Peebles

Pine trees with sun through them and frosted grass.

The valleys of the western Borders can be cold as winter takes a firm hold; at this sunrise near Tweedsmuir the temperature was way below freezing Winter with light snow across treed valley and nearby hills.

Winter with light snow across treed valley and nearby hills.

A winter glance back at Selkirk, the subject of the last page The country in the western part of the Scottish Borders contrasts with the wide Tweed plain and its undulations to the east. Here the Southern Uplands take over and rise to Broad Law, which forms their highest point in the region; this hill makes a couple of tentative appearances below. Geographically the photographs below, take in a sweep of countryside around the old county town of Peebles; and their sweep in time is from 40 years ago (with some fading colours), to early this century. Golden light catching valley hills.

And, wandering up river from Selkirk, this snow is in the Yarrow valley Two piers supporting old metal bridge over level track, distant snow covered mountain.

Two piers supporting old metal bridge over level track, distant snow covered mountain.

From the photo to the left, a hop westwards across to the neighbouring Tweed valley and the old Talla railway; taken on a spring day when Broad Law was still snow covered Snowless valley seen between two trees with snow covered hill beyond.

Snowless valley seen between two trees with snow covered hill beyond.

More snow on the hills around Dollar Law; here seen from above Hopecarton near Broughton Complex hill surfaces with snow running down to valley.

Snow on Tinnis Castle, the commanding small hump (centre above) sits by the confluence of Biggar Water and the Tweed Straight road running away between beech trees in autumn leaf.

Straight road running away between beech trees in autumn leaf.

By Ratchill, on the Peebles Road out of Broughton, is this fine avenue of beeches,
seen here in full autumn Dark furrowed soil on knoll with hills beyond.

Dark furrowed soil on knoll with hills beyond.

Peaty, new ploughed soil, by Broughton Back lit house and trees by road with smoke from chimney.

Winter smoke by Wrae Hill, Broughton Road pointing at large distant hill.

The Broughton road points at Broad Law Looking down over valley of fields and trees with river running under bridge.

The drive from Broughton to Peebles brings the visitor up onto the hillside after Lyne and offers fine view (above) upstream over Manor Bridge. And below, downstream towards Peebles Two trees frame town below in valley, treed hills beyond.

Two trees frame town below in valley, treed hills beyond.

Same view as last photo, but right-hand tree is stump and some snow on hills

The photo to the left was taken 16 years before the one above. A fence has been put up, but more sadly the framing pine, used before, is now just a stump. And below a wider version of the newer view, with Peebles Hydro at the right, and the churches of the town nearer the tree. Wider view of the town in its valley with tree and stump.

Wider view of the town in its valley with tree and stump.

Moving down into the town, two photos from the main bridge: upstream in the direction of Neidpath Castle... River with row of spacedd small trees on either side.

River with row of spacedd small trees on either side.

...and downstream towards the footbridge. On the left is the area known as Tweed Green Wide shopping street with parked cars and traffic.

A quick nip into the centre of Peebles: and a shot of
the High Street in the 1980s Small park between river and houses.

Tweed Green sits between the High Street and
the River Tweed People strolling on path between river and all which is overhung with autumn trees.

An autumn view of the path that runs by the Tweed up to Neidpath Castle, just on the edge of Peebles, beside Hay Lodge Park Farm on open flat country with backdrop of a line of hills.

Farm on open flat country with backdrop of a line of hills.

Leaving Peebles to the south, soon the Pentlands dominate the landscape; above from near the Moffat road... Same hills as last photo but looking down onto the plane.

Same hills as last photo but looking down onto the plane.

...and in this photograph, looking at the Pentlands from on the Moorfoot Hills; same hills, different angle Looking across plane of soft browns to outlines of hills.

Looking across plane of soft browns to outlines of hills.

A panorama from the Moorfoots, age rendering a watercolour from the photograph;
showing the north end of the Pentlands (left), the distant hills of Fife, and
(right) the dark masses of Castle Hill and Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh Looking down on small loch, plane and hills beyond.

Looking down on small loch, plane and hills beyond.

Tucked below the Moorfoots is Gladhouse Resevoir... Man in woolly hat and gloves looking out at loch and plane beyond.

...another angle on a less temperate winter's day Bright yellow hillside with line of trees running up it casting long shadows.

A parting shot from the area with the sun, almost horizontal, catching the grass and trees to the north of Broughton; the more striking for the dark cloud

Trailers... Sunset across water with three ducks.

The next Picture Posting page is to take you to the last of this series on south-east Scotland - photos from East and Mid Lothian.

The next page of the Mosaic Section is headed 'Natural Communities'.
Or go to the of the Mosaic Section. line

Around Peebles