In this episode I continue my Go All In month, celebrating the UKs National Year of Reading. It is a love letter to bookshops - the home of books, ideas, knowledge and fun. Places I have always been happy in, this week I wanted to celebrate them and the people who work in them. This is my third and final podcast on the Go All In theme, thanks to everyone who has engaged so far - keep reading!

This episode was recorded in St. Boswells, and at Innerleithen. Huge thanks to Ros and the team at Mainstreet Trading Company for allowing me to record some audio in the café and bookshop for this episode.

CORRECTION: Of course it wasn't WH Smith I went to as a child in the 80's and early 90's - it was John Menzies!! This hit me when I was editing ;)

This month I’m celebrating Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading 2026. It’s a campaign that’s encouraged me to talk more openly about my own reading, which is something that underpins all my work and has shaped who I am. With half of UK adults no longer reading regularly, and almost half of young adults now “lapsedreaders”, the need to champion reading has never felt more urgent.

In this episode, I’m turning my attention to libraries,these warm and generous public spaces that offer far more than most people realise. From Innerleithen to Peebles, Gala, Hawick and Melrose, the libraries of the Scottish Borders are an important part of my life and civic spaces that still matter and are worth fighting for.

In this bite sized episode explore why libraries remain vital in 2026, how they support wellbeing, community and access, and why they deserve far more love and particularly promotion. I also share twelve ways libraries make life better, drawn from my own experiences and the brilliant services available across Scotland.

If this episode prompts you to visit your local library,borrow a book, or simply enjoy a quiet hour in a warm public space, then it’s done exactly what Go All In hopes to inspire — reading with confidence and joy!

This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme forthe National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.

⁠National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In⁠

This episode is a little different for me. I don’t usually talk about my own reading or personal life in such a direct way, but reading underpins everything I do as a guide, storyteller, blogger and above all a human being.

I’m sharing the ten books that made me who I am: the ones that shaped my imagination, my values, my work and the way I see the landscape around me. I have to be upfront and say these aren't an attempt to impress. They’re honest, sometimes surprising, occasionally slightly cringy and absolutely true to my lifelong relationship with books.

This episode is inspired by Go All In, the theme for the National Year of Reading. The campaign encourages people to read what they love, not what they think they should love, and that spirit sits right at the heart of this conversation. Link to the Go All In website.

National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In

Across February, I’m exploring what reading means to me through blogs, podcasts and social posts. This episode is the first step - a frank, personal journey through the books that have shaped my life so far.

If it encourages you to think about the books that made you, or nudges you or someone you know back toward reading for pleasure, then it’s done its job :)

Join me on a journey through the landscapes and stories of the Borders, retracing Robert Burns’ 1787 tour. Often overshadowed by his famous Highlands trip of the same year, this episode shines a light on the places, people and impressions Burns gathered closer to home. With atmospheric soundscapes to bring the hills, rain and towns alive, I explore how the Bard’s footsteps connect with our heritage today, and why the Borders deserve their place in the Burns story. I finish with a piece of Burns poetry which is very close to my own heart.

I am indebted to the following sources of information:Robert Burns Birthplace museum (Alloway), The Border Magazine (dated 1905, and shared via Electric Scotland), Glasgow University for their excellent online maps of the tours), Lammermuir Life.co.uk and my friend and inspiration Ted McKie for his piece on Burns visit in ‘Cleikum Kist 2’ (2017). This was originally shared on my blog on the 22 January 2024. Read the original post by clicking here.

Sound Effects from Pixabay - thank you to Freesound Community, Eryliaa, Alex_Jauk, Universefield, Fronbondi_Skegs, loswin23

Cover Image - Robert Burns statue, Dumfries. Thank you South of Scotland Destination Alliance/Duncan Ireland.

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing a special live recording from Traquair Film Club: a twenty minute version of my longer talk on the history of mountain biking in the Tweed Valley. In the talk I explore how a relatively quiet corner of the Scottish Borders became a global riding destination, shaped by the landscape, local pioneers and a strong community.

I also touch on the exciting news that the Tour de France will be coming to the Borders in 2027 - a moment that feels like a natural continuation of the story this region has been writing now for decades.

If you want to dig further into the timeline of Mountain Biking in the Tweed valley (and see all the people and events I missed in this talk!) then you can see my timeline here:

Mountain Biking in the Tweed Valley

If you’d like to explore the Borders with me in person, my Border Abbeys micro‑group tours are now bookable on Eventbrite, link to the first date of 14 February below:
Border Abbeys Guided Tour - 14 February

Thanks for listening, and for supporting stories from this often overlooked but endlessly fascinating part of Scotland...

In this longer than usual special episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the most exciting creative festivals in the South of Scotland: the Wild Writers Festival, happening across Peebles and the Eastgate Theatre from Thursday 29 January - Sunday 1 February.

I’m joined by three of the brilliant people shaping this celebration of words, wild places and imagination:

🎙️ Rich Rowe — Go Tweed Valley

Rich shares how outdoor culture of the Tweed Valley has shaped the festival’s ethos and how a diverse programme of events has grown. We talk about the origins of the festival, why Peebles is the perfect home for a festival that blends creativity with the natural world and swap our highlights of the stacked programme.

🎙️ Erin Thompson & Fraser Morrison — Eastgate Theatre

Erin and Fraser lift the curtain on the festival’s ambitions, it's place in the Eastgate's seasonal lineup and the incredible programme they’ve curated. We also touch on the huge role the Eastgate plays in the cultural and social life of the area.

📅 Festival Dates

29 January – 1 February, Eastgate Theatre, Tontine Hotel & Around Peebles

🎟️ Tickets & Programme

• Browse and book events via the Eastgate Theatre:
  https://eastgatearts.com/
• Explore the full festival programme:
  https://indd.adobe.com/view/3a0028a6-ff92-4485-966e-9b163d76c42f

What to expect in this episode

• How the Wild Writers Festival came to life
• Why creativity and place based storytelling matter
• A preview of standout events and speakers
• Reflections on collaboration, local identity and the joy of making something new together
• The important role of the Eastgate as a Theatre, Arts Venue and hub for Tweeddale

Thanks for listening, please share far and wide. Remember to subscribe for weekly podcasts from the Tweed Valley. Thanks to Go Tweed Valley and Gareth Easton for use of the image. Please also note that this is not a paid advert but is an endorsement by me of an event I wish to support :)

Happy New Year!

This episode marks the launch of my new Borders Abbeys Guided Tours - (very) small‑group, premium experiences taking in all four of the Borders’ extraordinary medieval abbeys in one full, story‑filled day. With only four seats per tour and tickets at £110 per person (including abbey entry), these days are designed to be intimate and rooted in the landscapes and stories I love. The first dates begin in February, and you can book now via the link below.

Tweed Valley Blogger - Eventbrite

I also look back at how my guiding work has grown - from bespoke private tours to public walking routes, partnerships, and this weekly podcast - and offer a small teaser of a second theme for 2026: pilgrimage, in the sense of walking slowly and with intention. You’ll also find links to my latest blog posts, including my Dream Borders tour and my 12 Days of Christmas series.

Scottish Borders Blog — Tweed Valley Blogger | Tour Guide | Scottish Borders

A short reflection on 2025, as I enjoy the festive break at home. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported my business and podcast in 2025. Lots to look forward to next year, including my 'Micro Group Tours' starting with the Border Abbeys, dates now available on the website - lots more to follow on this in the New Year with a special launch episode.

Remember to follow along with my 12 Days of Christmas posts on Instagram - Tweed Valley Blogger on Instagram

Thank you for listening to my Podcast - please consider sharing and hitting subscribe to help me grow :)