bank of England base rate reduction affect your mortgage as a homeowner? All of these questions (and more!) are answered in this episode of the ESPC Property Show! In this episode, Paul & Megan are joined by returning guests - David Lauder & Paul Demarco, two of ESPC Mortgages Mortgage Advisors where they discuss high net worth property owners, advice for first-time buyers and the current mortgage market. You can watch all of our previous mortgage episodes below: Are interest rates dropping? - https://youtu.be/hrL1PxwNl5wDon't be afraid of mortgages - https://youtu.be/SyES9nMr1MoUnlocking the secrets of the 2023 mortgage market - https://youtu.be/XSdOy3LJ-zIGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

Mary and Doug blether about the names of fields of the Scottish Borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ESPC Property Show is back for 2025! Can you believe we're on to our fifth season of the show?!And this new season comes with some slight changes. Episodes will now run fortnightly, and every month you'll get a deep dive on the local market with Paul & Megan. This week we discuss what's been going on in the local property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife & the Scottish Borders including:Is it getting easier for first-time buyers?Where are the local property hotspots?How to spot a good deal in the market?We also hear from our first of "Paul's Polls". If you'd like to participate in the next one, head to Paul's LinkedIn and give him a follow.Throughout the episode Paul & Megan use the latest ESPC House Price Report as a jumping off point. You can read the full report here.If you want to submit a question for a future episode, please leave us a comment or send it to us at marketing@espc.comSpeak to ESPC MortgagesSpeak to ESPC LettingsSpeak to an ESPC solicitor estate agentGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

"Lookaftering" Well, we talked about doing the thing and the fact of the matter is, the British-born Vashti Bunyan started doing the thing pretty early. In the 1960s, while studying at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art at Oxford, Bunyan was expelled for focussing more on making music than on drawing. So she went home and started making music. When her mother's hip actress friend got the 19 year old Bunyan a face to face with the Stones' manager Andrew Loog Oldham, he was properly charmed and handed her the Stones track "Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind" to record. And so she did. Backed by her own song "I Want To Be Alone," "Some Things" featured Jimmy Page on guitar, but it didn't turn as many heads as Bunyan had hoped. She did another single, sang on a Twice As Much album, and appeared in a documentary about swinging London. So the ball was rolling. Bunyan and her fella hit the road in search of an artistic community and she ended up Holland, The Scottish Highlands and the Cumbrian Mountains. Her journey informed the songs for her debut album Just Another Diamond Day, which is fabulous, but was too fabulous for the time it was released. Look, sometimes the world just has to catch up and it did. But it took 30 years. Bunyan was so disappointed by Diamond Day not really troubling the charts, she hung up her guitar, lived in the Scottish Borders in cottages occupied by the Incredible String Band and raised three kids, putting her music career on mothballs, seemingly for good. The world was quietly catching up however, and Diamond Day had sneakily become a cult classic. It was re-released in 2000 and with Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart championing her work, Bunyan was introduced to a whole new generation, who adored her. Since then, she's recorded two more albums--Lookaftering and Heartleap--and she's appeared on albums by Banhart and Animal Collective, she appeared at London's Royal Festival Hall with The Heritage Orchestra () as part of Massive Attack's Meltdown (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meltdown_(festival)), she wrote a memoir, and was the subject of a full-length documentary. So she's back. Yes. No. I mean, sort of. But I also mean yes. Confused? You won't be for long. To commemorate Lookaftering's 20th anniversary, DiCristina Records is releasing an expanded edition of Bunyan's sophomore album and it's packed with demos, live stuff, fabulous liner notes, lyric sheets and paintings by Bunyan's daughter. Bunyan's music is hard to classify--it's bedroom pop that isn't pop and wasn't recorded in a bedroom but it's got this hushed and fractured quality that's filled with mysterious power. This conversation is a real treat and in the end, there's an unexpected walk across the rooftops that's really cool. IG: @vashtibunyan www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com) www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com) www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com) Stereo Embers IG: @emberspodcast Bluesky: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

Rachel is in Lochaber where one of the biggest nature restoration projects in the country is underway. The Nevis Nature Network Project covers 22 thousand acres which includes fragments of Scottish rainforest and rare montane scrub. She met project manager Ellie Corsie for a walk to hear about their restoration vision.Mark is on Calton Hill in Edinburgh hearing about the challenges of repairing our historical buildings. Many of our famous landmarks were built using stone that is no longer quarried in Scotland. Imogen Shaw from the British Geological Survey tells him about their desire for more buildings to be built using Scottish stone to allow quarries to open here.Rachel delves into the history of the Newburgh on Ythan lifeboat, the oldest lifeboat station in Scotland. Charlie Catto has written a book about its history, and she met him at the station to hear about his research. She also hears about the plans of the Newburgh and Ythan Community Trust to take on the building and hopefully restore it to the condition it was in when it was first built in 1877.In the week where competitors took part in the 268-mile Montane Spine Race between Derbyshire and the Scottish Borders, we chat live to world record endurance cyclist Jenny Graham about why people want to take part in these kind of events and how she prepares for them.Mark is on Royal Deeside where a recent collaboration between Aberdeenshire Council and the Cairngorms National Park Authority has resulted in a new stretch of path being built. The Charter Chest Path links up the existing path network and keeps cyclists and pedestrians off the busy road. He went for a wander with Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel with the National Park.Back to the Nevis Nature Network Project where Rachel continues her walk with Ellie Corsie to one of the areas of montane scrub they want to protect.Phil Sime takes a walk around Ness Islands in Inverness in the company of historian Norman Newton. Norman tells him about the areas interesting past including being home to a very popular outdoor arena and a dog cemetery.

Lesley Penny leads two Episcopal churches in the Scottish Borders. She talks in today's Advent Devotional of the power of worship. Reasons to Rejoice is a five minute window each day where we lift our eyes to God and revel in who He is! Advent can be a frantic time and often one where it's hard to feel near to God. Why not join with us to celebrate the goodness of God each day for 25 days? We don't want to dismiss the challenges of our world, but we do want to celebrate the King who came to the manger and now sits in glory. Let's dedicate ourselves to rejoicing in Him this Christmas.

We're back for a bonus episode! Paul breaks down what he expects to see in the property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders in 2025. From what's going to happen to interest rates, house prices and selling times, plus much more!Skip to your favourite part:0:00-0:43 Intro0:43-3:42 The future of interest rates in 20253:42-5:30 An increase in property sales5:30-6:36 Paying a premium on properties6:36-8:15 Listings and stock on espc.com8:15-9:19 How VAT on private schools might do to the property market?9:19-11:00 Average selling prices11:00-12:05 How fast will properties sell in 2025?12:05-14:10 A recap on the 2024 lettings market14:10-18:04 How will ADS affect the lettings market in 2025?18:04-18:57 Potential for 2025 lettings market18:57-20:38 Energy efficient homes in 202520:38-21:53 LBTT is up for review21:53-23:15 The need for clarity on the Housing Bill23:15-24:00 An update on ESPC in 2024Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

In the season finale, Paul & Megan are joined by Jan from Hastings to discuss the local market in the Scottish Borders. They discuss how the market has changed since 2020, reasons to live south of Edinburgh and how English stamp duty changes may affect the market. Skip to the part that's relevant to you:Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

Becca & Bob Rennie join us talk about farming Cheviot and Texels Sheep in the Scottish borders. They give us a great insight into how they have built a very successful farm business and discuss their future plans to open a farm shop. We hope you enjoy, Cammy & Iona Send in a question for the podcast: podcast@fedbyfarmers.co.uk Our podcast releases on Audio platforms at 7am, and on youtube later the same day. Thanks to our Sponsors: Crystalyx & Animax │ Tracesure You Can Support the show here: Buy us a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fedbyfarmers Visit our website to see our range of custom made clothing www.fedbyfarmers.co.uk

On this week's episode of the podcast, Paul & Megan chat to Andy Lewis (John Scott Davidson Ltd) explains what the current rules are around inheritance tax in the UK including when it is payable, who is liable to pay it and some tax efficient measures to take. Skip to the part most relevant to you: 0:00-1:44 Intro1:44-4:27 What is inheritance tax?  4:27-8:48 Who pays inheritance tax?8:48-11:00 Inheriting property11:00-12:40 Discussing inheritance with family12:40-13:52 If you are eligible to pay inheritance tax13:52-17:57 What changes did the 2024 UK budget make to inheritance tax?17:57-23:16 Inheritance tax on pensions23:16-29:26 Are gifted deposits eligible for inheritance tax?29:26-32:12 Reducing inheritance liability 32:12-36:20 Who actually pays for the inheritance tax?Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It's hosted by Liv Bolton. For this episode, Juls Stodel takes Liv for a walk to a bothy in the Scottish Borders. Juls is a hiker and trustee of the Mountain Bothies Association. She journeyed to 104 bothies in Scotland, England and Wales in 2023 - a challenge that took her a year. From bothies on remote Scottish Islands to ones hidden away in the Highlands, it was a unique adventure. On their walk, Juls also opened up about her schizophrenia diagnosis, something she's not spoken about publicly before, and why she wants to break the stigma around the mental illness. Juls is now part way through her new challenge - visiting 100 Scottish islands. What's behind these challenges and why is Juls encouraging others to create their own original adventures? The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! This is the final episode of series nine - but don't fret! There are more than 60 episodes to delve into in our archive. You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. For information and support around the topics in this episode, head to the Mind or Samaritans websites. The post Juls Stodel: A journey to 104 bothies and 100 Scottish islands appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

In this week's episode, Megan & Paul chat to Elaine Kyle (Morgans) and Michael Maloco (Maloco Mowat Parker) about the local market in West Fife. They discuss the affordability of the area, their Fife hidden gems and what the 2025 property outlook is for the area. Skip to the bit most relevant to you:0:00-1:10 Intro1:40-4:41 Where are the key areas in Fife?4:41-6:30 How is the West Fife property market performing?6:30-9:24 Managing seller expectations9:24-11:14 Reasons to live in West Fife11:14-13:27 Hotspots with the most activity in West Fife13:27-19:09 Predictions for the 2025 market19:09-22:54 Where is in high demand?Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

On this week's episode Paul & Megan chat to Alistair Ewing (Managing Director at The Lending Channel) about bridging finance.What is bridging finance? It's a form of borrowing that allows property buyers to fund their purchase while they put their current home on the market. Skip to the part that's relevant to you:0:00-1:48 Intro1:48-2:45 What is a bridging loan?2:45-3:26 Why are they less common now?3:26-4:16 Are bridging loans expensive?4:16-5:06 What's the average term for a bridging loan?5:06-6:30 Interest rate and duration implications6:30-7:43 Risks involved in using bridging finance7:43-9:14 What happens to the loan if you sell before the end of the term?9:14-10:47 Using bridging finance to improve buying situation10:47-12:44 Scenarios when bridging finance could be used12:44-14:30 Why do lenders need an additional survey?14:30-16:40 How does the application process differ from a standard mortgage?16:40-20:15 Common concerns around bridging financeGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

In this week's episode, Megan & Paul chat to Amy Howard from Neilsons and Lisa Connolly from McDougall McQueen about the local market in Midlothian. They discuss the booming market in Bonnyrigg, why you should invest in Gorebridge and what the 2025 property outlook is for the area. Skip to the bit most relevant to you:0:00-1:32 Intro1:32-4:50 Where is Midlothian?4:50-6:57 Midlothian's property market 6:57-9:10 Property hotspots in Midlothian9:10-11:50 Second hand new build market11:50-14:25 Best areas in Midlothian for investment14:25-18:43 Predictions for 2025 Midlothian marketGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

Episode 26 - Hallowe'en Live! Treacle Scones & Tumshie Lanterns (part two) The second part of our first ever live show! From the historic village of Stow in the Scottish Borders, hosted graciously and generously in the Station House by Stow Community Trust: https://stowhub.co.uk/ This episode was written and narrated by Barbara Buchanan and Gordon Stewart. With live improvised soundtrack by Nick Cole-Hamilton Live audio mixing and engineering by Giorgios Mikrogiannakis. Part two coming tomorrow! The Tales From Wyrd Scotland logo was designed by Andrew Cowan: www.andrewcowan.co/ This is a You Better Run Media Production. For more wyrdness, follow us on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TalesWyrd

Episode 26 - Hallowe'en Live! Treacle Scones & Tumshie Lanterns (part one) Our first ever live show! From the historic village of Stow in the Scottish Borders, hosted graciously and generously in the Station House by Stow Community Trust: https://stowhub.co.uk/ This episode was written and narrated by Barbara Buchanan and Gordon Stewart. With live improvised soundtrack by Nick Cole-Hamilton Live audio mixing and engineering by Giorgios Mikrogiannakis. Part two coming tomorrow! The Tales From Wyrd Scotland logo was designed by Andrew Cowan: www.andrewcowan.co/ This is a You Better Run Media Production. For more wyrdness, follow us on Mastodon: https://mastodon.scot/@TalesWyrd

In this week's episode, Megan & Paul chat to Jamie Sole from Blair Cadell about the current property sales market in Edinburgh.Jamie gives advice to local sellers on how to prepare for a valuation, tips for conducting property viewings as well as an outlook on the best time to sell. Skip to the bit most relevant to you:0:00-0:47 Intro0:47-5:47 The dos and don'ts of selling your property 5:47-8:35 Should you sell first or buy your next home first?8:35-11:00 Sell now or hold off until January?11:00-12:40 How to prepare for a property valuation12:40-14:26 Are buyers looking for a blank canvas?14:26- 17:10 Advice for conducting a property viewing with potential buyers17:10-18:06 Don't be afraid to reach out nowGot a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever you're listening!To find out more about ESPC and our solicitor estate agent member firms, you can head to our website.You can read our most recent house reports here: http://bit.ly/3CQlEQwRead the latest news from the property market in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders here: http://bit.ly/3IPOR1TESPC is more than just a market leading property website. We are the home of property and are here to help you at every stage of your property journey.

In the 26th Patreon bonus podcast you join me for a very special Halloween Patreon episode as I am on location in the Scottish Borders. You will come with me as I walk these ancient streets and ramparts, and tell you the dark history and ghost stories of the most northern town in England. And of course this October is Vampire Month on the How Haunted? podcast, and there are vampires to found here as you'll hear not one, but two stories of those neck-obsessed creatures of the night. So join me this Spooky Season, and together let us ask, just how haunted is Berwick-upon-Tweed? Get access to the full episode, which is pver an hour long, right now at https://www.patreon.com/howhauntedpod.   Find out more about the pod at https://www.how-haunted.com and you can email Rob at Rob@how-haunted.com   Music in this episode includes: "Darren Curtis - Demented Nightmare" https://youtu.be/g_O4kS9FP3k   " HORROR PIANO MUSIC " composed and produced by "Vivek Abhishek" Music link : https://youtu.be/xbjuAGgk5lU SUBSCRIBE us on YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/DQQmmCl8crQ Follow on Facebook: https://bit.ly/33RWRtP Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2ImU2JV

This week, host Jackie Bird is at Robert Smail's Print Works in the Scottish Borders to see the oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK. She meets the team that keeps the printing works running today and hears about the history of the press and its eponymous owner. Jackie also discovers secrets of the ever-changing publishing industry of the Victorian era, unpicks the mechanisms behind the presses, and takes us on a tour right into the heart of the machinery.  To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  For more information on the Robert Smail's Print Works, click here.

Covering great distances isn't necessarily the best way to see as much as possible when you travel.'One Mile Magic' is a story about picking a mile-long stretch on the Berwickshire Coast and exploring it in depth. We'll enjoy a slow morning on the beach of Coldingham Bay, go snorkelling and swimming on the Berwickshire Snorkel Trail, and follow the coastal path to the charming fishing village of St Abbs.None of the places we visit in this story are further than a 30-minute walk apart - let me convince you that mileage isn't everything!At the end of the episode, I share my top tips for a slow adventure on the Berwickshire Coast.Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you! Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotlandAlso check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

SCOTTISH BORDERS – PART 2 So many people who rush to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland miss the amazing beauty of the Lowlands, and the Borders area of Scotland in particular. This Podcast takes up where we left off in Part 1 and we start at the incredible Jedburgh abbey with a walk around the town to see the Old Castle jail before heading off to Mary Queen of Scott's house where you'll hear of her ill health after visiting her lover, Bothwell. Then we'll drive to another lovely ruin at Melrose and I'll let you know a little more about the lives of the monks who lived in these places to give you an insight into Monastic life. And what does Melrose Abbey have to do with the heart of our greatest king,  Robert the Bruce? We'll also look at the towns of Selkirk and Galashiels that have so much to offer and we will then head over to have a look at Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott the most celebrated Scottish author of his generation. Before we end, I'll tell you about the Border Reivers, renegades and outlaws, who controlled the Border area for hundreds of year. You will also hear from previous Guests, the Wood family, and an incredible chance meeting with a close relative they never knew existed. This will have quite an effect on you. You will also hear from another of my guests, the celebrated American author Mary Anne Edwards, who writes the Detective series ‘Charlie McClung' and it was apt that we finished our tour at Abbotsford House where Mary Ann could study Sir Walter Scott, our own celebrated author. You can find her 'Charlie McClung' series of books on Amazon.

Did you know oak supports over 2,300 species of wildlife? Discover this and more fascinating facts in our episode dedicated to the nation's favourite tree. We join Trust experts, Jules and Kate, at Londonthorpe Woods, near Grantham, to find some fascinating growths on oak trees, known as galls, and learn why hunks of deadwood are so important.  We then visit the star of the show and 'Lincolnshire's best kept secret' - the astonishing 1,000-year-old Bowthorpe Oak. It's one of 12 amazing oaks in the running for 2024 Tree of the Year. Which one will you vote for? Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive.  Adam: Well, in this podcast, we're looking at the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year competition, which is all about oaks and is on a quest to find the nation's favourite one. And there are lots to choose from. There is the Elephant Oak in the New Forest, the Queen Elizabeth Oak in West Sussex, the Darwin Oak in Shropshire, the Capon Oak on the Scottish Borders and plenty of others to choose from across Wales, Somerset, County Fermanagh, Cheshire and well, lots of other places as well. And you can vote for your favourite oak by going to the shortlist of them at the voting site woodlandtrust.org.uk/vote, so that is woodlandtrust.org.uk/vote and we'll repeat that again at the end of this podcast.   Well, today I'm going to see one of the oaks in contention for the Tree of the Year, the Bowthorpe Oak in Bourne, in Lincolnshire, a tree which has a hollow interior and had previously, that interior had been fitted with seats and had been used as a dining room for 20 people in the past, 20 people! It must have been an enormous oak and that's not a practice I think that's recommended these days. Well, certainly not. But nonetheless it's a great oak which has played a great big part in the local landscape and is much loved, not just in the UK but attracts plenty of visitors from abroad as well. Now, oaks have an amazingly important part in our culture and in days gone by were, I think, central in Druid folklore, for instance, in fact one amazing fact I have learnt making this podcast is that the name Druid comes from druer, the Celtic for oak for the word oak and wid means to know, so Druid means oak-knower, so there's a good fact for you. Anyway, enough of me. I'm off to meet some people who know all about oaks and unusually I am not starting by a tree. So, unusually, we're starting in a car and I'm joined by two women from the Woodland Trust. So first of all, introduce yourselves.  Kate: I'm Kate Lewthwaite. I am citizen science manager at the Woodland Trust.  Adam: Wonderful. And our driver for the day is...  Jules: Hi, I'm Jules Acton. I'm a fundraiser with the Woodland Trust.  Adam: So we're going to look at a few oaks today, one of which is actually in the running to be the Tree of the Year, and you can vote on that still and I'll give you details a little later on on how to do that. But first of all, you were telling me that you have a little present for me. I always like to start the day with a little present.  Jules: It's always good to start the day with a little present, I think and here's a little one for you.   Adam: Oh, and it's wrapped up in tissue paper. It's an early Christmas present. How very good. So what is that? OK so do you want to describe it?   Jules: OK so it's a little, it looks like a little woody marble really, doesn't it? And it's got a little tiny hole you can see just there and some extra other little tiny holes. That is an oak marble gall.  Adam: An oak marble...ghoul?  Jules: Gall.  Adam: And how do you spell that?  Jules: G A double L.  Adam: G A double L and what what is it?  Jules: So this is this is incredibly special, so this has in many ways changed human culture, this little tiny thing. Certainly amplified human culture. So this is a gall, which is made by, and it's made by a little tiny wasp. And the wasp lays a an egg in the in the bud of the tree of the oak tree. And it makes the oak change and it sort of changes chemically. It's really strange. And it makes the the oak form this little marble shaped thing on the end of a twig. And that becomes home for the gall wasps' larvae, and so that the little larva grows up inside it and it has this its own special home, but it's also full of lovely food. So that's interesting itself and that it's it's it's it's got this sort of little little home but it what's particularly interesting human, from the human perspective is that these kind of galls were used to make ink for about 1,000 years and the the kind of ink that they made, it was used, I think, until the middle of the 20th century. So kind of until quite recently. So Shakespeare's plays were written on oak gall ink, Newton's theories, the American Declaration of Independence, huge amounts of historic documents.  Adam: So just trying to understand that, Shakespeare's plays were written on ink created by this thing?  Jules: By a gall like, yeah, this kind of thing by by a gall. Yeah. But you can you can still now you can make gall gall ink from these little little things here. So it in many ways it it amplified, this little tiny thing we've got here, amplified the whole course of human history, culture, etcetera in our part of the world.  Adam: Quite an extraordinary place to start our journey today. Wonderful. So, OK, so we're, yes, we'll put that away nice and safe and we'll start our journey. Kate, do you just want to start by telling me what we're going to do when we get out of the car?  Kate: We're going to have a walk round Londonthorpe Wood, which is one of the Woodland Trust sites, one of our thousand woods that we own and we're going to see an oak tree that Jules has found for us to go and talk about.  Adam: Fantastic. All right, well, let's go.  Jules: Well, well so we've just seen some amazing galls on what looks like quite a young tree, it's probably about 30-years-old, would you say, Kate, this one?   Kate: Maybe, yes.  Jules: And, yeah, they're they're bright red and they're on the underside of the oak leaves and they look a bit like cherries and   Adam: I was going to say, the one you showed me was all grey, you gave me an old rubbish one, didn't you? This is what they look like when they're on the tree. It's red, it does look like a cherry.  Jules: Yeah, this is a particularly stunning one, isn't it? And they they are literally called cherry galls. And they again  Adam: They're called cherry balls?  Jules: Cherry galls.   Adam: Galls, cherry galls.  Jules: And they're about the same size as the marble gall that we saw earlier. And I believe they are also caused by a gall wasp. And but what is good about these kind of galls is that they're relatively easy to spot. So once you get your eye in, you start seeing them everywhere, so it's a really lovely thing to start doing, you know, with children or just looking yourself when you're out on a on a walk, you know.  Adam: Wow. So that shows that a wasp has formed that?  Jules: Yeah  Adam: And these are non-stinging wasps, aren't they?  Jules: These are non-stinging wasps. They're teeny, teeny, tiny wasps. They don't look like your your black, you know the big black and and and yellow stripey things that come at your ice cream, not that there's anything wrong with those wasps, they're lovely too.  Adam: Inside that gall is baby wasps? Is that?  Jules: There will be a little larvae inside there.  Adam: And that's what they're using as as food, or is it?  Jules: Yes, that's their home but it's also their food source. And I'm not at some point in the year the the the little tiny wasp, once it's developed, will will kind of drill its way out and then be set free to the to the wider world. But I think we'll find some other kinds of galls, actually. So it might be worth us moving on a little bit and just see if we can.  Adam: OK. Moving on, yeah, that's politely telling me to be quiet and start walking.  Jules: Oh sorry *laughs*  Adam: Sorry, there's a, oh it's a tractor going up and down the field next to us. So that's what the noise is in the background. But the fact that we we sort of just held a branch here and and Kate was already, you know, lots of wildlife, jumped onto her jumper, does raise the issue about how many, how much wildlife an oak supports. And I was hear some fantastic number. Just tell me a little bit about that.  Jules: We know that the oak supports more than 2,300 species and that they could be species that that feed off the oak, that live inside it, that live on, on, on or or around it, that you know they perch in it. So species using the the oak tree in all different ways and they are, they they they're birds and mammals, they're lichen, fungi, invertebrates. All sorts of different kinds of species, but what's important, I think, is that they're only the species we've countered, and I think there are a huge number more that we just haven't got around to counting would, would you agree, Kate? You probably know more about this than me.  Kate: Yes, definitely. And some of those species can live on other types of tree, and some are only found on oak trees, so they're particularly important. And of course, we haven't started talking about the value of deadwood and all those wonderful rare beetles whose larvae live in the wood. So there's lots to be said about that as well.  Adam: I'll tell you what, let's just walk all further away from this tractor, which sounds closer than it is, and you can tell me about the importance of the deadwood.  Jules: Well we might see some spectacular deadwood.  Adam: Oh well, we might see some, OK. OK, so we have stopped by some deadwood and you're going to explain why, is that right? Right. OK. Kate is going to explain. Well, why have we stopped here, Kate?  Kate: Because deadwood is absolutely fantastic and we have a history of a nation of being a little bit too tidy and taking it away and using it for firewood and other things, when actually it's an amazing habitat in its own right. I'm just looking at the variety of rot holes, of larval galleries where the insect larvae have fed, and then the adults emerged. And it is like a whole habitat in its own right. And actually deadwood is really rare. Much of the woodland in the UK is not felt to be in good ecological condition and one of the reasons for that is a lack of deadwood. So it's incredibly important habitat and we don't have enough of it.  Jules: One of the things I didn't understand until recently and Kate, you might know more about this than me, but there's there's different kinds of deadwood. So if you have, it's important to have deadwood in different formats, so standing deadwood so when the old tree is still standing upright, and and deadwood that's lying down on the ground.  Adam: Right. What what why, so it matters if it's vertical or horizontal?  Jules: It it it matters that you have both kinds.  Adam: And why?  Jules: Because, I feel like I'm at the edge of my knowledge, so it's because about it's about different habitats, isn't it Kate, is that right?  Kate: Yeah, I think so. And the the wood will rot at a different rate. It's quite ironic because the one we're standing at now is actually at a 45° angle. So it's neither vertical nor nor horizontal. And of course, oak trees are absolutely full of of tannins, which I think are the same compound you find in the oak galls that enable the writing. But they also mean, you know this huge, great piece of deadwood here could be around for hundreds of years because it won't, it will rot very, very slowly.  Jules: And and one of the great things is when you have deadwood right next to living wood as well, because that creates all these different conditions which will suit different kinds of invertebrates and fungi as well, so that that's really important to have this collection of of different kinds of wood in in you know in a similar area.   Adam: Excellent. OK, we've, we've stopped. We've stopped Kate, and you've got very excited.  Kate: It happens quite easily when I'm out in nature. And there's a whole pile of knopper galls on the floor here, and they're black. You know, they've dropped off the tree. They've done their job. The the wasp has flown off. But I wondered if we could, I've no idea if this is gonna work, I wondered if we could actually try writing with them because they are oozing black.  Adam: Oh my, right, this is so exciting. OK, so this is like this is a modern day Shakespeare. Have you got? OK. The line is to be or not to be. I see. Hold on a second. So you've picked it up, right, I I think you might do something to it.   Kate: Well, I might have to. Shall we see, shall we see if it just?  Adam: Right, but you're not, you're just gonna?  Jules: Ohh there we go.  Kate: There is a brown ooze and it's I think it's not just from the path.  Adam: I was going to say, it's not just mud.  Kate: It's not. It's this kind of coffee colour.  Adam: Wow, OK. And you are writing to be or not to not be.  Kate: I am writing to be or not to be, I I don't know if I break it open a bit more if you might get. Ohh. This is gonna stain my nails, isn't it?  Adam: OK. Ohh dear, don't worry I'll I'll pay for the the visit to to the nail parlour.  Kate: *laughs* I shouldn't worry. Yes, we are actually getting some.  Adam: To be or not to be. Well, I'm sure that would have actually been mixed with water or something.  Kate: Most likely  Adam: Or some alcohol and put into a quill, but that does what hold on, let me just rub it, see. Well, I can confirm that is not just what we have now created ink. Proper exciting.  Kate: Absolutely.  Adam: Thank you very much. Well, we're heading away from our ink gall-bearing oaks to see the main attraction of the day, which is a short drive from here. It is the Bowthorpe Oak, one of the contenders for Tree of the Year. It is rooted in a grass paddock behind the 17th century farmhouse nearby. In 2002, the Tree Council, in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, designated the Bowthorpe Oak one of 50 great British trees. One of the 50 greatest British trees in recognition of its place in our national heritage. And I'm meeting the current custodian of the oak who runs the farm in which it lives.  George: My name is George Blanchard and I am one of the family members here that farm at Bowthorpe Park Farm.  Adam: Right. And you have, we're standing by this famous tree. People come here to see this tree?  George: They do, yeah, we get them from all over the world. A lot of lot of UK, obviously, Europe and America, we get a lot of interest from America.  Adam: Well, tell me a bit about this tree.  George: So this tree, the Bowthorpe Oak, is the UK's largest girthed oak tree. It's absolutely stunning as you can, as you can see, fully in leaf at the moment it looks amazing and yeah, that's it's claim to fame.  Adam: Right it's wide the widest I think it was the second widest tree in the UK. Is that right?  George: We know it's the largest largest oak tree in in terms of it's it's the most complete, you know. So I think there could be wider ones, but not quite as complete.  Adam: Not quite as good as your tree!  George: Yeah, exactly. This is yeah *laughs*  Adam: No, I agree. And and is is this a family farm? Is this?  George: It is yeah.  Adam: Right so you've grown up, you've you played under the boughs of this tree.  George: I have. Yeah, yeah and and inside it as well. Remember it is hollow so.  Adam: Right. Yeah. So tell me a bit about the sort of the folklore and the stories around the tree.  George: Yeah so oak trees naturally start to hollow at around 500 years old, but this one was hollowed even further, back in the 1700s by a chap called George Pauncefort and  Adam: It was, it was, it wasn't naturally hollow, he hollowed it out?  George: They they do, they do naturally hollow, but he hollowed it even further. And you can tell this when you're looking inside it, because the the sides are quite flat. It's very unnatural. You can see so the hollowing has been done by by tools. And so he also put benches around the inside of it and a and a doorway on on the west side and even even sort of paved the flooring but and and put a pigeon loft in the crown, which I think, I think back in the day in the 1700s, if you had a pigeon loft in your tree, you were somebody *laughs*.  Adam: Ohh really that's like Lamborghini time, right? OK, forget your Lamborghinis, I've got a pigeon loft in my tree.   George: Exactly. Yeah, yeah. And he would have parties in there as as you would, wouldn't you?  Adam: Well, yeah, of course. I mean, you've gone to all that trouble. Was he a member of the family? Was this being passed down?   George: No, no, there's no there's no relation, no relation. We've we've only been farming here since the sort of late 40s.  Adam: Right. OK, amazing. Amazing stuff. And I mean, and it looks in fairly, I mean as you say, it's in good leaf, it's in also just it looks to the untutored eye in good nick as well, generally healthy.  George: It is yeah. Really good really good condition currently. We lost a a limb off the back and that was that was quite concerning because it's it's quite dramatic when they shed a shed a limb, but it is what they they naturally do. We have an inspection done on the tree annually, but at the time of losing the limb, we were, we were quite concerned. So we upped the type of inspection we had done. And they were quite, quite invasive, I say invasive it was, you know, using really small drills, to see if there's any adverse rotting in any places. But no, they were really happy with the condition of the tree and and how healthy it is so other than any sort of man-made issue, I don't see why it shouldn't carry on growing as it is.  Adam: And it's amazing because, I mean, you know, it's taken us quite a while to get here and people come here all this way just to see this tree.  George: They do, yes, yes, seek it out, we call it Lincolnshire's best kept secret.  Adam: Right. Amazing. From all over the world?  George: They do yeah yeah. From all over the world. Like I say, a lot of a lot of Europe people come from Europe and a lot of people come from America. We find that the two two types of people from America, those that really appreciate it and those that just can't get their head around it because it's nowhere near as big as their redwoods *laughs*  Adam: Right? Call this big. Call this big, you should see...  George: Exactly. Yeah, call this big, we've got bigger.  Adam: Yeah OK. Brilliant well thank you very much, I will take a tour round it.  George: Thank you.  Adam: So one of the other, now I have to say, first of all, let me have a look at the front front, we've taken a book with us because Jules has published a book called Oaklore and you've brought it out here because there is a poem about this oak in your book.  Jules: There is and it was written well over 100 years ago by a poet called John Clare and but the interesting thing is when he wrote this poem this would have already been an ancient tree, so it's it's quite an interesting record that he was standing in awe, looking at this tree, just like we are now really.  Adam: Right, right. So when did he write this?  Jules: I don't have the exact date in front of me, but I know it's over well over 100 years ago.  Adam: OK, well over 100 years and you're going to put on your best poetry reading voice.  Jules: *laughs* I'll have a go.  Adam: Go on, give us, I always love, I mean, we did this in the Sherwood Forest podcast where we took a book about Sherwood Forest and a book about a tree to the tree it's about. So we're now going to read a poem about the tree we're standing by. So this poem by John Clare.  Jules: And it's called Burthorp Oak. So here we go. Burthorp Oak.   Old noted oak! I saw thee in a mood  Of vague indifference; and yet with me  Thy memory, like thy fate, hath lingering stood  For years, thou hermit, in the lonely sea  Of grass that waves around thee! Solitude  Paints not a lonelier picture to the view,  Burthorp! than thy one melancholy tree  Age-rent, and shattered to a stump. Yet new  Leaves come upon each rift and broken limb  With every spring; and Poesy's visions swim  Around it, of old days and chivalry;  And desolate fancies bid the eyes grow dim  With feelings, that earth's grandeur should decay,  And all its olden memories pass away.  Adam: Brilliant. That's that's a lovely poem to read by by the tree.  Jules: I think it's quite interesting that he says age rent and shattered to a stump so it it sort of suggests that the tree is in a worse condition than now, wouldn't you say so Kate? And it looks like it might be happier now than when Clare saw it.  Kate: I was just looking at it and I mean it looks like some of those shoots have put on a good foot of growth this year. So that's the amazing thing about ancient oaks is they they so-called retrench. So all the limbs, the limbs drop off, they become shorter and and and wider and then they might all just start to sort of grow again and it sort of goes through these amazing cycles. Certainly there's a lot more vegetation on it than when I last saw it 15 years ago. It looks fabulous.  Adam: And also a lot of oaks grow very tall. This isn't so tall it it is wider, isn't it? It's a squatter tree. Is that because it's actually not had to compete, because it's actually in a field by itself isn't it? It's not competing for light with lots of other trees.  Kate: Yes, maybe. And also trees like this do, the really ancient trees they do tend to become short and squat and it's part, and hollow, and that's part of their survival strategy is that they'll shed some of these top branches and they'll, they'll shorten and and widen.  Adam: Right. I mean, oaks are really important, aren't they in the UK especially, they're part of the national identity, really, aren't they? And and a lot of that's got to do with folklore, which I know, Jules, you've written about as well.  Jules: Yeah, I mean the the oak has been part of our culture well, as far as as, as as far as we know as far as written records go back and even we we believe that the the Druids themselves were very also very interested in oak trees and they worshipped in oak groves and they particularly worshipped mistletoe, the rare mistletoe that came off off oaks. Of course, we don't have written records on the the Druids, so we don't, we know very little about them, but that's certainly what we believe. And then it's been threaded throughout our our history and our culture that the oaks right up to the present day, you know people are still writing about it and painting painting oak trees and you've got wonderful ambassadors like Luke Adam Hawker who is very inspired by oak trees and goes out drawing them.  Adam: Why do you, I mean I don't suppose there's an answer, but do you have a take on why we've landed on the oak as such a a central part of our mythology and identity?  Jules: Well, I I think I think all of our native trees will play a role in that in our folklore and our mythology and and our culture, I think the oak is is is a particularly impressive tree isn't it, especially when you're standing next to a tree like this that that is so majestic and and you know the words like majestic, kingly, queenly, grand, they they just sort of pop into your head. There is just something incredibly awe-inspiring about the oak tree. And then, as we've we've seen before it, it just has such a huge impact on our ecology as well. So I think I think it's just something it it does a lot of heavy lifting culturally and also naturally the oak tree.  Adam: And almost every pub is called the Royal Oak.  Jules: Yes, yes, I think there's at the last count there's well over 400 pubs called the Royal Oak.  Adam: And you know that personally by visiting them?   Jules: Well, I've yes, I've I've tried to count them all. I've still got some way to go *both laugh*  Adam: Yeah. OK, OK, alright. Well, it's it's a good project to be having.  Jules: So there's an interesting story behind the that name the Royal Oak. And the reason the pubs are called that relates back to a very special oak tree, the Boscobel Oak. Now we have to go back in history a few hundred years. And it takes us back to the Battle of Worcester and the son of Charles I was in in battle with the with, with, with the parliamentarians, and he took a drubbing at the Battle of Worcester, and he needed to escape. And he reached this place called Boscobel House, and he was going to hide out in, in that house and try and escape the the soldiers, the the enemy. But it was very insecure and one of his advisers suggested he, instead of hiding in the house, he hid in the oak tree. So they spent the whole night in the oak tree, which subsequently called called the Boscobel Oak, and this and and and they escaped capture and the king spent the whole night with this chap called William Careless as he as he was called   Adam: William Careless?  Jules: William Careless who turned out not to be careless at all because he actually saved the king. And apparently the king sort of curled up with his head on Careless' knee and and he, they they got away. They got away with it and because of that you know that then obviously led into a whole series of events which ultimately led to the restoration of the monarchy and said King became Charles II and and because of that there was an enormous celebration of oak trees. So they they they were raised in status even further. So we've got all the Royal Oak pubs which are effectively commemorating that occasion. But there's also a great day of celebration was declared. It was the 29 May. I think that was the King's birthday, and it was 29 May. And it became oak apple day. And that was when we would all when people across the land would would gather and and celebrate the restoration of the monarchy. And one of the things they used to do was they people would bring branches with oak apples, which is another of those amazing galls. And the more oak apples you had on your branches, the better the better you were, you know, the, the, the cooler you were at the party. And if you didn't bring oak branches with you, apparently people would be mean to you and they'd whip you with nettles.   Adam: Blimey, this story took a turn!  Jules: Yeah, these parties got these these parties got quite out of hand. I actually think we should bring these days back. Not, no nettles. But I think actually wouldn't it be great if we spent every 29 May celebrating our amazing oak trees and and and also the wider nature around us.  Adam: Yeah, we've missed it this year, but I'm putting a date in for us to meet at a Royal Oak somewhere between us on 29 May.  Jules: Yeah, let's do it. Let's party. Yeah. And maybe drink a glass of oak flavoured wine or whisky.  Adam: OK, never had that, but I'm I'm up for it. I'm up for it. Kate, this is also important because this is in the running for Tree of the Year.  Kate: Absolutely. So the Woodland Trust hosts the UK Tree of the Year competition, and this year we've focused on oak trees.   Adam: So so they're all oaks.  Kate: All of them are oak trees this year, so we've got 12 candidates from across the UK and the wonderful Bowthorpe Oak here is one of them. It's my local tree so I'm a little bit biased, but these trees all tell amazing stories. We've got one that's shaped like an elephant in the New Forest. We've got one that has survived being in the middle of pine plantation in the Highlands of Scotland and we've got one that's sadly under threat from a bypass in Shrewsbury. So we've got some amazing stories from these trees and the public can vote. So voting closes on the 21 October 2024 and you can go to the Woodland Trust website so it's woodlandtrust.org.uk/vote.  Adam: There were some cow noises just as you said that in the background! Just to prove that we're in a farm *all laugh*.  Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff partners and volunteers. And don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you are listening. And do give us a review and a rating. If you want to find out more about our woods and those that are close to you, check out the Woodland Trust website. Just head to the visiting woods pages. Thank you. 

RSVP for the TDA link up. All of our community are welcome...Limited places are available ⁠⁠⁠RSVP HERE⁠⁠⁠ Got a Dilemma? https://www.thenewblxck.com/dilemma Interested In Securing Shares In THE NEW BLXCK -https://app.seedlegals.com/en/pitch/c_VoSPUCwhTo/The-New-Blxck Any questions about this investment opportunity, please contact Brent@TheNewBlxck.com The Day After, (00:00) Intro: House keeping (20:11) Headlines: Junior doctors in England vote to accept pay deal, Police chief who oversaw UK policing response to Covid to lead new border agency, Sadiq Khan now wants prisoners to cut housing queue to 'stop committing crimes' (45:35) What You Saying? The Thin Line Between Cultural Appropriation And Cultural Appreciation (01:45:03) Headlines: Huw Edwards leaves court after being sentenced for indecent images of children, Body found in search for missing teenager in Scottish Borders, Missile fired from Yemen by Houthi rebels lands in central Israel (01:48:21) The People's Journal: Amazon tells staff to get back to office five days a week, Russian state media networks banned by Meta, Diane Abbott says Starmer “treated me as a 'non-person (01:53:06) Interview: The One About Sasha Henriques (03:27:06) Headlines: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is 'sceptical' of the case for assisted dying for 'quite personal' reasons, New XEC Covid variant starting to spread, Women dominate 2024 Booker Prize shortlist (03:30:59) Wrap Up: #News #currentaffairs #sports

Britain's declining wild bird populations will only recover if more farmland is set aside for conservation, says the RSPB.A legal challenge to a new forest on a vast moorland in the Scottish Borders has forced its owners to stop planting. As the Met Office predicts another autumn and winter of destructive floods, a number of flood defences in England damaged during last winter's storms are yet to be fixed. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Beatrice Fenton.

In this Podcast, we are going to travel from Edinburgh down to the Borders passing through some medieval villages on route. We will be travelling on roads built by the Romans in the 1st and 2nd   centurie and we'll be looking at some scintillating castles and other fascinating buildings on our way. You will hear of true Thomas or Thomas the Rhymer whose prophesies were uncannily accurate and also of Maiden Lilliard, the warrior lady who had her legs chopped off during the battle of Ancrum and continued to fight against those who had killed her lover. We will also look into the ruined Border Abbeys at Dryburgh and Kelso and take a look at Roxburgh castle ruins where James 2nd of Scotland was killed by one of his own cannons. The ruins stand in the grounds of the fabulous Floors castle, home to the Duke of Roxburgh. And as dramatic historical events have ebbed and flowed, the gentle waters of the river Tweed, which gave its name to the famous Tweed fabric, continues to meander throughout the Border region although most of the woollen mills have now closed.  If you wish to contribute a small sum towards the creation of my Podcasts, please go to. https://buymeacoffee.com/uniquescotland

Send us a Text Message.Join us as we sit down with author Ed James to talk about his multifaceted publishing journey—from traditional to self-publishing and everything in between—as well as his candid thoughts on embracing messy first drafts and the painstaking process of rewriting entire novels. Discover strategies for balancing work-life commitments while maintaining creativity, and understand the necessity of treating writing as a business with structured planning, effective marketing, and targeted advertising. Don't miss this episode for a blend of practical tips and inspiring insights into the disciplined yet passionate life of a writer.With Soul So DeadThe chase is on – and time is running out.Holly Fenwick thought she had left her nightmare behind.Twelve years ago, she narrowly escaped the clutches of a brutal serial killer.Now, while she films a documentary in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, to recover from her ordeal and rebuild her life, she spots a figure eerily similar to her former captor. She rushes in, only to find no trace of the man but a chaotic crime scene – and a missing woman.Before he was a cop, DI Rob Marshall worked as a criminal profiler on Holly's case. Now based over the border in Scotland in the new Behavioural Sciences Unit in Gartcosh, Marshall joins the investigation on his old patch, but all he has are questions.Was Holly's return to the crime scene a mere coincidence? Is her story the figment of a traumatised mind? As the investigation unfolds, Holly is forced to confront her deepest fears and the possibility that the killer has marked her as his next target. And Marshall must consider the possibility his absolute truth might not be so certain.Follow Ed James Support the Show.Thank you for joining me. Don't forget to subscribe, download and review. The Kill List (Inspector Henley - Book 3) Follow Me:www.nadinematheson.com Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooksInstagram: @queennadsTikTok: @writer_nadinemathesonBlueSky: @nadinematheson.bsky.social

Scotland's first new vet school in over 100 years has opened to applicants. Mark went to visit the School of Veterinary Medicine at Scotland's Rural College in Aberdeen and spoke to the Dean, Professor Caroline Argo about how and why the school has been established.When you visit the Isle of Seil, one of the main visitor attractions is the An Cala Garden. The garden was created in the 1930s and Rachel was shown around by Sheila Downie who has owned it for the past 40 years.Earlier this month the European Land Art Festival was held in Dunbar. It's a week full of workshops, exhibitions and concerts, but the highlight of the week for some was the World Rock Stacking Championships. Katie Revell went along for Out of Doors and chatted to some of the competitors who had come from as far afield as Texas.Mark is in Grantown on Spey finding out that you don't always need a huge space to create a wildlife haven. Ranger Saranne Bish shows him one of the parts of the Highland Wildflower Meadow Mosaic Project and explains how it works.During the covid pandemic, a cancer diagnosis left Michelle Cloggie feeling isolated. A trip to do some alpaca trekking gave her husband an idea and soon they were welcoming three alpacas. Fast forward to the present day, and the family run Stormcloud Alpacas near Strathaven. Michelle tells Rachel how their flock has grown and what a great emotional support they are to her and many others.Last week a pod of 77 pilot whales died after washing ashore on a beach in Orkney. It was the biggest mass standing of the species in Britain and has had a big impact on the Sanday community. We chat live to Rob Flett from BBC Orkney about the stranding and how locals have worked together to deal with it.The Victoria Swing Bridge at the Port of Leith has recently reopened following a major refurbishment. Mark went to take a look and find out about the Grade A Listed structure's history and its new lease of life.In our latest Scotland Outdoors podcast, Rachel has been delving into the history of Osprey in Scotland. It's 70 years since the species began breeding here again following years of persecution. We hear an excerpt where Jess Tomes from RSPB Scotland tells Rachel the story of those behind Operation Osprey.Louise Aitken Walker became a household name when she became the first ever female World Rally champion in 1990. She grew up on a farm in Duns in the Scottish Borders where horses were really her first passion, and it was a jokey competition entry by her brothers that propelled her into the world of rally driving. She tells Mark about her life on and off the track.

Torture and violence were common during it's time, so it is no surprise that the old jail has a terrifying reputation. The town of Jedburgh is situated in the Scottish Borders and is home to a jail infamous for its terrible conditions and the cruelty that was dealt out to the prisoners. During past ghost hunts at Jedburgh Jail apparitions and dark shadows have been seen and cell doors have slammed shut by unseen hands. Flashes of light are regularly seen, and cold spots, breezes and blasts of cold air are felt in closed rooms. Sounds creepy right?!! Anne & Renata explore the history of this site and the hauntings that happen there in this episode of the True Hauntings Podcast. Let's see if it is really haunted. The Horrors of Jedburgh Castle Jail - A True Hauntings Podcast SUPPORT THE ADVERTISERS THAT SUPPORT THIS SHOW This Show is Sponsored by BetterHelp - Visit www.BetterHelp.com/P60 for 10% off your first month. Mint Mobile - To get your new wireless plan for just15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to www.MintMobile.com/P60 Rocket Money - Start saving money and reclaim control over your finances with www.RocketMoney.com/P60 Haunted Magazine - https://bit.ly/hauntedmagazine Tarot Readings by Winnie - https://www.darknessradio.com/lotus-love-tarot Follow Anne and Renata: Facebook: @AnneAndRenata Instagram: @AnneAndRenata YouTube: @AnneAndRenata TikTok: @AnneAndRenata Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary and Doug discuss the Anglo-Dutch wars of the 17th century, the Naval press-gangs and how they impacted the Scottish Borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her most recent collection of poems, Charlotte Hussey has drawn on the fairytale of Tam Lin as found in a 16th century ballad from the Scottish Borders. In this interview we look at some of the poems and how they echo both the myth and Hussey's own history, and how the weaving of several perspectives and stories breaths new life in to this most mysterious of folk ballads. Those of you familiar with Celtic myth will hear the echoes and resonances, and spot the familiar archetypes and concepts. Courses on Celtic myth and folklore: https://celticsource.online/courses-page

'Like an Open Book' is a story about an archaeology tour to the Scottish Borders with HARP Archaeology. Your guides are professional archaeologists Michelle Gamble and Ian Hill, joined by a group of experts in Roman history, medieval battles, family research and more. We travel to Kelso and Melrose, uncover the secrets of Roxburgh and Hume Castle, walk in the footsteps of medieval mercenaries and dig for Roman treasures.Book your spot on HARP Archaeology's Romans, Reivers and the Rough Wooing Tour to the Scottish Borders for 2024!Visit our website to find the full show notes incl. the transcript and further reading about the Borders.This episode is commissioned by HARP Archaeology, a social enterprise that aims to promote and enhance public understanding and awareness of archaeology and cultural heritage.Find out how to support our show and unlock bonus content.Get my Scotland Travel Journal as your travel companion! Browse my Scotland itineraries for your next trip.Help us spread the word about Wild for Scotland! If you hear something you like in this episode, take a screenshot and share what you like about it on your Instagram stories. And tag us @wildforscotland so we can say thank you!Join our email list for weekly resources and glimpses behind the scenes.Follow us on Instagram @wildforscotlandAlso check out my Scotland blog Watch Me See!

In this wonderful intuitive conversation Alexandra chats to Sarah Robertson from These Are The Days. Sarah Robertson is a brand designer, creative mentor and writer. She collaborates with clients to define their vision, craft beautiful visuals and discover their voice through her studio, These Are The Days. Originally from Edinburgh, Sarah now works from her home nestled in the Scottish Borders alongside her partner, children and their curious cat. In this conversation we talk about leading a life and business that feels like home, boundaries in work and motherhood, the difficult task of knowing what and when to outsource both in life and in businessYou can learn more about Sarah over at These Are The Days and on Instagram, Pinterest and Substack. She also shares seasonal Inside Story letters with her email community. You can connect with Alexandra and the Circular Entrepreneurs over at The Circular Entrepreneurs and on Instagram and linkedinIf you want to work with Alexandra, you can find 1:1 coaching packages hereIn order to keep growing this beautiful community I would love for you to follow, share, rate & review the podcast.XxAlexandra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What were the consequences of the aftermath of the Great War in the Scottish Borders? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How the Great War affected the Scottish Borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We meet painter Andrew Cranston from his studio in Glasgow, Scotland to discuss his major new solo exhibition at Hepworth Wakefield.Andrew Cranston was born in Hawick in the Scottish Borders in 1969, and now lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland. Cranston studied at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen and then completed his postgraduate study at the Royal College of Art, where he was taught by Peter Doig and Adrian Berg.Andrew Cranston: What made you stop here? features 38 new and recent paintings that range from large-scale canvases to intimate works painted on old linen-bound book covers, comprising subjects that include still life, landscape, seascape, portraits, and interior scenes. This is the first public gallery to present a solo exhibition of his works. Engaging with the layered emotional quality and pathos of everyday life, as well as a strong sense of place, be it real or imagined, Cranston's evocatively titled paintings contain compelling and intriguing narratives that have the collaged dream-like quality of recollection and what he calls ‘creative misremembering'.His formally inventive and highly intimate paintings find new ways to connect the personal and art historical past with the present through a gamut of visual and literary references and shared experiences. The paintings exploit what is perhaps only glanced existing in the periphery of vision and embody a sense of revelation, wonder and oddness in familiar situations. Connections and highly personal associations are deeply entwined in these works creating a rewarding and memorable experience.On display at The Hepworth Wakefield for the first time is one of Cranston's most recent paintings entitled, A snake came to my coffee table on a hot, hot day to drink there (2023), which has been generously acquired for Wakefield's art collection through the JW Anderson Collections Fund. It features what Cranston says is ‘an intrusion of something alien into the familiar, an unlikely presence and threat into the domestic'. A large number of other works in the exhibition, lent from private collections, have never been shown publicly before.Follow @Andrew.Cranston on Instagram and @HepworthWakefield.Andrew Cranston: What made you stop here? is now open and runs until 2nd June 2024Exhibition entry is £13 / £11 / FREE for Members, Wakefield District residents and under 18s.Visit: https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/andrew-cranston/Visit Andrew's galleries: Ingleby @InglebyGallery Modern Art @stuartshavemodernart and Karma @KarmaKarma9. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seals and other winter wildlife at St Abb's Head This week, Jackie makes a return to St Abb's Head in the Scottish Borders, just months after she last visited to investigate the summer's avian flu outbreak. In the winter, many of the seabirds may have disappeared – but there are still a lot to be found. Joined once again by Head Ranger Ciaran Hatsell, Jackie spends some time getting to know the seal pups on the beach, two years after the population was devastated by Storm Arwen. She also finds out what has happened at St Abb's Head since the flu outbreak, and how the seals signal the wider health of the local ecosystem. Weather warning report by Alex Deakin courtesy of the Met Office. To find out more about St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve, click here.

Welcome to Girls Gone Hallmark, your favorite Hallmark movie podcast that brings honest and entertaining reviews twice weekly! In today's new episode, Megan and Wendy, review this season's highly anticipated "A Merry Scottish Christmas" starring Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf. Yes, that's right! The Salinger siblings are reunited again but with a royal twist this time around. Grab a pint and let's chat "A Merry Scottish Christmas!" About "A Merry Scottish Christmas" A MERRY SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS. The Saturday Hallmark Original drew a same-day aud of 3.3M viewers, beating everything on broadcast or cable primetime that night (save for ABC's WA vs OR college football game) in viewers & W18-49 (0.47) (Source: TV Mo Joe0) Written by Andrea Canning and Audrey Shulman.Audrey Shulman has seven writing credits including: "Every Time a Bell Rings," "The 27 Hour Day" and "As Luck Would Have It."Andrea Canning has 21 writing credits which include "A Paris Proposal," "Christmas Bedtime Stories" and "South Beach Love." "A Merry Scottish Christmas" was directed by Dustin Rikert. Dustin has 26 directing credits. Previous Hallmark movies include: "Where Are You, Christmas?" and "Next Stop, Christmas." Lacey Chabert (Dr. Lindsey Morgan) with 176 acting credits, Lacey shows no sign of slowing down. She has appeared in SIX Hallmark movies this year in addition to voice work on "Harriet the Spy" and "Harley Quinn." Related: A Complete List of Hallmark Movies Starring Lacey Chabert Scott Wolf (Brad Morgan) What has Bailey Salinger been doing since the year 2000 you ask? Working steadily! He had roles in series like "Everwood," "The Nine," "V," "The Night Shift" and "Perception." Most recently he has been in 63 episodes of "Nancy Drew" on The CW, all to round out his 51 acting credits.  Related Podcast Episode: Girls Gone Hallmark interview with Keith Costumes. Keith created the costumes for A Merry Scottish Christmas, A Biltmore Christmas, Mystic Christmas, and more. James Robinson (Mac Bell) This Scottish wowie zowie has 28 acting credits. Although this appears to be his first Hallmark movie, it isn't his first TV Christmas movie. He wa sin Saving Christmas Spirit with Ashley Newbrough, which aired somewhere other than Hallmark Kellie Blaise (Sarah Morgan) in addition to acting, Kellie is an accomplished singer. She starred in the Irish Rom Com "The O'Briens" and contributed two original songs to the film. Fiona Bell (Josephine)  Gerry O'Brien (Graeme Stewart)  Tom Doonan (Hamish)  Laura Hughes (Elspeth Abernathy)  Andy Peppiette (Danny)  Chris Mchallem (Angus Ryan)  Tiernan Messitt-Greene (Charlie)  Deirdre Monaghan (Local Woman)  Eilidh Murphy (Young Josephine)  Ali White (Dr. Amerila Bell)  Iggy Bownes (Morgan Family Driver) Where Was "A Merry Scottish Christmas" Filmed? "A Merry Scottish Christmas" was filmed on location, mostly in Ireland with some filming done in Scotland. The Duns Castle Estate in the Scottish Borders doubles as the fictional Glencrave Castle. Filming was done over the summer, wrapping in early July 2023.

This is a special partner episode of Scran with The Borders Distillery. On on a very very wet day, Rosalind took a trip to Hawick to visit The Borders Distillery - an up and coming whisky brand that is making a big impact. When it opened its doors to the public in 2018, The Borders Distillery breathed new life into an industry that had ceased to exist in the Scottish Borders for nearly two centuries. Rosalind met with founding member and director John Fordyce who showed her around the distillery and talked her through how it all came about, how they have been able to incorporate sustainable production into everything they do, the importance of a nurturing local talent and all about the liquid they are producing at this modern yet historical distillery. You'll also hear from Andy Baird on this podcast, he is one of the 12 local farmers who has been working with the distillery through the Borders Growers and Distillers programme. Finally John does a tasting session with Rosalind where he takes her through their workshop series. You can find out more about The Borders Distillery, their products and visitor tours at www.thebordersdistillery.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's something both primal and ancient about mountains. Beautiful and remote, they can provide a harsh and unforgiving environment for those who venture into their territory. Sometimes linked with sleeping giants, mountains are also a reminder of the Earth's formation, with rock contorted into fantastic shapes by immense geological pressures. The Cheviot Hills run from Northumberland and across into the Scottish Borders. This is a region that has seen bloodshed through battles in 1388, 1402, and 1464. It's also an ancient and mostly untouched landscape, so it's hardly surprising you'd find legends of fairies and other supernatural folk up here. Let's explore such legends in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the images and references on the blog post: https://www.icysedgwick.com/cheviots-folklore/ Read William Young's excellent guide to the Savage Spirits of the Cheviots here: https://inter-celtic.com/the-savage-spirits-of-the-cheviots/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick

Most people who travel to Scotland don't typically head south of Edinburgh into the Scottish Borders.But I'm thinking maybe this needs to change.There are a lot of fabulous places to visit in this part of Scotland — pastoral landscapes with easy walks, charming towns and villages,  beautiful rivers and stunning abbeys and stately homes. How does this sound?Well if it sounds appealing then tune into this episode to learn more about the Scottish Borders.I'm betting you'll be adding this to your Scotland itinerary!Want to chat more about this destination?Send me a message at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:0:07: Life update6:26: Into to Scottish Borders8:15: Placing the Scottish Borders on the map9:31: Towns of the Scottish Borders14:24: The Abbeys and the landscape20:19: The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels22:05: Abbotsford and Sir Walter Scott27:16: William Wallace Statue28:25: Borders Abbeys Walk30:38: The Haining Estate33:35: Wrapping it up39:35: Listener reviewImportant links:Lowlands of Scotland with Bo FraserMelrose AbbeyDryburgh AbbeyJedburgh AbbeyKelso AbbeyAbbotsfordThe Haining Yarrow FlatBorders Abbeys WayThe Great Tapestry of ScotlandSupport the showThanks to Callisa Mickle who edits the audio.Follow Wander Your Way:InstagramFacebookPinterest

In this episode, Anne speaks with Samira Hill, designer and teacher of knitting and crochet, as well as a professional pattern writer and tech editor. Samira is also one of the organizers of Tangled Galashiels, a new fiber festival in the Scottish Borders. Links to Things Mentioned in This Episode Shetland Hogmanay Box Listener Dinner at Shetland Wool Week The Journal of Scottish Yarns Episode 101 I Thought I Knew How on Facebook, Instagram, and Ravelry Eildon Hills Designs Samira Hill on Instagram and Ravelry Knitting for All Bowfiddle Yarns Tangled Galashiels