River Tweed

Etymology

Tweed may represent an Old Brittonic name meaning "border". A doubtful proposal is that the name is derived from a non-Celtic form of the Indo-European root *teuha- meaning "swell, grow powerful".

Course

The River Tweed flows primarily through the scenic Borders region of Scotland. Eastwards from the settlements on opposing banks of Birgham and Carham it forms the historic boundary between Scotland and England.

It rises in the Lowther Hills at Tweed's Well near the rising points of the Clyde -- draining northwest (10 km from the Tweed's Well) -- and the Annan, draining south (1.9 km from the Tweed's Well).

"Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot o’ ae hillside" is a saying from the Border region. East of Kelso, it becomes a section of the eastern part of the border. Entering England, its lower reaches are in Northumberland, where it enters the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed. For only 7 kilometres of its course is it purely in England, and for 30 kilometres it is between England and Scotland.

Catchment

The river east of St Boswells runs through a drumlin field. It is the relic of a paleo-ice stream that flowed through the area during the last glaciation. Major towns through which the Tweed flows include Innerleithen, Peebles, Galashiels, Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream and Berwick-upon-Tweed, where it flows into the North Sea. Tweed tributaries include:

• Whiteadder Water
  • Blackadder Water
• River Till
• Eden Water
• Teviot Water
• Leader Water
• Ettrick Water
  • Yarrow Water
  • Tima Water
• Gala Water
• Leithen Water
• Quair Water
• Eddleston Water
• Manor Water
• Lyne Water
• Holms Water

The upper parts of the catchment of the Tweed in Scotland form the area known as Tweeddale, part of which is protected as the Upper Tweeddale National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development.

Management{{anchor|Tweed Fisheries Act 1771|Tweed Fisheries Act 1775|Tweed Fisheries Act 1797|River Tweed Fisheries Act 1807|River Tweed Fisheries Act 1830|River Tweed Fisheries Act 1836|Tweed Fisheries Act 1857|Tweed Fisheries Amendment Act 1859|Tweed Fisheries Act 1969|Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed) Order 2006}}

| use_new_UK-LEG = yes | use_new_UK-LEG = yes | use_new_UK-LEG = yes | use_new_UK-LEG = yes Despite that the catchment straddles the border between Scotland and England, management of it – in terms of water quality, bio-security, and ultimately protection of the salmon of the River Tweed – is overseen by a single body, the River Tweed Commission.

River Tweed Trail

, work is in progress on the development of a 113 mi walking and cycling route following the length of the river from Moffat to Berwick-on-Tweed. The work includes new sections of path, upgrades to existing paths, bridge replacement and repairs, pedestrian road crossings, lighting and signage. The path is expected to be completed during 2028.

Gallery

Wfm tweed abottsford.jpg|The River Tweed at Abbotsford, near Melrose River Tweed from Mertoun House.jpg|The River Tweed from Mertoun House, near St Boswells Anglo-Scottish.border.history.jpg|The Anglo-Scottish border, with the Tweed on the east. Its estuary and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed were a late annexation by England. Union Chain Bridge between England and Scotland, 2019.jpg|The Union Chain Bridge spanning the Tweed between Horncliffe, England and Fishwick, Scotland

Notes

References

References

1. (2012). "Headwaters: Walking to British River Sources". Frances Lincoln Limited.
2. "Article on Tweed Cloth".
3. (August 10, 2015). "Wild fishing tax 'raid' concern". BBC News.
4. "University of Wales Dictionary". University of Wales.
5. "The Brittonic Language in the Old North - A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence".
6. [https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/the-tweed-take-a-trip-on-a-river-flowing-with-history-5332911.html The Tweed: Take a trip on a river flowing with history] {{Webarchive. link. (2019-07-31 , The Independent, 21 April 2007)
7. "River Documental - River Tweed".
8. "National Scenic Areas". Scottish Natural Heritage.
9. "History of the RTC". www.rivertweed.org.uk/.
10. (28 October 2024). "'Ambitious' Destination Tweed project granted £10 million of new funding". The Herald.