After living in the green and rolling Scottish Borders for the past 23 years, we are looking at moving back to the city again in a few months’ time. Our wee town has served us well: when we first moved here the High Street had a wider range of shops than it does now, and there were no traffic lights at all in the town. You could go for a walk along the roadside and only have 2 -3 cars pass you. We loved seeing the hills out of both the back and front windows, and – through the front windows – the odd hot air balloon would take off from the fields behind our culdesac. We could sit out in the back garden and hear sheep on the near hills, and the leaves of the many trees rustling in the wind and very rarely heard the wail of sirens.
The town has since changed a lot – but then it would in 23 years. Now the High Street has a narrower range of shops (some of which are good, but most I don’t frequent as they don’t have exactly what I’m looking for), and the town has 3 sets of traffic lights (2 sets within 50yrds of each other) in order to allow pedestrians to cross between the steadily increasing flow of traffic. The hot-air balloon field is now a new housing estate, and the sheep are no longer on the hillsides (nor most of the trees – some of which were lopped when a house was built on the hillside). Wailing sirens of ambulances and police cars are almost a daily occurrence now, although fortunately usually not more than once or twice a day. And the town population has increased as Peebles lies within commuting range of Edinburgh and Galashiels.
However, that said, it is still a lovely place to live – very safe (on the whole) – and a good base for those of the mountain biking or horse riding crowd. [Disclaimer: I am not being paid by, or representing Peebles Tourist Board from here on. I’m just posting some of my wee photo memories for me to look back on and enjoy, and anyone else who might be remotely interested in knowing more about the wee town we have called home].
Over our 2 decades here, we have loved rambling up all the hills that surround the town, many times……
……..and strolling down to Manor Valley, where the Old Manor Brig (built in 1702) stands. Funny to think that this old structure pre-dates the two Jacobite Rebellions.
We have also loved our walks along the banks of the River Tweed….
……. and alongside the local castle:
Peebles is also a very literary town. William and Robert Chambers (who were eminent publishers – think Chambers Dictionary) and whom Chambers Street in Edinburgh is named after, lived here, and the Chambers’ grave is in the local cemetery:
Peebles was also a place where the author John Buchan spent some time. His house (Bank House) still stands, and there is a museum dedicated to him on the High Street.
And, of course, you’re not far away from Sir Walter Scott’s house in Abbotsford, near Melrose, (one of my favourite places).
What else………ooo yes. Peebles also has the Cross Kirk, which has associations with St Nicholas (aka Father Christmas): see https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/cross-kirk-peebles/history/
Although I’ve been a member of a couple of gyms during my time here, nothing beats this one………
So, we have some nice memories of this town. It seems a shame to leave. However, for many reasons including my wish to be nearer to my almost 90-year-old Dad, to be closer to the Uni for my work and OH’s too, and to be generally closer to everything again, it needs done. Since the kids have left home for work and study, we don’t need our 5 bedroom house any more and, besides, it feels odd here without them. Like something is missing. It’s amazing just how much things like that can change a place. Plus, it’s quite easy to feel lonely here – I’ve not been included in any friendship ‘groups’, which can kinda get you down a bit, especially in a small town where everybody almost knows each other (or are related to each other). So, new adventures are on the horizon. We can always come back here for a day trip.
Onwards and upwards…….
June's Jottings 