Peebles, River Tweed, Neidpath Castle and Manor Bridge

The walk begins at Kingsmeadow and then crosses Peebles' Tweed Bridge to follow the northside riverbank. This stretch of the river, noted for many species of fish including the town's emblematic salmon, is an SSSI (site of special scientific interest). On early summer evenings the river bubbles with trout rising for flies, while autumn spates (September to November) bring salmon migrating upstream from the sea.

On a rocky outcrop above a sweeping bend stands Neidpath Castle, a forbidding tower besieged by Oliver Cromwell in 1650 (cannon damage is still visible). Beautifully restored in the late 20th century by the Earl of Wemyss and March, the castle features balconies overlooking the Tweed and a resident 'ghost' white lady.

Further on, you pass an 1864 Victorian railway viaduct and an eerie half-mile disused rail tunnel beneath South Park Wood. At Manor Bridge, the Manor Water enters the Tweed. The path crosses Manor Bridge and follows gentle river contours back through South Park Wood (rich in oak, elm, alder, birch, larch, spruce, and poplar, and home to red squirrels and woodpeckers).

On the opposite bank is Artist's Rock, where generations have sketched Neidpath Castle despite the 4th Duke of Queensberry's historical felling of surrounding trees. A short stroll brings you back to the start and welcome refreshments in Peebles.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.