Our Branch Area

"SELKIRKSHIRE is of an irregular figure, extending 20 miles in length, bounded on the N. by Peebles-shire; on the E. by Berwickshire; on the S.E. and S. by Roxburghshire; on the S.W. by Dumfries-shire; and on the W. by Peebles. This county was formerly named the sheriffdom of Etterick forest, being covered with an extensive wood, which was stocked by great herds of red and fallow deer kept by the Scotish princes for the chace, who had houses for themselves and their train in different parts of the country. The wood is now almost entirely cut down, and the county is stocked with great flocks of sheep. The county is mountainous, and intersected by numerous streams, on the banks of which those plaintive airs were produced, the natural simplicity of which is the pride of the Scots and the admiration of strangers. Besides the Tweed, it is watered by the Etterick and Yarrow, two pastoral streams, the beauties of which are celebrated in Scotish song."

This romantic description by the ‘Gazeteer of Scotland’ in 1806 described the old County of Selkirkshire.. In 1975 the County was made part of the Borders Region. It is  not surprisingly that when asked, most inhabitants of the old area still say they are from Selkirkshire. Borders Region does not trip off of the tongue quite as easily!

The area our branch covers  still takes in most of the Gazeteer’s bounds.

The Boundary Commission which changed the voting patterns of the Borders electorate unfortunately took the town of Selkirk out of our remit and in the end forced us to change or name to Central Borders. This is only of interest to SNP activists and for the tourist visiting the area Selkirkshire - or the Borders Region - remains an area of outstanding and unspoilt scenery, there can be few spots in the land which live up to the reputation of the Borders. castles, abbeys, historic houses, fishing, cycling, walking, a spectacular coastline, good food and a warm welcome, this is indeed Scotland at it's very best.