I have set out below an entirely personal (und unsponsored) selection of links to local suppliers we use and rate highly (many of whom have mail order offerings), our excellent local pub (which also has B&B rooms) and some guides to local places of interest.
Suppliers of excellent plants, local fare and folderols
R G Foreman & Sons
(Our favourite butcher and deli which is also a source of excellent fishing accoutrements for those enamoured of the activity)
Address: 8 Castle Street
Norham
TD12 2LB
Tel: 01289 382260
email: info@tweedsalmonfly.co.uk
Heatherslaw Corn Mill
As well as being an interesting place to visit (see below). Heatherslaw is a working mill and we get excellent flour and so on from there
Chain Bridge Honey Farm
(a lovely place to visit, with a tea room in an old bus, but also supplies honey, beeswax candles and other lovely things by mail order via the website)
Address: Horncliffe, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2XT, UK
Phone:+44 (0)1289 382362
Email:info@chainbridgehoney.co.uk
https://www.chainbridgehoney.com
Binny Plants
A really excellent local(ish) nursery with a fabulous range of peonies (my absolute favourite).
Address: Binny Estate, Ecclesmachan Road, Uphall, Scotland, EH52 6NL Telephone +44 7753626117
Email contact@binnyplants.com
https://binnyplants.com
D R Collins
(a magnificent fishmonger and sea food supplier. For many years, seeing the vans, Lachlan thought the proprietor was a Doctor Collins…)
Main premises at the Harbourside in Eyemouth but also a friendly shop, with knowledgeable staff, in Kelso
Addresses
Eyemouth: 34-36 Harbour Road
Eyemouth, Berwickshire, TD14 5HY, Scotland
Tel: 018907 52427
Kelso Shop: 39 Horsemarket, Kelso, TD5 7HE
Tel: 01573 224212
Email: admin@drcollin.co.uk
https://www.drcollin.co.uk
Hostelries and Restaurants
The Plough Inn
(our much loved local run by the very welcoming David and Sarah McLean. Excellent meals, B&B rooms and a fine pétanque court built by our own fair hands and those of Tractor Tom)
Main Street, Leitholm, Nr Coldstream, TD12 4JN
Email: reception@theploughinnleitholm.co.uk
Tel : 01890 840408
http://www.theploughinnleitholm.co.uk
The Potted Lobster
(A delightful seafood restaurant in Bamburgh (where the beach is wonderful and the castle spectacular), relaxed atmosphere and welcoming of dogs))
The Potted Lobster
3 Lucker Road
Bamburgh
NE69 7BS
Email: info@thepottedlobster.co.ukTel: 01668 214088
https://www.thepottedlobster.co.uk
Radjhani Spice
Our local in Coldstream and a firm family favourite. I’d have to reccommend Abdul’s Shathkora aur Gosht (I think that’s how it’s spelled….). Lachlan speaks highly of the Radjhani 21
32 High Street Coldstream TD12 4AS
Tel: 01890 882 800
http://www.rajdhanispice.co.uk
Places of interest
Paxton House
A country house in the Adam style, built in the 1700s, with lovely gardens and some interesting collections. Apparently, it was built in an unsuccessful attempt to woo a Prussian heiress!.
https://paxtonhouse.co.uk
The Hirsel craft centre and estate walks
The grounds of the Hirsel estate have some lovely walks and in the rhododendron season the display in Dundalk wood is something to behold. There is also a lively little cafe and gallery and a number of craft workshops opposite the lake. The pottery is particularly excellent and we now have a large collection!
https://scotlandstartshere.com/point-of-interest/the-hirsel-arts-crafts-centre-abbey-ceramics/
Cocklawburn beach
A beautiful beach just outside Berwick-upon-Tweed, rarely terribly busy and on a clear day you can just see Bamburgh castle up the coast.
https://britishbeaches.uk/cocklawburn-beach-northumberland-england#.X_h3aS2l3kI
(for satnav try entering Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2SY)
St Abbs Head
St Abb’s Head is a rocky promontory by the village of St Abbs in Berwickshire, and a national nature reserve administered by the National Trust for Scotland.
There are lovely walks on the headland and a rather good tearoom which sells local crafts.
Ford and Etal estates
Just over the border in Northumbria the Ford and Etal Estate is home to a working steam railway, a castle, a working flour mill and two picture perfect villages with excellent pubs and tea shops.
https://www.ford-and-etal.co.uk/attractions/
Kelso
Kelso is our nearest “big” town and is a lovely little place. There’s a wide range of interesting shops, pubs and cafes, a regular farmers’ market and also Kelso Abbey, a spectacular medieval structure in the perpendicular style
https://www.visitkelso.com
Live from Ruthven 